Calling all pantry experts!!!!

[Blonde Granny]

I need help.  I'm finally going to straighten the pantry since we moved in last week.  Here are the facts: it is L shape and can walk into it.  The ceiling is 9' high.  There are 6 shelves in the pantry, the top one is where I need a little stool to reach it, so whatever goes there needs to be a once a year thing.  The bottom shelf has a Foreman grill, electric pot (not slow cooker...it ran off with my favorite hat) and neither have been seen since.

Right now, I'm separating the food into categories: breakfast, coffee & teas etc.  How do I organize all this?  I've had great intentions in the past, but after a few weeks it looks like a mess, with stuff just put in wherever it fits.

[Deleted]

Here is an article that is helpful.
1. Arrange items in your pantry by group, not by size.

Here are some common groupings:

Cans of beans and soups
Bags of snack foods
Bottles of oils and vinegar
Jars of spices
Boxes of grains (rice, cereal, pasta)
Not only will this look logical in your pantry, it makes sense for cooking, too.

I have a vinegar group which includes: champagne, apple cider, balsamic, rice wine. To that mix I've added white cooking wine, olive and grape oil, and an olive oil spray. The bottles vary in height and width, but now when I want to make a salad dressing, everything I need is occupying the same space in my pantry.

2. Then, arrange items at the right height in your pantry.

First, keep the items you use most regularly in your prime pantry real estate. This means the space between your shoulders and knees. It's easier to reach and easier to put back after use.

I recommend items you buy in bulk be stored in the bottom of the pantry (because these items are typically heavy), snacks be up top so you have to reach for them, and spices at eye-level.

[Malarky]

I reserve my highest shelves for platters and seasonal items.  Think holiday cookie jars and foil pans for baking.  Any food that high over my head would remain there forever.  I also store my cake decorating supplies up there, since I rarely use them. 

Then I do pasta, noodles and rice and cereal.  Things that can last a long time and aren't really heavy. Again on a shelf over my head. 

The shelves I can reach most easily house the heavy items I keep on hand.  Canned tomatoes and pineapple.  Pickles.  Oils and vinegars. 

The lowest shelf is for flour sugar and other baking supplies.  Spices need their own cabinet closer to the stove.

I keep my small appliances in the lazy susan next to the stove, but if I needed them to be in the pantry section, they'd be on the bottom shelf. 

That's about all that you'll find in my pantry.

[NancysSummerSip]

And I'd like to add this:

Make sure you can read the expiration dates on the things you store. Since those are mostly printed on the top or bottom of the package, keep a black marker handy to write it on the label. And rotate oldest items forward. No matter what type of grouping you use (and I like the one APPLE1 uses; I use it, too), it's no good if the food's no good when you need it.

[busymom]

I don't have as many shelves as you do, Blonde Granny, but this is how mine is arranged:  (keep in mind I started this when the kids were little, so it's probably time to rethink it)

Top shelf:  Stuff I didn't want the kids to get into, like hot drink mixes on one end, candy on the other.

Next shelf down:  Baking supplies:  sugar, spices, baking chocolate, etc.


3rd shelf down (easy for me to get into )  Main course items:  Pasta, dinner mixes, canned meats, etc.


4th shelf down:  canned soups, tomato sauce, Manwich sauce (yes, my kids STILL love it)


Bottom shelf:  canned vegetables & anything glass that I don't want to fall far 


I've always put the stuff that I use a lot between waist & shoulder high so I don't need a ladder or to hunch down to get what I need.  Design your own pantry whatever works best for your needs.  Good luck! 


 

[Blonde Granny]

Thanks everyone!!  DH helped me, but his idea of lining things up like little soldiers isn't going to work for long.  However, it IS organized enough for me to make some small necessary changes and he'll never know.

[Tiny]

Have you thought about using some Lazy Susans?  They make double tiered ones.   I use them in my pantry so I don't have to dig for stuff - just turn the lazy susan. 

[Blonde Granny]

I have 2 lazy susans in the corner to the right of the stove.  Bottom is for mixing bowls, pitchers, small appliances.  The upper one is where I keep all the baking things, i.e baking soda, corn oil, sugar etc.  I keep very little on the counters as I don't like the clutter.

I'll take some pics today and post what my new house kitchen looks like.

