You may be suffering from inefficient pantry practices if your pantry is either (a) overflowing with a variety of goods that may or may not ever be used, or (b) a barren wasteland that requires you to run to the grocery numerous times a week for staples.
Don’t worry, it’s entirely treatable. In fact, you might find that the treatment is a lot of fun. We’re showing you how to clean, organize, and design a pantry that will help you save money, decrease food waste, and bring more maintenance to your kitchen in the spirit of spring cleaning!
1. Take a stock of your pantry
Take inventory of your online kitchen pantry as the first step in the cleanup process. Any room in the kitchen that is used for food storage, such as the freezer, refrigerator, spice drawers, and storage cabinets, is referred to as a pantry.
To begin taking inventory, choose a pantry zone, such as the freezer. Then take everything out of the zone and place it on your kitchen table or counter. Take out your phone or a pad and pen and make a list of the foods you’ll be eating and how much of each you’ll need.
Taking a pantry inventory will help you figure out which foods you actually eat, which you don’t, and which you already have on hand, allowing you to focus your shopping list and save money and food waste.
Make a pantry inventory at least twice a year, and schedule it on your calendar so you don’t forget. This will not only assist you in keeping track of your pantry, but it will also assist you in keeping track of changes in your personal preferences over time. So, if your next scheduled inventory reveals that you haven’t touched that popcorn in your cupboard in six months, you’ll know it’s not an item you eat often and can comfortably strike it off your list.
2. Declutter as You Go
Separate your foods pantry cabinets into one of four categories after taking inventory: keep, throw, compost, or give. Begin by checking all of your items for expiration dates. Toss everything that has gone bad, including • Stale crackers or bread
• Boxes or bottles that are almost empty
• Herbs and spices that have lost their flavor (learn how to properly store herbs with our Guide to Herbs)
• Oils that have oxidized (learn how to properly store oils with our Guide to Oils)
After you’ve tossed expired things, continue the refining process by creating a baseline guideline to assist you in swiftly selecting what to keep, toss, or donate. Marie Kondo, a Japanese tidying expert, recommends only retaining items in your house that “spark joy.”
3. Clean the Zones and Contents of the Pantry
It’s time to clean after you’ve categorized all of your pantry products. To begin, use a moist cloth to wipe out the inside of your cabinets. Then use a dry cloth to finish. Wipe clean any dust-collecting containers, such as spice jars and other bottles. After that, it’s time to move on to the freezer and refrigerator. Continue to clean until each pantry zone is free of crumbs, spills, and dust.
When you’re ready to move on to cleaning the entire kitchen, consult our Kitchen Maintenance Guide to learn what to clean, how to clean it, and when to do it. Read more of us at our website
