My always organized pantry

This is a picture of my pantry from several years ago. The organization system I had in place then still works.

My new $5 apron. Found at a thrift store for $5, new, with the tags still on. 

I love my new apron. It's new home is hanging inside my pantry which really is always this organized. 

Here's a current picture of my pantry. Same system, but different because an organization system has to be flexible. It has to reflect the way we live, the way things are used, the inevitable changes.

My organized pantry now with a step stool because I am shrinking. Damn old age!

Another great thrift store find was the small wall rack (below bottom left) for the oversized spices. Over the past year in lock-down we haven't been able to visit the Atlanta area farmers markets every three months. Instead, I've had to supplement my spices with local purchases in odd sized bottles. I hated placing these on the regular spice shelves so when I saw this $2.92 thrift store rack I knew exactly where it would go. I recently decided to move our picnic supplies into the pantry. 

At center on the bottom is a striped metal picnic basket and the blue and white picnic table blanket. Our paper picnic supplies are kept inside the picnic basket. Yes, I know it takes up space but now we are regularly using it!

My organized pantry stays organized

I keep seeing online pix of pantries full of containers holding and hiding all the cans and boxes of food with labels indicating cereal, baking, cans, etc. That doesn't work for me. Sure, there are some baskets but for the most part I want to see what I have and I want some flexibility on the shelves. Sometimes the sales or the season means a change in the shelf space I use. I still keep general categories in the same spot, on the same shelf but sometimes I crave more green beans or need more canned soup for warmth. (Damn old age!)

One basket is for ramen because we love ramen. We keep gochujang, ssamjang, and doenjang on hand. We used to use miso but when we discovered Korean cuisine we switched. Ramen is also great for using up the extra fresh veg and kimchi too. It's fast, tasty, warm, comforting food. The other week we sat down to a fresh batch of egg rolls and ramen and rewatched Tampopo, a great spaghetti ramen western set in Tokyo. Ah, yes, date night for an old married couple! Besides, a cozy couch is a great spot to make out.

One of the small baskets in my pantry holds organizing supplies: a hole punch, tape, and spare spice jars. I find hanging some things better uses the space I have so I'll punch a hole and hang it. But the packaged goods which I buy in multiples, on sale, don't all fit hanging on the wall hooks so I have a basket for those too. 

One basket has bottled water and paper towels. Neither are routinely used but need a space. The trash bags dispense more easily from a basket. One basket holds unopened supplies like saran wrap and baggies. The open ones are in a drawer. One holds unopened bottled juice. One holds tortilla chips. My potatoes and onions have their own baskets. My son's hot instant cereals occupy another basket. Bags of nuts and fruits are in baskets attached to the walls.  My kitchen linens are in baskets.  And sweets! I have a basket for sweets because they come in all sizes.

Wow! I guess I do have a lot of baskets but I think more things are not in baskets. But only one of my baskets has a label and that's for the potatoes. It says: Potatoes: Boil em, mash em, stick in a stew

Organizing a pantry is based on use, not some online celebrity blogger's picture. Sure those pix can be inspiring but the reality is how you use what is in your pantry. 

I group things together: 

pasta

prepared pasta meals

spice

canned beans 

dry beans

veg

international

fruit, jams, and preserves

dry fruit and nuts

tomatoes and Italian are together (which are near the pastas)

all Tex-mex including black and refried beans and seasonings

salad dressings, olives, plus condiments (shelved according to size: because some are too tall, they live on the top shelf)

boxed teas waiting to restock my tea drawer

soups

I even have a hot cocoa section with peppermint sticks and marshmallows and cinnamon sugar spice because one needs warm chocolate comfort year round.

The only baking supplies in the pantry are the stir ins like the chocolate chips.

The remainder of my baking supplies are in the cabinets

Baking supplies to the left of the stove

Supplies over the stove

Baking supplies to the right of the stove

This system works well for me because I have a kitchen island I use for baking, bread making, and meal prep.

Yes, I really am always this organized. Why? So I can find things. Why ? Because I found what works and kept it. 

Sometimes things change like my flour storage. I used to keep it above the plates but now I buy it in different quantities. Now my plates and glasses don't share the space anymore. 

When my daughter moved out I gave her my everyday glasses. I had fancy glasses that sat below my dining hutch. I decided what was the point of having beautiful things you only bring out on the holidays. I put them in rotation and enjoy them daily.  My fancy glasses are actually these1950s Big Top Peanut Butter Glasses

Several years ago I photographed my pantry and posted it on Pinterest. You can compare some the small changes I've made over time.

Pantry Facing View

Pantry Lower Facing View

Pantry Left Upper View

Pantry Left Lower View

Pantry Right Upper View

Pantry Right Lower View

The pictures from now and then show how setting up a system can work and how a good system can be changed to reflect changes in they way it is used. 

We no longer keep the trash in the pantry.

We no longer have all our children living at home.

We no longer buy the same things. Our tastes have changed.

We no longer routinely use the same things in the same ways. Paper towels are back ups in our kitchen, not main supplies. Now we use cloth cleaning towels. Paper towels are only used from grease and broken glass. No more paper napkins except for picnics. I am still using up the supply we had from three years ago. We use cloth napkins. The only bottled water we have is an emergency supply; we use water bottles now. Some things are bought in bulk now; some things aren't. 

But look at the things that are the same:

The spice is on the same shelf.

The pastas are on the same shelf. 

The Tex-Mex and the Italian / tomato items are on the same shelf.

Same old ramen basket. Same old sweets basket.

Preserves and honey are on the same shelf. 

Salad supplies and condiments still occupy that same corner.

Tea has the same upper shelf because we buy in bulk online.

Some storage options have changed. I am slowly moving from plastic to non plastic. I won't toss out usable plastic containers but those that break are replaced by glass storage such as canning jars and recycled food jars, but only the ones with black lids because I do have standards....and a touch of OCD and perfectionist leanings compulsions. 

But no matter your leanings, a system of organization can be beneficial whether looking for something, restocking, or just keeping neat and tidy.

And I really am (probably) the most organized person you'll ever meet. 

I dare you. Open any drawer, any door in my house!