6 Ways To Tidy Your Pantry In 10 Minutes

Sometimes we don't have time for a full out overhaul of our goods, but the smallest effort can make the largest difference, especially when it comes to your pantry. Here's 10 things to do tonight that will only take you 10 minutes and when you're done, you'll be amazed, impressed and left wondering why you didn't do them sooner!

1. Face All Your Labels Out: It's hard to be able to tell what you have if you can't see the labels. Face them all out, stacking like items on top of each other for extra visability.

2. Group Like Items/Flavors Together: In our pantry we have a soup section, an Asian Section and Latin America and so forth. It's an easy way to hop into your pantry and grab what you need for an entire meal without digging through assorted shelves looking for that last ingredient that seems to be hiding from you!

3. Wipe Down The Shelves: It seems like such a basic thought, but when was the last time you did it? Use a damp rag and wipe up the dust and debris that falls so easily in our pantry. There's usually a light coating of flour (even if that's not where you keep said flour) and other dust that falls from grains. A clean cabinet is a happy one!

4. Check Expiration Dates: Although most of your can goods should all still be in date, open packages might not have the same luxury. Check anything with a clip, binder or tie for sure!

5. Make A Meal List: Post it notes can be used outside of the home office. When straightening your goods, make a quick list of meals that can be made from the supplies in your pantry. That way when you come home half fried from work and take out is calling your name, all you have to do is open the door and surely there will be something that can be made in a jiff!

6. Re-Stack Dishware: If your pantry has your food and dishware sharing spaces, make sure the bowls have been wiped out from dust, the plates straightened and your cake plate put back in the right spot once and for all. It's amazing how fast Pyrex can get unruly!

Do you have a quick tidying tip to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Image: Flickr member plind licensed for use by Creative Commons

Comments (8)

Last time I cleaned out my pantry, I spent a while cleaning up oil rings and sticky honey drips.

So I used lids from our collection of large, flat, disposable tupperware-type containers as trays, and put the oils and honey on them. They're easy to clean, sit flat, come in many sizes, and the little lip keeps all the gunk contained.

(I use the (lid-less) containers to organize small stuff in the fridge and freezer.)

We had to construct metal put-it-together type cubbies as a stand-in for a pantry because our kitchen is screwy. It's the worst thing ever to try to clean.

start with buying minimal

I would say to make a commitment to cook with the items in your pantry so that they are rotated accordingly. A pantry should not be filled with things "you might need" it should be filled with things "you always need" and you should cycle through those things pretty regularly. If you haven't touched it in a year, you don't need it -- and it's probably gone bad -- so you don't want it, either!

I agree with Laura. When I plan the week's meals I always first make a list of everything in the cupboards, fridge, and freezer. Then sit down with a cup of tea and some books (or blogs) and see what I can make with it.

I bought a remnant of linoleum, and cut shelf liners for my pantry. They are sturdy, washable, and my pantry shelves look brand new.

I agree with susrith in theory - buy minimally - but it doesn't work in practice for me! My cupboard is jammed at the moment. The meal list suggestion is excellent, I always come home fried and not wanting to think of what to cook, so I forget what I have at hand. Hopefully this will inspire me to organize my kitchen! Thanks!

Onde or twice a year (when you're not under pressure at work/in life) commit to using up everything in your pantry and refridgerator over a couple of weeks... I'm in the middle of doing this at the moment and I'm knocking about 30% off my weekly grocery bills.