How many times have you come home from the market and gone
to put away a new can of pinto beans, only to realize you already had three cans lurking in the farthest regions of your pantry? Maintaining order inside your pantry is one easy way to save time and money in this trying economy.
Organizing the food in your pantry can help you easily see what
you have and what you need to put on your grocery list. (Another way
to save money is always to travel with a list!) Here’s how to make your pantry pay off:
- Store all your baking goods, such as flour, sugar and baking soda/powder, on one dedicated shelf. This way, you can be sure
you have everything you need for your baking recipes. - Place high-calorie and sugar-dense foods high up on a shelf that
is difficult to view and reach. Out of sight, out of mind is a good
way to resist temptation. - Organize canned goods in rows based on food group; for example, put all the canned fruits off to one side and all the soups together.
- Buy an organizer that has multiple tiers for things like spices or small cans. This will expedite cooking and shopping tasks.
- Use clear, plastic containers for dry foods, like pasta, beans or rice. This allows you to see what you need at a glance and to readily estimate when you’ll need to replenish these products.
- If your pantry is small, use the cabinet above your coffeepot or
tea kettle to store tins or boxes of tea and java. - Free up some pantry space for bulk items that go on sale, and arrange these items by category.
