The Tribe’s disorganized pantry
Making the best use of the space we have is an important part of being a homemaker.
I am blessed to have a wonderful pantry in our new home, but I haven’t always had a pantry. We have lived in homes that might be considered small for our family’s size, yet I have always been able to find a nook or cranny somewhere in which to store extra non-parishables. Even under a staircase can be a superb pantry, as I’ve done in our last two homes. Under beds can work too!
Disorganization is the reason for this!
Keeping a well-stocked pantry is important for many reasons.
This is just a poor use of space!
1. A well-organized pantry allows you to take advantage of sales as you bring your deals home to a system already in place. Otherwise, your great buys can turn into clutter.
2. You never know when weather could keep you from going to the store for a few days, having a working pantry with which you can prepare meals is critical and wise.
3. Sudden unemployment can put tremendous pressure on a family’s budget! Having several weeks worth of food set aside can give you time to re-group financially and still keep the troops fed.
4. A well-stocked pantry allows you to whip together a dish for a potluck without much notice, just go shopping in the pantry!
5. Finally, a healthy pantry allows you to pack a bag of groceries to help someone else out in a snap!
I decided it was time to invest in a labeler and get with the program. I store too much food to be this disorganized.
$27 labeler from Sam’s
The other part of the equation for me is that my children continue to put things away in the pantry just anywhere, which would be understandable considering the fact that there was no system in place. Taking the time to show the kids where things go will pay off in the long term. They are happy to put things away in the right place, they just need to know what you want them to do.
Dealing with small appliances and off-season dishes is another thing I haven’t figured out in this house. As you know, I am not a big appliance fan! I only have what I use frequently, yet they still need a place. I cleaned out those corners and tucked them neatly underneath.
Separating cooking soup from eating soup was helpful.
Once again, labeling makes your pantry usable by all because it’s clear where everything goes.
Doesn’t this look a lot better?
I have my aprons on a hook and all the cleaning products on the white rack, so that anyone can grab and go.
Within a week or two, I’m sure the pantry will need to be tweeked again, but now that I have a system in place, we should be talking just maintenance.
How is your food storage system doing? Post your own before and after pix on the Morristribe Facebook page!
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About kmorris
Maybe you could come to my house with your Sam’s labeler and take care of my pantry??!! Thanks for the tips.
Hi Susie,
LOL! The labeler has been on my “not-completely-necessary-but-could-be-useful” list for a while now. It is a pretty handy little machine.
I’m following you on FB! Thanks for stopping by!
Looks awesome Kelly! I sooo need a labeler…
Katie,
I hear you, I drug my feet on it for a couple of years, but I’m glad to have it. Actually, the kids broke the first one within 4 hours of having it home, this is the second one. I knew that would happen, one of the reasons I didn’t want one. I hid it better this time.
Looks good!! Wish I had a pantry like that. I do have a really big deep cabinet but it’s so hard to see what’s in the back. I’ve been working on baskets but a labeler would be awesome. Now to sell the hubby on it!! LOL
Kimi,
I had those deep cabinets at my old house, I was constantly ‘losing’ things in there! But storage is storage, I like your basket idea…and as for the labeler, Christmas is coming!
Excellent point Kelly!! Thanks!! Baskets seem to be working so far..just hard for the rest of the family to know what’s in them without moving everything around!! My oldest moved back home and loves rooting through the pantry to see what’s there!!
I have this same label maker and did this with my pantry shelves. It helps all the guys put things back where they belong without my nagging! Love it!
Hi Marcia,
Thanks for your comment! Just gotta tell them what to do and most of the time, they will.
I have a big wonderful pantry but my shelves are those white wire rack type. Any suggestions on how to label them?
Gail,
Hmmmm. I wonder if you could find little tags that might hang from your wire. I’ve had those and know what you’re talking about.
I would go to a place like Bed, Bath and Beyond or Ikea and just look around for solutions….:)
I love that you put the small appliances under the storage unit, it is kind of strange that it doesnt start at the ground- but good for you finding things that can fit under it and look great!