As an example, I have a vinegar group which includes: champagne, apple cider, balsamic, rice wine. To that mix I've added white cooking wine, olive and grape oil, and an olive oil spray. The bottles vary in height and width, but now when I want to make a salad dressing, everything I need is occupying the same space in my pantry.
Here are some common groupings:
- Cans of beans and soups
- Bags of snack foods
- Bottles of oils and vinegar
- Jars of spices
- Boxes of grains (rice, cereal)
I asked my friend Ryan McGinn Allen, a certified health coach, how long you can keep grains in the pantry without going bad. "A long time as long as they're properly stored," says McGinn Allen.
Tip: McGinn Allen recommends buying whole grains and dried beans at health food stores or Whole Foods where there's higher turnover for these types of products. "In other words," she says, "buy grains where other people who buy grains would shop. You don't want to buy grains and beans that have been sitting in a bulk bin at the super market for 3 months before they sit in your pantry. Also, buy enough to fill a large Mason jar and buy more frequently instead of buying and storing large bags (unless you have room for some small, furry visitors)."
As for spices, a good rule of thumb is a year and then toss 'em.
More About Kitchen Pantry Organization:
- How to Organize a Kitchen Pantry
- 5 Best Kitchen Storage Solutions
- How to Choose and Install Kitchen Pantry Storage Solutions
- How to Maintain Kitchen Pantry Organization
- How to Declutter Your Kitchen Pantry
- How to Organize Your Kitchen Pantry by Grouping Like Items
- How a Magazine Editor Organizes His Kitchen Pantry
- Pictures of Super Organized Kitchens
- Kitchen Pantry Resources
