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| Pantry Perk-up |
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Pantries can range in size from a kitchen cupboard to a walk-in, shelf lined closet, to a mini or Butler's kitchen, but no matter how big or small, it is a
place where canned goods, food staples and treats can often get lost. To do a thorough job of cleaning and organizing, you will need:
* clear counter space
* a bucket of soapy water and a rag
* a few boxes
* a garbage bag or can
* a labeler or masking tape and a sharpie
* baskets and bins for storing like items together
Now, pull everything out of the pantry... looking at expiration dates as you go. Toss all expired and unwanted items. This includes bags of chips that
only have crumbs left. If it is nearing its expiration date, put it in a box for donation to a food bank, or commit to using it in a recipe within the week.
If you have multiple containers of the same product open (chips, cereal, spices, etc.), check the containers to make sure they are still good and then combine them if possible.
There is a great website called Still Tasty that lets you know how long things keep in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.
I prefer to get cereal and chips out of their bags and boxes as soon as I bring them home (mainly because I buy at warehouse stores, so the containers are probably coated in
pesticides used in these big stores to keep the mice and rats out, and I don't want my boys touching them on a daily basis) and put them into plastic storage containers.
Gather loose packets of spices, gravies, and flavorings into small storage containers so they don't get lost on the shelves. Once your pantry is empty, wipe down the
shelves to remove any dust or crumbs that may have accumulated, then wipe down any cans and containers.
Before putting things back, group like items together. I like to use a shoe box sized basket for granola bars, pudding, Jello, crackers, nuts, and raisins. My kids know
they can help themselves to anything in that basket when they get home from school. I have a similar basket for breakfast items like oatmeal, protein bars, mini cereal boxes,
and those samples you get in the mail. I also like to group all my canned goods together by category: Vegetables, soups, sauces, fruit, fish, etc. Before putting cans and
boxes back on their shelves, think about getting some tiered risers or free-standing shelves to make the best use of the existing space. Try to organize your pantry from most
used items in front, to least used items in the back. Use your labeler or masking tape to mark "opened on" dates on packages. This will go a long way to simplifying this process
when you do it again in about six months.
Another great idea is to create a pantry staples checklist. This could be done on the computer or even a small dry-erase board. Just put an x in front of the items you notice
are running low. This way, you'll know exactly what you need, the next time you head to the grocery store, without having to go through the cupboards to take an inventory.
Another important point to make, is not to overbuy. It's tempting to stock up when things are on sale, but make sure you only buy enough to last a month or two, or you will be
frustrated daily by your overflowing pantry.
Good luck on your Pantry Perk-up, and please send us any photos or tips that we can share with our clients. We'd love to get some before and after pictures of your efforts.
-Haike Tremblay
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