How to Organize Your Pantry and Keep It Tidy, According to Experts

The first step to a really organized pantry is to take everything off the shelves and assess what you have. That sauce that expired two years ago? It's time to toss it. Go through and edit your items until you have the essentials that need to go back in.

Start organizing your pantry by working in zones, grouping similar items together. For example, baking goods like flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder, can all go in their own zone. "That way you always know where something is, and whether you need to restock," says Lisa Ruff, director of business development for the Neat Method. 

Also consider how often you access each category of food. Keep items you always use within easy reach in an open bin or stored on a lower shelf in a canister. "The items that you use occasionally can live on a higher shelf, but are still visible and accessible in labeled bins, tiers, or canisters," says Clea Shearer, co-founder of The Home Edit. "The items that you never use, or anything back-stock, should be less accessible so they don't take up valuable real estate."

When organizing, don't try to come up with a categorized zone for every single food item in your pantry. "What you want is a simple road map that's flexible enough to allow for the occasional outlier," says Joanna Teplin, co-founder of The Home Edit. If you get too specific with your categories, it locks you in and you end up sticking things anywhere because it belongs nowhere. "The only instance where you should get specific is if you notice a significant amount of one item, like oatmeal or crackers. But when in doubt, keep it general," says Teplin.

You don't need to get a super advanced organizing system in order to successfully streamline your pantry. "For overhead shelving, use baskets to contain items so you don't lose anything that's out of eyesight," says Ruff. "If your shelves form corners, turntables are a great way to maximize the awkward, often wasted space."

Another reason pantries become disorganized is because you can't see what you already have before buying new. A simple solution to this? Clear containers. "Clear, airtight canisters keep items fresh and take up less space than original packaging—especially if they stack," Shearer says. "We use canisters in a variety of sizes to store baking ingredients, loose snacks, cereal, grains, and pasta. They also add a polished look to any pantry."

If you decide to transfer original products out of their packaging and into decanters, include the expiration date on the bottom of the new container. "Create a small label with a label maker, or handwrite on removable labels, so you can easily change it when you refill the container," Ruff says. Not only will this prevent you from eating something expired, it also keeps you from hanging on to old items. 

Another way to see your inventory more easily is by adding shelving. "Tiers offer more visible accessibility for bulk items like canned goods that you might want to take stock of before heading to the grocery store," Teplin says. "There's nothing better than knowing that you have an item at a glance."

Rather than letting your snacks run rampant, keep them organized in designated baskets. "Chip bags can be a hassle to corral so store them in a structured, rectangular basket," Ruff says. "Not only will this keep the bags from slipping off the shelf, but it will also protect the chips from being crushed." 

If you decide to transfer food from a box to a clear bin, or simply want to label the contents of the baskets or zones in your pantry, stock up on self-adhesive labels. "They're simple and pretty," Ruff says. "Otherwise, a label maker is a great alternative and ensures the labels are legible for everyone in your home."

There's no doubt that you'll fall in love with your newly organized pantry, but the trick to keeping it tidy is to regularly sift through its contents. "Give your shelves a quick touch-up when you put away your weekly grocery haul," Ruff says. "If you do this frequently, it should only take about five minutes to get everything back into its place." Then once or twice a year, she recommends doing a full clean-out that includes wiping down your shelving and checking any and all expiration dates. 

If you want to avoid that full clean-out, take 15 minutes each month to check expiration dates and take an inventory of what you have. "This will help you clear out space for items you actually use and avoid buying any duplicates," Shearer says.