How to Organize Your Kitchen Pantry

Are you tired of digging through your kitchen pantry, struggling to find that last box of pasta or the spices you know you bought last month? Whether you’re working with a small cabinet or have a spacious walk-in pantry, there’s a way to make your pantry space work for you, not against you. A well-organized pantry saves you time, helps you avoid expired foods, and makes meal prep so much easier.

Save Time and Space With a Well Organized Kitchen

What’s the Best Way to Approach a Pantry Makeover?

The entire process of reorganizing your pantry doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s an easy way to tackle it:

1. Take everything out: This is a great job for a rainy afternoon (or when you’ve got a little extra time). Remove all the pantry items so you can see the entire room or space.
2. Check expiration dates: It’s a good time to toss any expired foods you forgot about.
3. Group similar items: Keep dry ingredients, snacks, and canned goods together for a more organized arrangement.
4. Plan your layout: Place items you use frequently, like lunch snacks or breakfast cereal, at eye level for easy reach. Pantry staples you use less often can go on the top shelves where you can still access them or on the bottom shelves if they aren’t going to be too accessible for little hands. Cans are quickly stripped of their labels when toddlers are around.

​3 simple, but effective strategies

1. Create Zones

Creating zones is an effective way to give your pantry structure and ensure everything has its place. The idea is to group similar items together based on their function or how often you use them. This makes meal prep easier, helps with grocery shopping, and keeps your pantry looking neat.

• How to Start: Begin by categorizing your food items into sections like snacks, breakfast foods, baking supplies, canned goods, grains, spices, and cooking oils. You can even create a “grab-and-go” zone for lunch snacks or a dedicated coffee station for your morning essentials.
• Benefits: Zones make your pantry feel like a well-organized grocery store. You’ll know exactly where to look when you need something, and it helps you avoid buying duplicates of pantry staples since everything has a designated spot.
• Pro Tip: Store the most frequently used items (like snacks or spices) at eye level or in easily accessible areas. Less frequently used items, like special baking ingredients, can be stored on higher or lower shelves.

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2. Use Lazy Susans in Corners

Lazy Susans are a game changer for utilizing corner spaces in your pantry that are typically hard to reach. They spin, allowing you to easily access everything, even items in the back.

• Where to Use: Lazy Susans work best in deep or corner shelves where items often get lost. They’re great for holding small items like spices, condiments, oils, or sauces—anything that might otherwise get stuck in the back and forgotten.
• Types of Lazy Susans: You can find Lazy Susans in different sizes and materials. Look for one with raised edges to prevent items from falling off. Be mindful of the weight you will add to each one as it will have some bearing on how smoothly they spin.
• Pro Tip: Use a Lazy Susan on a pantry shelf or even in your fridge. It’s a simple hack that transforms awkward spaces into easy-reach storage.

3. Use Shelf Stackers

Shelf stackers, also known as shelf risers, are essential for making the most of your vertical space. They allow you to create an extra layer of storage within a shelf, preventing items from getting buried under each other.

• How They Work: Shelf stackers are essentially small platforms that you place on your existing pantry shelves. This creates two or three levels of storage where there was only one before. You can store smaller items, like cans or jars, on top of the stacker while keeping larger items, like boxes of pasta, underneath.
• Benefits: Shelf stackers are perfect for maximizing shelf space in pantries with fixed shelves. They help you keep your pantry items more visible, so you don’t end up with random jars or cans hidden at the back.
• Pro Tip: If you have wire pantry shelves, look for shelf stackers with a solid surface, so your items don’t tip over. Stackers are also great for use in your kitchen cabinets to create extra storage for dishes or mugs.

Related information

See this post on How to Stock a Frugal Pantry to keep items you use regularly on hand and easy to find.

See this post on Cheap (mostly healthy) Pantry Meals when you need ideas.

The Best Way to Create Easy Access

If you’re tired of stacking boxes and cans like a game of Jenga, focusing on easy access should be a priority. Here are some simple hacks:

• Lazy Susans are a game changer for storing small items like spices, oils, or condiments. It keeps them within easy reach without taking up much space.
• Pull-out shelves or drawer organizers are another great way to access pantry items in deep cabinets.
• Use clear bins or clear storage containers to group similar food items like dry goods, snacks, or cereals—no more losing things in the back of the pantry!

Smart Storage Solutions

A well-thought-out storage system can be the difference between an organized kitchen and chaos. Here are some kitchen storage ideas that work for any size pantry:

• Stackable food storage containers maximize your vertical space and give a cohesive look to your pantry.
• Magnetic Shelves and over-the-door holders can hold anything from foil, wraps, and baggies to dish towels or spice racks.
• Airtight containers like glass jars or mason jars are perfect for dry goods like flour, sugar, and pasta. Not only do they look neat, but they also keep your pantry staples fresh. Repurpose pickle or pasta sauce jars to create a unique canister set. A set of labels like this will keep everything attractive.

Pantry Organization Ideas: Simple Hacks for Any Space

No matter how much pantry space you have, there are different ways to organize your items:

• Label maker time! Adding uniform labels is a great way to keep things neat and easy to find. And yes, it’s a good time to ditch those half-empty cartons from the grocery store. You will know at a glance when an item needs to be added to your grocery list.
• Open shelving or steel racks are perfect for storing clear containers of dry goods, so you can see exactly what you have.
• Wicker baskets for lunch snacks and quick breakfast foods, or a file organizer like this can be a great place to store kitchen items like cutting boards and baking sheets.

Small Pantry? No Problem!

If you’re dealing with a small pantry or kitchen, don’t worry—there are still plenty of kitchen pantry ideas that work:

• Tap into unused space! Use the pantry doors for a spice rack, or add drawer organizers to utilize that extra bit of space. Add Command Hooks to hold small kitchen items like measuring spoons, whisks, or pot holders exactly where you need them.
• Small kitchen cabinets? Use clever storage solutions like these organizers that fit over the door to increase the storage capacity of any cabinet.
• Pantry shelves can hold small appliances, while clear bins keep small items organized. It’s also a great place for those odds and ends that often get lost in the shuffle.

Large Pantry? Here’s How to Keep It Organized

If you have a walk-in pantry or a larger space, it’s important to avoid clutter so it stays functional:

• Designate zones for different pantry items like baking supplies, snacks, and small appliances. A coffee station for your coffee maker and mugs? Yes, please!
• Install pull-out shelves or even wire shelves for small items like spices or dish towels.
• Invest in storage systems from places like The Container Store for more advanced kitchen storage ideas, like drawer organizers or clear storage containers.

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You don’t need to hire a professional organizer or design consultant!

By using these simple hacks, you’ll have an organized kitchen that makes grocery shopping and meal prep a breeze. You’ll know exactly what to add to your grocery list, never worry about expired foods again, and give yourself the gift of a stress-free pantry.