Today I’m sharing everything I did & used to organize our pantry, plus highlighting our pantry must-haves that we always keep on hand! Check out the steps we took, the containers I purchased, and a full pantry essentials list below!

We’ve been keeping more food on hand than before, just to make sure we’re stocked & not needing to run out to the store all the time. And having more “stuff” definitely highlights a disorganized space! So I took on the project of organizing the pantry (which hadn’t been touched since we moved in 6 months prior).

Here’s the before! Not the worst, and I knew where most things were… but not the best. And definitely not the most aesthetically pleasing!

How I Got Started

  • Step 1: take EVERYTHING out! (this is the scary part, ha! but Hudson thought it was so fun!)
  • Step 2: toss expired food, donate any unopened food that’s not expired but you know won’t get eaten
  • Step 3: clean, clean, clean. I used my Branch Basics all purpose spray, a magic eraser or two, and my favorite vacuum to get it looking as close to brand new as possible (Branch Basics code is JESSIE for 10% off starter sets!)
  • Step 4: take stock of what you have, and measure your space to see what jars/containers/bins will fit your space & your needs!

I ordered most things from Amazon, and worked with a few things I already had. Here’s how it turned out, and what we keep stocked!

glass flour jars | label maker | large pop-top containers | medium pop-top containers

The Baking Shelf

For the top shelf, I went with airtight glass flour jars to contain any bulk baking ingredients. I love the size of these and that the wide opening on top means I can fit even a 1 cup measuring cup right in to scoop out with no problem.

To label, I used my handy-dandy label maker. I have used this to label baby gear, garage storage bins, even to make labels for various chargers we have in the house! So useful, and makes the perfect, neat little labels super quick & easy.

In the corner, I made best use of the space with a Lazy Susan spinning organizer – where I keep honey, extracts, chocolate chips, my secret stash of dark chocolate (don’t tell), sprinkles.. basically random, small baking ingredients! I love these organizers for any kitchen corner, and especially for the bathroom! Great for hair products & toiletries.

Lazy Susan spinning organizer | acrylic bins | large pop-top containers | medium pop-top containers

The Snack Shelf

For snacks, I love these pop-top containers. I use the tall containers for snacks that come in a bigger bag that we through often (kettle corn/popcorn, potato chips). The medium size is great for trail mix packs and crackers (we love Simple Mills!). I had a small size laying around that I use for bars, and they fit just right!

The acrylic bins to the left are great for miscellaneous snacks that we don’t buy as often or in large enough quantities to warrant a permanent pop-top container! I love those for all over the house, but especially for the pantry/fridge.

To round out the snack shelf: on the far right I keep unopened nut butters (the opened ones go in the fridge) and a vase filled with meat sticks! Fancy, right?! Haha!

glass canisters

The “Ingredients” Shelves!

The third and fourth shelves are where I keep “ingredients” – things I grab for when making dinner, or assembling a recipe.

I bought these airtight glass canisters for nuts & seeds, and the size is just right. Any extras from buying in bulk go in the basket on the bottom right of the pantry.

Tucked in the corner to the left, I have a long shallow basket (old, maybe from Target?) that holds packages of pasta & rice.

To the right, another acrylic storage bin with the few unopened sauces or jarred things I have on hand. Hot sauce, ranch, salsa, enchilada sauce, marinades – that sort of thing! Anything opened in this category goes in the fridge.

pull-out “drawers” | can organizers | wire shelf | baskets

Doubled Up Storage Space!

On the fourth shelf, I found these super handy pull-out “drawers” that I love so much, and perfectly fit the space! They would be great for bathrooms too with their “mesh” style that doesn’t trap air/moisture.

I use the first set of drawers for miscellaneous items like dried fruit, and canned things I don’t buy often or are too small for my other can organizers (soups, pumpkin, olives, green chiles, etc.)

In the next set of drawers I have onions on top, potatoes on bottom! I’ve heard that storing the two together can make them go bad faster, but haven’t experience that at all with them stacked like this in the breathable containers. They last super long!

Can Organization

To the right I have these can organizers stacked double high with this wire shelf – handy for any space! They work great for in the fridge too.

And on the very bottom I have these two wicker baskets: one for elderberry syrup/other DIY supplies (bottles, silicone gummy molds, etc) and the other for backup bulk ingredients that go in the jars on the shelves above!

pull-out “drawers” | can organizers | wire shelf | baskets

FAQs:

  • EXPIRATION DATES: I use up baking ingredients really quickly since I don’t keep a huge assortment on hand. If you’re worried about them expiring before you can use them up, use a dry-erase marker to write the expiration date from the packaging, or make a small label with the date! You can write it on something like painter’s tape and stick it to the bottom
  • FOOD STORAGE: some people swear by keeping nuts & flours in the fridge. I’m not one of those people – as long as they’re in an airtight container, I’ve never had any issue with them lasting at least a few months in the pantry. That’s plenty of time for us to use them up!
  • WHERE I BUY IN BULK: there are some great brands online, especially Amazon! Anthony’s is a good brand for flours online, and we always love Bob’s Red Mill. I usually source bulk (or large package) ingredients from either Amazon, Costco, Whole Foods, or Sprouts!
  • FOOD FRESHNESS: Everything, even crackers/popcorn/chips stays fresh really well if it’s kept in an airtight container with the lid on. That was a big deciding factor in which jars/containers I chose – the lids are all super legit with keeping air out! These have all been great – even better than keeping in a bag with a zip top or “chip clip”.

SHOP THE POST:

Screenshot or save to your phone for reference!

I hope this post was helpful, or at least fun to see our before/after! I know everyone’s space is so different, but maybe this can give you some ideas. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! And if you get inspired to tackle your pantry organization, I’d love to see! Tag me on IG @justjessieb!

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