Pantry Organization Made Easy In 5 Simple Steps

Empty Your Pantry

“When getting ready to organize your pantry, you should undertake a complete pantry clean out,” Saltman says. This is a good time to dispose of any expired or unused items. Consider donating any unused, but unexpired items as well.

• Pull items out of your pantry and use your counters or kitchen table to temporarily store them.
• Check expiration dates and discard expired items.
• Set aside unexpired, yet unwanted foods for donating.

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Clean Your Pantry

With your pantry empty, now’s the time to eliminate crumbs and wipe up spills. “Take a moment to wipe down the shelves and sweep the floor,” Saltman says.

• Clean your pantry shelves using paper towels and multipurpose cleaner.

• Sweep or vacuum, then mop the floor.

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Organize Items Into Categories

“To make a pantry truly functional, the key is organizing everything into clear, intuitive categories,” Urban says. “I always say, think like a grocery store. Keep like items together.” But, Saltman points out, these categories can vary from family to family, so you’ll have to decide the major food categories your family uses most.

Roughly sort items by category. Categories may include:

• Baking supplies;
• Canned goods;
• Pasta;
• Rice and other grains;
• Spices;
• Snacks;
• Breakfast or lunch items;
• Oils and vinegar;
• Beverages;
• Small appliances;
• Paper goods (napkins, plates, plastic wear).

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Purchase Organizers

“Before running to the store for bins and containers, make sure to plan out the space and only purchase organization products that maximize the spaces,” Windholz says. Open your pantry door and identify your storage problems. Which areas are hard to see? Where are items getting lost? Then, take measurements and select storage solutions that will help keep items in sight and easily accessible.

Here are some ideas:

• Lazy Susan: Use a lazy Susan to maximize the usable space of deep shelves and hidden corners. They’re also a great way to store oils, condiments, and sauces. “With a spin, you can instantly grab what you need instead of knocking over bottles while searching,” Urban says.
• Bins, baskets and trays: Consider bins, baskets or trays to store items like lunch-making supplies, snacks, nuts and crackers. “Bins are always the unsung heroes of every organized pantry,” Urban says. “They create containment, set boundaries and give every item a designated home.” Saltman says to consider your bin material based on whether you want (or need) to see its contents. “Whichever type you decide upon, be sure it’s easy to clean when there is a spill,” she says.
• Storage bins on wheels: If items on lower shelves are hard to see due to a narrow walk-in, Saltman suggests using storage bins or baskets on wheels to easily access storage in this area.
• Label bins and shelves: “Label everything, so everybody knows where to put things back,” Windholz says.
• Clear containers: Use clear containers to keep items visible and/or use labels to easily keep track of items. “Clear canisters are perfect for storing dried goods that allow you to see when you are running low and need to buy more,” Windholz says. Saltman loves using containers with an airtight seal to decant items like flour, sugar, pasta, rice and cereals.
• Can organizers: Can organizers help make canned goods more visible, and they’re not just for soup. “Can racks can be very helpful if you keep a large number of canned drinks in the home. When you remove one can, another falls forward into its place making it easy to access,” Saltman says. Urban likes to use them for spices and small jars as well.
• Separate containers for onions and potatoes: “Not only do they allow proper airflow to keep produce fresh longer, but they also free up counter space and keep things from rolling around,” Urban says.
• Shelves and tiered shelves: Consider adding shelves or shelf-risers to make the most of shelf space. “If you have a lot of canned goods or spices, using a tiered shelf can help you see what’s behind the front row of cans. Make sure to check the height available on the shelf before purchasing to make sure that the top row will fit with cans inside the space,” Saltman says.
• Back of door storage: Add a storage rack to the back of the pantry door. “These racks can hold many different items, from creating a snack station for your kids or holding various condiments,” Saltman says. Urban likes to store water bottles, spices or miscellaneous items here.

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Set up Your Organized Pantry

Return items to your pantry, using the following guidelines:

• Start with the middle shelves: These are the easiest to see and access, so load them with daily-use items such as dinner or lunch-making supplies, or with food you want to keep in sight, such as healthy snacks.
• Move on to bottom shelves: Stow heavy items such as kitchen appliances that don’t have a home elsewhere in your kitchen, or less frequently used/seasonal items. This is also a great spot for self-serve snacks and lunch items for kids. “Having an easy-to-reach bin means little ones can grab their own snacks without rummaging through shelves or constantly asking for help,” Urban says.
• Finish up with top shelves: This area is perfect for infrequently used items like lightweight kitchen appliances, extra chips, snacks or paper goods. Store like-items together in baskets or bins for easy access.

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Tips to organize pantries with deep shelves?

Deep shelves can be a challenge to keep organized, because items can get lost in the back. Windholz and Urban suggest using a lazy Susan to fully utilize deep shelves while maintaining easy access and organization.

Tiered shelves are also a great addition to store items near the back and maintain visibility. “You can see everything at a glance, and I like to reserve the deepest areas for bulk items—keeping a small, daily supply upfront while storing extras in the back,” Urban says.

Saltman likes to employ a similar system, but with two bins. “The bin in front can hold the items that are opened, and the bin in the back can hold the “back stock”, the items that haven’t yet been opened,” she says.

Windholz likes to label deep shelves and keep like items and categories in multiple bins. This way, “You know what is on the back of the shelf,” she says.

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About the Experts

• Lauren Saltman is a professional organizer and owner of Living. Simplified. LLC, a home organizing business serving New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and beyond.
• Michelle Urban is a professional organizer and founder of The Organized Life, a home organizing business based in Portland, Oregon.
• Karen Windholz is a professional organizer and founder of Sort Toss Repeat, a home organizing business located in Alexandria, Virginia.