Why I Love to Use Clear Storage Containers in the Pantry
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*Image used with client permission. Cambridge, MA
The pantry is the workhorse of the kitchen holding your dry goods, your backstock of items (thank you, big box stores!), keeper of snacks, quick meals, and recipe basics. Many of us also keep non-edibles in our pantry, such as party supplies, paper towels, lunch boxes and water bottles.
Decanting your dry goods is one way to keep your pantry organized. It’s easy to know when it’s time to replace an item and it can help keep the contents fresher longer.
Pantry storage can be expensive when starting from scratch if you want everything to match. Or you can be creative and reuse glass jars from products you have finished. From mason jars to pickle jars, you can start a collection and over time, have a pantry shelf (or two!) filled with coordinating glass jars.
If you’re buying matching containers all at once, look for those that have strong seals, come in various sizes and are easily stackable. Once the investment is made, you’ll find that you’ll actually save money over time because you won’t purchase duplicate items since you’ll know exactly what you have in your pantry.
As you’re planning out your pantry, take into consideration if your pantry shelves are adjustable and the maximum bin height and depth that is available to you. Here are my top tips for what I look for when buying new bins to decant pantry items:
Square (not round) containers to maximize space. I even look for containers that have straight (versus angled) sides.
Dishwasher and freezer safe. Look for easy-to-clean and versatile containers.
Can easily add a sticker or clip-on label. It’s imperative that containers can be labeled so you don’t confuse your baking soda and your baking powder. You can use a simple label, a fancy label or even a washable paint pen to mark the containers.
Yes, setting up the containers and labels takes a bit of time and money at the start. But in the end, it will be easier to find what you need, know when you’re running low on an item, and it will look good too!
More Organizing Ideas
Need even more ideas on how to organize your home? Living. Simplified. is ready to help. Take a look at these blog posts or send us an email at lauren@livingsimplified.net and we can work together to reach your organizing and decluttering goals:
How to Organize Your Kitchen in 4 Easy Steps