[Iggy aka IG]

BGranny, what I do for the top shelves is keep things in baskets, both straw and fabric, so I can simply pull down the basket to access it's contents.  The fabric basket has a place for a label, and it contains light bulbs.  A straw basket has my ATV riding gear so when we are getting ready to go, it's all in one place:  Gloves, kerchiefs as head and face coverings, the little saddle bag to go over my gas tank, goggles, etc.  In our master closet, there's a woven basket which contains odds and ends from the bathroom:  A bag of cotton ball over stock, hairdryer accessories, etc.  We also have see-through plastic containers for the same purpose on various closet top shelves.

[Otto the Orange]

oops, I misread the OP as "panty experts"......wrong thread, sorry

[Peace77]

Lol Mr.Bill!

[Blonde Granny]

I hope this works, Photobucket has certainly changed their way of doing things.

[Iggy aka IG]

LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  Congratulations! 

ETA:  Something I bought when we moved into our new home and I absolutely love are shelf stackers:

www.hsw.com.au/admin/product_images/full/7715_PLT602-PLAZA-STACKABLE-SHELF-60CM-WHITE-1.JPG

They come in a long version as the one above, and have shorter, and corner options, too.  I've got them dividing dishes, coffee mugs, canned and baking goods.  They double the amount of vertical space. 

[kittensaver]

Looks great GG! I agree with others: frequently used items at eye level (and one-up,one-down); less-frequently used items higher and lower. I'd put the lighter items higher (TP, tupperware, linens, candlesticks, cereal boxes) so they won't hurt if they fall on your head  (can you tell I'm a klutz?). Put the heavier stuff lower (nested work bowls, mixer, blender, heavy stock pots, etc). You'll of course need to lift with your knees, but at least they won't fall on your head .

Also - consider some kind of structured, uniform food storage system. Most people I know who do this use tupperware, a tupperware knock-off or mason jars. Having a series of storage containers that are same-sized and graduated sizes (but that fit together) really helps to keep things much more organized and neat. Plus things don't spoil/dry out/get bug infestations as readily if they are stored in closed containers (as opposed to the original packaging that we all pretty much fail at re-closing securely - or maybe that's just me again ).

Personally, I use mason jars and I love them (I buy most dry goods from the bulk bins of my health food store or my co-op). I can instantly see how much of something is left. I don't even bother to make fancy labels - I just cut off the label from the box/bag (if it has one, otherwise I make a label) and tape it on the outside of the jar. Easy-peasy to tear off the label and wash the jar before filling it with a fresh supply.

Enjoy your fantastic new kitchen!

[Blonde Granny]

I have a ton of Lock & Lock containers, some in the pantry already, the rest in one of the deep drawers to the left of the sink.

[kittensaver]

Nov 1, 2013 16:56:56 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I have a ton of Lock & Lock containers, some in the pantry already, the rest in one of the deep drawers to the left of the sink.

Oh, okay - great! (I just didn't see many - if any - of them in your photo ). Also based on the photo: think about shelving-within-the-shelf, like the wire stacking shelves you can get at The Container Store or Ikea (or similar place). From the photo, it looks like you have a lot of short jars and bottles that could be doubled-up on stacking shelves to give you more room .

Sample: www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/pantryOrganizers/shelfOrganizers?productId=10000697&N=74108&Nao=20

[Blonde Granny]

Great idea!! I took these photos before we went to WMT this morning.  After moving things around to get in the stuff we bought it look quite different.  I had to extend the canned soups etc.. the end of th shelf, added more bottled water (it says on floor) and some flavored water now has a place to sit on the right side.  This is certainly a work in progress.

And who doesn't just love glass canning jars, especially the wide mouth ones.  I save a lot of jars and use them constantly.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Why did I see this "Calling all panty experts"?

[Blonde Granny]

Because your mind just works that way.............

[Sharon]

Love your kitchen, I am so jealous.  It is gorgeous.  I also have been reading the title of the thread Calling all Panty experts.

[busymom]

What a beautiful kitchen!  No wonder you bought this home.   

[ses]

Love your kitchen!!

I, too, love my lock and lock, and my mason jars.  Have you considered FIFO racks for common canned goods?

www.amazon.com/FIFO-Tracker--Storage-Organizer-Dispenser    (sorry this wont work)

I also keep my various oils and vinegars in a plastic Sterlite basket/bin from Walmart to catch any drips and drops, basically anything small and liquid that might get "lost"

[Blonde Granny]

busymom: We built this house.  We downsized from 3000sf to 1700sf. 

