I woke up today and decided it was a perfect day to organize the pantry. Things were getting a little out of control … bags of flours all over the place, and I couldn’t find anything! I was trying to make some muffins, and honestly just the sight of this stressed me out!
This shelf mainly was the main source of my stress.
Here is the pantry as a whole:
And the door. As you can see, I was partly organized …
Just needed a little help! I really really really hate seeing “bags” of stuff. All the gluten free flours I use (mainly from Bob’s Red Mill) – I tried to keep them organized in “piles”, but it was so hard to know what was in there, and what I was running low on!
So while the coffee brewed, I started removing everything! Plus, I never had really de-glutenized my pantry, so there were things in there that I knew I would never eat again. Taking up valuable real estate!
I set aside everything I knew I was never going to use, and decided to donate it to the local food bank!
I decided to use more of my canning jars to get everything out of those bags!
Filling jars — that would be quinoa all over the place! That stuff is so tiny and messy!!
It took me pretty much all morning, but I’m loving how it looks now!
Top shelf – sweeteners, canned items, and jars of dried beans.
Middle shelf – oils, baking goods, nut butters, and dried fruit. In the bottom right (a container of green beans) is mung beans. I have no idea what to do with them!! Any ideas?? It was one of those – “ohhh that sounds like fun” purchases probably over a year ago.
Lower shelf – ahhhh all organized! I labeled the lids with what is in each jar.
And, the floor – the box on the top shelf is not oranges, but rather potatoes! My crock pots, strainers, and the dog food! Yes, I kept the open bag of whole wheat flour, and some white flour behind it. I’ll have to figure out what to do with that! Oh yes – and the fire extinguisher. Very important!
Finally, the door to the pantry!
As you can see, I love collecting all types of glass jars!
So much better! I love having an organized kitchen – it makes me feel more at home, and so much easier to find everything!
Now, the cabinets are next on my list!
maria
/ January 20, 2012Everything looks wonderful! Now you can enjoy being creative in the kitchen when you know where all your ingredients are 🙂
Those jars are the best helpers we can have in the kitchen…I use them for everything !
m.
jane
/ January 21, 2012Thanks Maria! It does feel good to be organized and actually KNOW what is in there instead of thinking in my head I have something and then realize I don’t …
Lea Ann
/ January 21, 2012Doesn’t it feel wonderful to organize your pantry???? My pantry isn’t laid out to where I can have shelves on the door .. darnit. And, I do the same thing, collect all types of jars like that. They make great storage jars.
jane
/ January 21, 2012It does feel so good! I love the shelves! Plus it makes me feel like I have more food for some reason 🙂
Vanessa Joy
/ January 22, 2012Looks really good! I have no idea what to do with mung beans either.
jane
/ January 22, 2012🙂 lol! Oh well, they will sit in my pantry till I figure something out!