While clear, labeled containers might work well for some items, how can you organize foods that are much too large to add to a container? First, you'll want to find a spot in your pantry that can store a large item like a bag of dog food. This may mean clearing off a shelf or carving out some space on the floor. Wherever you choose to store these items, you must decide before you start re-organizing your pantry. Trust us, there's nothing worse than organizing your entire pantry only to realize you forgot to save space for your muesli or pet's kibble.
Aside from large food items, you may also want to store small appliances in your pantry. While this is a great way to keep kitchen tools like blenders, toasters and mixers off of your countertops, it will take up additional space in your pantry. Planning for the storage of appliances ahead of time will ensure that everything in your pantry has a designated spot.
While some foods should not be stored together, that's not to say they shouldn't be stored in the pantry. Certain vegetables actually stay fresh longest in a room-temperature location away from heat and light. Often when veggies are exposed to light, they will act as if they're outside and start to sprout. Storing them in the pantry can help keep them fresh for weeks at a time.
Flour and grains are great neighbors! Discover new and unique flours to use.
Some veggies to store in your pantry include:
When organizing your pantry, the rule of thumb is that "like goes with like." When deciding which items to group, you group similar items like grains (all-purpose-flour, rice, quinoa, barley), or choose to group items that you use together (gluten free flour, baking powder, tapioca starch, etc.). Creating a grouping system that you are familiar with will help you find what you're looking for without having to go digging around in search of each item. Plus, it will ensure that every food has a designated spot, which will make keeping the pantry organized much easier! Not sure what foods you should group together? Try storing afternoon snacks like our Apple Blueberry Granola and Peanut Butter Honey and Oats Bobs Bars with similar snackable items like nut butter and crackers. Foods that you don't use very often, or that you have extra of should be stored at the back of the pantry so that they don't take up valuable space. Remember, even with an organization system in place, it's still beneficial to label all containers!
Looking for baking items to group together? Find everything you need to bake the meal of your dreams here!
