Do You Know Where Your Sauces Are Hiding?

Your kids want that super special sauce on their chicken…  You know, the one with the orange label?  The trouble is that you cannot find anything, let alone that one unique bottle which is likely hiding in the back, dark corner.  There are too many boxes, bottles, bags, and items jumbled together!   Time to organize your kitchen pantry for good!  While it is embarrassing to admit, our pantry appeared like this not too long ago.  It took pure frustration with searching for foods and finding post-dated things to finally take action.

As you can see, we started with organizing into boxes and had some sort of a categorization system.  But, honestly, I think those are remnants of our moving into this new home.  We even lost the battle of keeping food items on the shelves and they started to live on the pantry floor.  SMH.  Coming from a very organized house and life, this was beyond maddening for me.  However, with a new baby, a toddler, a new job, and getting settled into a new home, this problem just kind of happened while we were not looking.  Life happened.  But, it was time for a change!

 

 

How To Fix This Giant Mess?

First off, a major overhaul was needed, and this is not a task for the faint of heart.  And this type of task is not accomplished in two hours, nor in two days.  If I remember correctly (I try to block out details from the less-fun projects), I think it took three days?!   Maybe more?  When you go to tackle your pantry, break it into parts knowing it may take some time…

Step 1:  We literally took everything out of the pantry and put it on the counter, which I thought would fit.  Nope.  Onto the kitchen counters, the table, the floor, and into the living room it all went.

Step 2:  While placing items onto the counters, we checked for expiration dates.  “Expired!  Expired!”   My husband kept exclaiming.  Food waste is a horrible feeling, so we tried to see what was salvageable and what needed to take a ride in the garbage truck.

Step 3:  Group like with like:  if it is a flour, flours go with flours.  If it is a rice product, they lived momentarily next to each other on the floor.  Cereals in one spot.  Sauces in several spots – further separated by Mexican, Asian, and Other.  This sorting continued until many groups were determined.  Then what?

Like in a all clean closets, UNIFORMITY is king.  Baskets or boxes that are all the same is pleasing on the eyes.  Yes, all the same.  Not necessarily the exact same, but the same style, the same color, the same type, same shapes.  Now it was time to measure the items grouped together, measure the space we had to work with, and start searching for the right fit…

Before we move on, cleaning and painting must happen!

 

Nothing Is As Pretty As Freshly Painted White Walls

Step 4:  Next up, with everything removed, it was easy to clean and paint inside the pantry.  And what a difference that made!  We used a bathroom sealing paint to help ensure any possible leaks would be less likely to stain the walls.  (We really aren’t that messy, but ya know, kids…  Plan for the worst, and hope for the best!)

Step 5:  The shelves and brackets were reused as they were in great shape (staying frugal with not buying new to keep costs down), but we did buy new trim.  It is hard to see in the last picture, but the brown trim board found in the “before” photo was replaced on all levels with white scalloped trim on both the back edge where the two boards join (and this weak spot needed support), as well as on the sides by the walls coming towards the door.  This change in support was both for function and beauty.

Step 6:  Lazy Susans were added into the corners for improved access to dead spots, and in fact, we now have all six shelf levels with one in place.  I LOVE being able to find everything now!!!  This may be a small pantry, but it fits our family of four much better now.

 

Zinsser Satin Gloss Perma-White Mildew-Proof Bathroom Paint:

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How to Properly Store it All?

Step 7:  Then onto the baskets.  As stated above, uniformity is needed when choosing the best way to store your items.  I like the look of the wicker baskets but did not want to use anything that could get damaged if it got wet.  I chose to use a waterproof basket.  The darker brown, smaller ones pictured we already had but then purchased several sets of the larger, lighter brown ones.

Step 8:  Labels were needed as we did not know where we put anything at first.  (Now, we know the location of the boxes well and could grab one blindfolded and get the right item!)

Step 9:  The upper boxes are a repurpose from my old office, but are a great function with the lid and keeping things hidden!  (Out of sight, out of mind!)

This whole process took a bit of time and reorganizing a few times, but it has been very worth the time, energy, and money spent.  There are fancy systems out there for a full-closet solution, and that is a great option.  However, I like having flexibility and ways to customize how the food was to be stored.

 

 

 

 

And How Old Are Your Spices?

Lastly we did the spices…  A recent email from one of my favorite spice distributors let me know it was time to reorder my favorites as ground spices can lose their flavor and aroma starting at six months!  Six months?!  Yikes!  Perhaps I need to cook more?  But more importantly, I knew old spices lurked in the back, dark corners and it was time for eviction!

Step 10:  Fortunately, when I organized my disaster of a pantry, I also did the spices in the upper cabinet.  Now I can actually find and see my Siagon Cinnamon and the Back of the Yard Butcher Rub.  But if your pantry is not organized, then you cannot even begin to start to know where to look.  This cupboard was easy to organize in that there was a smaller space.  I like using the baskets here again to help with easily grabbing the whole grouping of that type of spices.  Making stir fry or soup?  You are gonna need more than one spice, so you may as well grab the bin.  Everything is in one spot, which makes meal-time prep and cooking faster and easier!

In the lowest two bins live the most used spices; the left side is closest to the stove and holds savory, right side holds sweet spices.  Second lower shelf contains commonly used but not everyday-spices = these are our special recipe enhancers, mixes, soup add-ins.  The middle shelf obviously holds open bottles of various oils, salts, honey, hot sauces, and seasoning blends.  Top shelf is only reached with a stool, so they are encased for your protection.  In here we have bulk flat-packs of spices, spices to-be-ground, and glass bottles waiting to be reused in their next life.

 

 

Time to Get Picky

Of note, I do not like the clear plastic bins for this organization (nor for the pantry proper).  I know they are en vogue… “Why?  You can see everything inside!”  you say.  Exactly my point.  Part of organization is not just that items are in the correct box or place, but also that the overall space is calming.  Seeing several clear boxes with many items inside does not help me, while seeing several white/brown boxes neatly sitting gives a more uniform appearance, thus easier on the eyes.

Okay, so why did I go white here but brown in the pantry?  Simple colors patterns.  The walls and the labels in the pantry are white, so I used brown bins.  In the cupboard, the inside is wood with two different brown shades, so I reversed it with using white bins.  It all coordinates if someone is sitting at the kitchen counter and sees both open at the same time, yet isn’t matchy matchy.  Plus, the spices and sauces are more likely to spill and leak, so I wanted a pure plastic bin with solid base.

 

More Tips?

Please check out my website https://KLRestored.com for more tips on recipes, healthy living, frugality, and DIY projects.  And I would love to hear what you are working on… drop me a line below!

 

* Disclosure: Recommended products are KLRestored home-tested and/or I’d-Buy-That approved.  This post contains affiliate links; we may earn a small commission.  Thank you for support!

 

Edits on 01/10/2023 for updated advertising.