Right now we are working on getting my sewing room set up.  My previous one was 17x14, this new one is about 7x8.  I love challenges, but this task is really stretching the limits of my creativity.  Pics will follow when done.

[Deleted]

Very lovely finishes and color choices in the kitchen!  It looks like a great kitchen.

I would have cook books on the bottom shelf of the pantry to keep them off the counters.

Did you pick up some baskets or buckets?  Looks like putting the chips in a bucket would save a bunch of space.  You would have to pull it in and out, but that seems better than taking up a couple feet of the shelving for a light item.

[kadee79]

Your kitchen is very pretty.

I also have a pantry but mine is pretty large, 4'X6' with shelves on 3 sides.  The back shelf is 2' deep and that is where I put all my appliances...2 mixers, 2 crock pots, fryer, meat grinder, rice cooker, electric pressure cooker, blender. 
Mine is full!

The only advice I have is...you will rearrange it several times before you find what works best for you!   And be sure to rotate any items you stock up on!

[rubyslippers]

I am short so I store a folding step stool in my pantry.  I also use empty half gallon milk jugs to store rice, popcorn, pasta etc...  Plastic baskets contain spices and small jars.

[motherto2]

I absolutely love your kitchen!  Well done!  I wish I could say I have a system, but alas, I don't.  My pantry is one we installed after the house was built.  Goes floor to ceiling, but it's cabinet system, not a walk in.  I love all the room and storage, but it's deep, so things can get lost easily.  I have a general plan - eye height is all the canned goods, because that's what I use the most.  Next shelf down is stuff like rice, oils and vinegars, boxed stuff.  For some reason I have about 20 boxes of different types of teas, so they are all together.  Bottom shelf is outmeal can since it's tall, some small appliances, and a punch bowl.  The top two shelves (over the head storage) are snacks like chips and popcorn, candy, dog treats, and then also some baking dishes (like turkey sized) a large and small crockpot, and of course, random crap. 

Pat, I sure don't envy you going through all your clothes.  I don't keep many clothes any more, but for some reason, when I was going through clothes this spring I realized I had like 20 or more pairs of capris.  That's insane.  Some didn't even ever fit very well when I bought them, so I never wore them .  Got rid of several pairs.

Funny story = I moved my dog's larger crate upstairs to DD's room yesterday morning.  I was using his travel (small plastic) crate up there for DD;s puppy to sleep in at night, but she's too big for it.  I don't want to purchase a bigger crate, because she has really long legs, and I'd hate DD to put a lot of money into a larger crate and it not be big enough in a couple of months.  So, short term is the larger crate I have for my dog.  I had to move some books and papers to allow the door to open better.  I put them in one of the built ins I have in the hallway upstairs.  Last night during the night, some of that stuff fell of the shelf and woke all three of us up.  Thank goodness I knew what it was!  Now I need to get up there and do some rearranging

[Blonde Granny]

Nov 2, 2013 6:48:11 GMT -5 @rockit said:

Very lovely finishes and color choices in the kitchen!  It looks like a great kitchen.

I would have cook books on the bottom shelf of the pantry to keep them off the counters.

Did you pick up some baskets or buckets?  Looks like putting the chips in a bucket would save a bunch of space.  You would have to pull it in and out, but that seems better than taking up a couple feet of the shelving for a light item.

My Dh has this "thing" about chips etc.  Right now we have 4 open packages and in a few days he will tell me we are out of chips....reason? He won't eat or drink the last of anything.  If I stocked up on chips, every package would be open and I'd end up tossing 1/2 of them out.  He also won't eat a broken chip.....go figure.

[Deleted]

Blonde - he won't eat a broken chip? I think he needs therapy!!!  Doesn't that mean he can only eat like 1/3 of the bag contents?  Unless you convert to buying Pringles in the tube, since they are all formed there is less breakage.

Would be interesting to know the childhood trauma that causes that adult behavior (hmmm, maybe a new thread for that topic!)

[Blonde Granny]

Considering what his Mom was like........all 3 brothers (aged 75 to 69) have some real quirks.  His oldest bro won't eat applesauce, but my DH never remembers her making it.

i agree , therapy for all!