Quick Tips To Help Organize Your Pantry
D. S. Mitchell
Here are some quick strategies to organize your pantry. An organized pantry through labeling, and zoning helps reduce prep time for meals and gives you control when unexpected guests stop by.
Start with breaking down your pantry space into 8 zones. Label the areas, 1.)Home Remedies, 2.)Holiday 3.) Staples 4.) On-the-Go 5.)Weeknight Meals 6.)Baking & Spices 7.)Kids 8.)Guest Snacks.
Zone One: If you have a flu or cold you are in no mood to rummage through multiple drawers looking for cold remedies. Prepare a bin with proven com fort food: Chicken noodle soup, ginger tea, saltine crackers and even medications. Zone Two: Find a hard to reach corner and fill it with seasonal items, pumpkin pie filling, cranberry sauce, holiday specific table decor. Zone Three: Store dry goods, like pasta, beans and rice in clear airtight containers, this makes it easy for you to restock when products become visibly low.
Arrange canned goods so all labels are visible. Every six months you should check expiration dates and donate food you may not be able to consume by the expiration date. Zone Four: Purchase or find in your garage a three compartment bin. Fill with items you might need to bring breakfast or lunch with you. In first section fill with breakfast bars or small cereal boxes. In the second section fill with microwavable soups, dried fruits and nuts. Keep utensils and napkins in the third compartment. Zone Five: Planning ahead can help reduce stress. Sort ingredients for a week’s worth of easy dinners into separate bins, organizing by meal. For example store taco fixings in one bin and spaghetti fixings in another.
Zone Six: Arrange spices on a two-tier turntable with cooking spices on one level, baking spices on another. Use a larger turn-table for oils and shortening. Store items such as sugar, flour and other baking goods in labeled, stackable canisters. Zone Seven: Remove individually wrapped children’s snacks from their boxes. Store in a large basket on a low shelf with fruit, crackers and other treats so they are easily accessible for the little munchkins. Zone Eight: Place specialty goodies in a basket or bin. Items that favorite friends enjoy or fancy crackers for appetizer trays. You will always be ready for surprise guests.
Armed with a plan, your canisters, your bins and baskets, rearranging your pantry space should only take a couple of hours. Do not take on this project when you are stressed, overtaxed or short of time. Plan on doing it when the family is out of the house and you can work uninterrupted.
Good luck, you can do it. And, you will be glad you did.
Calamity Politics is a progressive on-line news magazine pointing out the activities of our government, for good or bad. Join me for comment and opinion. Join the Resistance.
Dar
