Refresh your Pantry

 It’s Spring – Time for a Pantry Refresh!

In your spring clean-out, you may wish to tackle the pantry, and with a little planning you can give it an organised refresh.

There’s a wise old saying: “A place for everything and everything in its place”.

This can’t be truer than when it comes to the organisational nemeses that is the kitchen pantry.

When reorganising your pantry, think about how you cook and what you cook, what foods you eat and what you need in easy reach to grab and go. What are the regular foods you buy and how much space do these items take up? Do you by bulk-buy some products, such as pasta or long-life milk? How much space do you need to store those products? Is there a better place for them, other than your pantry?

These are a lot of questions to consider, but by answering them first you will save yourself frustration in the future. Once you have considered these questions, it is time to start!

Firstly, clear your bench and dining table. Then pull everything out. Have the bin, compost and recycling nearby, so you can put the food into the compost or bin and packets straight into the recycling.  Have a donations box too, for anything that’s still in date but you know you won’t use.

Everything that has expired gets thrown out – everything.

Place the food you’re keeping into categories such as: baking goods, cooking sauces, snacks, dry goods, tins, veggies, jams and spreads, spices, cereals and condiments.

Organising items into categories means you’re able to quickly find what you’re looking for, as each category has its own place in the pantry. Clear wire baskets and long clear plastic containers can help turn deep shelves into makeshift drawers that make it easy to store and access each category.

Count your categories to determine how many baskets/containers/drawer dividers you will need, measure the width and depth of your shelves to ensure a good fit, then take this information shopping!

When purchasing containers for items such as flour, cereals etc, check the measurements to ensure the contents of a full packet will fit without being crammed in, and are big enough to place a scoop in or pour from easily, to make cooking prep easier.  Nothing will create a cluttered pantry more quickly than containers that are the wrong size.

When considering where categorised items should sit in the pantry, think about what’s used most frequently. Place these items in their baskets/containers at eye-level, mid-height or in top drawers. Place lighter items higher and heavier items lower.

For snacks and lunch-box goodies such as chip packets and muesli bars, I recommend tipping the contents from the original packaging into a large clear container/wire basket. Be sure to place them on a lower shelf so it’s easy for the kids to grab on their own. And don’t forget a biscuit and treat tin (which you might like to store higher up!).

Another hot tip is to avoid filling up all the shelves to their capacity. You’ll need to leave room for accumulation – there’s no doubt that on the day that you’re refreshing your pantry there’ll be at least one item/product that you’ve run out of and will need to restock, so that too needs a place. Similarly, leave some room in the baskets, drawer dividers and shelves for the accumulation of other products you will buy next time you shop.

If you can create some space on the lower shelves, or the floor under the shelves, you can also store baking trays and accessories in baskets, or bigger appliances there that you don’t use as often, in an out-of-the-way spot, rather than having them clutter your everyday space or the corner cupboard abyss. Leaving a bit of space in between the baskets and appliances also gives the pantry an uncluttered look.

HOWARDS PANTRY ESSENTIALS

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