Alright, so here is a confession: I am a little bipolar in my cleaning personalities. I am either a complete slob or intolerably OCD in my level of organization.
Our pantry was in shambles. I thought about taking a ‘before’ picture but it was too mortifying. We had started with an organization plan. We bought baskets! That makes it look better, right? Only if you don’t throw things willy nilly into said baskets and then forget about them.
I realized that I had a dozen cans of diced tomatoes and countless types of whole grain pasta/noodles/side dishes, but I didn’t know I had these so I continued buying them.
Then I realized that something had to be done.
Things are about to get crazy for work and I knew I would be doing a lot of cooking in the next few months. I needed organization and I needed not to hate opening the pantry door or rummaging for a pan.
I offer this pictures mainly because I want to show it off. Yes, there is some ego in spending a day organizing your pantry, I am not going to lie. But I also want to offer some tips on organizing your pantry.
Work with what you have. We initially had dreams of installing a massive lazy susan but then decided to use the shelves we had and add baskets. Much less cool but much cheaper.
Make it user friendly. We put the appliances we use the most on the lower shelves so we can grab them easier.
And these gadgets on the top shelf are for special occasion only. Though I wish we had more special occasions for that waffle iron!
Group like items together: I put all the beans together, all the cans of diced tomatoes, tuna. etc. Makes it easier to find them and to discover when you are out of something.
Believe in the power of hooks. We hung up our pans so I wasn't always crashing through the cupboards every night.
Take inventory. This is a little extreme, but I wanted to make sure we were using what we had in the freezer and pantry. Now I can just grab the index cards when looking at recipes to make sure I have the ingredients.
This is really helpful with baking as I have a tendency to 'collect' certain baking ingredients.
Now back to you: What are your tips for staying organized in the kitchen?
I have those open, 6′ stainless steel restaurant-style storage carts in our basement and my friends joke that they’ll be coming to my house next time there’s a “crisis”. It’s organized by food type/group, with the items expiring first in front. I even put the snacks up on a higher shelf so the kids can’t go “shopping” when they’re downstairs playing on their own 🙂
That’s awesome! I love the idea of putting the food that expires first in the front. Very smart!
I love this post! I am totally the same way when it comes to organizing my kitchen – and well, my condo in general. Either psycho OCD or slob. All or nothing, baby! I love how you organized your pantry though and am going to steal some of your tips and tricks to help rehab my own sorry excuse of a kitchen!
Good luck with the organizing! 🙂 It’s amazing what a little OCD can do to for a small kitchen. I lived in a studio for awhile. Disadvantage: No cupboard space so sometimes my cereal had to go in the clothing closest. Advantage: I could literally make an omelette as I was getting dressed. Proper Hygiene? Not so much. Totally convenient when you are running late for work? Definitely. 🙂
My solution to an organized pantry is to build another one! 🙂 Next spring we’re redoing the kitchen and adding a second pantry. The current one is hopeless! My husband calls it “organized chaos” because I know exactly what’s in it and the location of each item, but it looks like the aftermath of a tornado. I do have a list of freezer contents on the fridge with the amount and the location (shelf, 1,2,3,or4). That helps a lot since the husband is the one that gets things out of the freezer. I do it for him! 🙂 Great post!
I think I like how you think… 🙂 Can’t wait to hear about the second pantry. Wow, if I could design my own, that’s like a dream come true. Great tip about adding locations to your list.
GREAT tips! I love an organized pantry. The one thing I try to do every time I go shopping is open the pantry, fridge and freezer before I buy….new follower here! (via google follower)
Welcome! 🙂 Good tip about checking the pantry, fridge, and freezer before you buy. 🙂
I just want to say I am new to blogging and site-building and certainly loved this blog. More than likely I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You surely have beneficial stories. With thanks for revealing your website page.
Actually my blog name is not relevant to my blog niche..in this time i want to convert my blog to a website through blogger. but i dont know if i will do it ,then how much will affect my blog traffic?.
How do I start blogging and make money at the same time?
Is using a copyright material as a reference to write articles illegal?
What is a blogging site where people give a lot of quick feedback?
It¡¦s actually a great and useful piece of information. I¡¦m glad that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Great awesome things here. I¡¦m very satisfied to look your article. Thank you a lot and i’m having a look forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Wow, amazing blog format! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging glance easy. The whole look of your website is wonderful, let alone the content!
I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this information for my mission.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.
I truly appreciate this post. I¡¦ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clarity in your post is simply cool and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
You actually make it appear so easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really something that I feel I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely vast for me. I’m looking forward on your subsequent submit, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
I was just looking for this information for a while. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your web site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative web sites in top of the list. Usually the top websites are full of garbage.
What i don’t realize is actually how you’re no longer really a lot more neatly-favored than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably on the subject of this subject, produced me for my part believe it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested except it¡¦s something to do with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always deal with it up!
Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a great web site.
Good web site! I really love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I’m wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
I have been checking out a few of your stories and i must say pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your site.
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you
I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Generic 5 Mg Cialis Purchase Metformin On Line Real Best Viagra Online Pharmacy cialis without prescription Discount Cialis Propecia Complications Canadian Pharmacy Prednisone
Hi my family member! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this .
I must express my appreciation to the writer for bailing me out of this particular setting. Just after surfing throughout the search engines and getting recommendations which are not beneficial, I thought my entire life was over. Existing without the presence of strategies to the problems you’ve resolved by way of your write-up is a critical case, and the ones which may have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t discovered the website. Your own skills and kindness in controlling every part was useful. I am not sure what I would have done if I had not come across such a solution like this. I am able to now look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for the reliable and results-oriented help. I will not think twice to endorse your web blog to anyone who requires guidelines about this subject.
Someone essentially help to make critically posts I’d state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual publish amazing. Wonderful job!
Great write-up, I am normal visitor of one¡¦s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
great submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector don’t understand this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
Wow! Thank you! I constantly wanted to write on my blog something like that. Can I include a fragment of your post to my blog?
I simply could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the standard information a person provide in your visitors? Is going to be back frequently to investigate cross-check new posts
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Thanks for your entire hard work on this web page. My mom loves going through internet research and it’s easy to understand why. My partner and i know all regarding the lively manner you produce helpful tips and hints via your web blog and as well as attract participation from the others on the matter while my princess is really studying a lot of things. Enjoy the rest of the new year. Your conducting a wonderful job.