Professional Organizers Swear By These Genius Pantry Products
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Behind every great chef is a great pantry — and I don't necessarily mean ingredient-wise. If you've ever burnt your simmering dinner while searching for the rogue spice you need or the bag of rice for a side, then you know just how important a clean, organized pantry is, whether you're a professional chef or just a weeknight home cook. Achieving that Pinterest-worthy pantry can feel overwhelming without the right tools and strategies — that’s where expert advice and thoughtfully designed organization products come into play.
I chatted with three professional organizers — Kenzie Harkey of Simply Dare, Beth Venable of Side by Side Design, and our own Country Living Food Director, Charlyne Mattox — along with our expert editors to get their best tips and favorite products for containing the clutter of any pantry, from a walk-in to a single cabinet. Before you dive headfirst into filling up your Amazon cart, though, I'd recommend taking the professionals' advice and take stock of what you already have, and then divide your pantry into sections or zones. "We create zones in pantries to optimize functionality — think baking, breakfast, lunch/dinner, canned goods + sauces, sweets, etc.," Harkey says. "Often times, we place snacks on the bottom shelf so that they're easily accessed by children," Venable says of her layout. "The mid-area is usually cooking items, and we place baking items towards the top. At the bottom of the pantry, we use bins to contain big categories so that items don't get shoved or lost in the space."
After you've done the "research," now you're ready to buy all those organizational tools. Just remember: the key to keeping any pantry organized is to create a system and follow it. "You just have to be diligent about putting things back and away in the right place every time," Mattox says. "Also talk about the system with everyone in the house." Harkey also recommends a twice-a-year edit when you can assess expiration dates and remove anything that's gone bad and creating an "eat first" bin for soon-to-expire or already opened goods.
Set of 4 9x12in Water Hyacinth Pantry Baskets
Grouping similar products together into labeled baskets is a great way to make sure that nothing gets lost in a sea of clutter. "Label the bins so you know what's in each and help keep everything organized," Country Living Food Director Charlyne Mattox suggests. These hyacinth-leaf baskets with chalkboard labels are both adorable and super useful.
Another ideal use for these baskets: easily-accessible snack storage for kids. "If you have kids that can get a snack themselves, put a basket on a lower shelf so they can help themselves," Mattox shares. An organizing and parenting two-for-one.
Plastic Storage Bins
Venable notes that some homeowners prefer clear bins for the pantry so everything is visible as soon as you open the door, but still neatly contained. "The goal is to be able to see what you have so that it's easy to find," she says. "We tend to use clear at the top and middle section so that you can see what is in the bin without having to bring it down. Some people love clear so that they can see the items in a bin, but you need to keep these bins more tidy. We like to use a non-clear bin on the bottom shelf or two so that you have the flexibility to use a 'drop and go' system for items that the kids are touching."
Wide Mouth 32-Ounces Quart Mason Jars
The jury is still out in the debate between organizers on just how useful decanting into clear containers is. Some are all for it, while others think it's a waste of time and money. Even if you're against it, Mattox would suggest at the very least using these for items that come in messy packaging, like flour and sugar, and bulk purchases. "We buy bulk rice and put it in a big Mason jar and then store the large bag."
Glass Jar with Airtight Lid
If you, like Harkey, fall into the decant everything camp, then these budget-friendly canisters will become your new best friend. "One of the easiest things you can do to create more space is tossing original packing and decanting items into the appropriate containers," she says. "Decanting is the best way to stay organized in a small pantry."
Expand-A-Shelf
If your pantry is extra tight on space, then utilizing risers will be your new favorite hack. "Risers are the best," Mattox says. "If you don't have room for baskets use risers on the back of each shelf so everything isn't on the same plane."
Stackable Can Rack Organizer
Whether you buy in bulk or not, you'd probably be surprised at how much use you'd get out of a can organizer. Venable likes to use them in most of her pantries and prefers a tiered one like this to maximize space.
P-Touch Label Maker
If you want to skip the chalkboard labels mentioned earlier, then Venable recommends this P-Touch label maker. "Labels are an essential item," she says. This one allows you to choose fonts, frames, and even add symbols.
4 oz Mini Jars
"I use these mini jars to store sprinkles—there's something so satisfying about seeing all the little jars lined up by color," Editor in Chief Rachel Barrett says.
Lazy Susan Organizer
"I love an organizer that spins to store bottles of honey, vinegars and other pantry staples," Design Director Maribeth Jones says. "They make everything easy to see so you're less likely to have a mystery bottle in the back of your cabinet that expires before you can use it."
Heritage Hill Glass Jar
"We use these clear glass canisters for granola bars, cookies, and snack packs," Managing Editor Amy Mitchell says. "It’s easy to see when your oatmeal cream pie supply is dwindling!"
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