9 Important Things You Should Consider Before Installing a Pantry

You have heard about the pantry and its benefits and now want one in your home, right?

You feel overwhelmed by the idea and do not know where to start. Well, bite on this project bit by bit, and to start you off, I’ll help you by listing a simple guide on how to know what to stock and what to consider and evaluate when building a pantry.

So, let’s get straight to the point and make this as simple as we can.

9 things to evaluate before stocking your staples

1.. Consider all foods you intend to eat. What season are you in and what kinds of food are you into right now? If within a household of more than one person (you), consider the tastes, likes, and dieting needs of the rest of the family members. And if you have been cooking but not stocking, you definitely have an idea of some of the things you use regularly. What are your constants through and through? Some of the staples do not change season in, season out.

Make a list. Yes, I love lists. There are various ways to make lists and some include;

• Use a pen and paper to list your staples
• Make use of your phone notepad
• Create a spreadsheet on your computer

So, choose a listing style that will help stay organized. Also, stay updated on your stock list.

2.. Evaluate the various categories of food types you do. You will stock your pantry with staples you pick from these categories. Examples of categories include baking, spices, root foods, etc.

If you bake and do pastries, some staples include flour, dried fruits and nuts, vanilla essence, toppings, powdered sugar, and baking soda.

3.. Consider canning some of your staples. Canning is an old food preservation method and has a huge comeback. You can store various types of foods from soups to sauces. This makes it easier to retrieve when preparing your meals or just have a can of ready soup to supplement a side for those busy nights.

4..The snack place in your pantry. It is easy to throw about packets of crisps and candy and many are the times we don’t get to consume it all. Have a list of the snacks you and your family love consuming and stock just that. Whether you have a hundred and one types of snacks or just a few, they should be neatly placed in your pantry.

5.. The odd foods you stock. Think about this space! There are some products you don’t use regularly but need for that one or two special meals you prepare monthly. Dedicate a sweet little space for such items and you’ll know where to go for such products when the need arises.

6.. Pantry organization for easy accessibility. Read more on this here. One main point though; group similar items together.

7.. Consider your placement method. Your pantry shelves are strongest near the wall. Along this space, you can stock heavy items such as jars, cans, etc. Use the front area of the shelves to stock lighter and not easily breakable items when they land on the floor.

8.. Make use of storage bins in your pantry. The bins are useful in holding collections of small but related items. Remember to label these items if need be. It is also a good storage area for things with no shelf space or are better off in the bin. Such items may include cleaning products, clean rugs and wiping cloths, and a ‘use first’ kind of bin for assorted items.

9.. Consider how long you want the staples to serve you. It Could be a month, 3 months, a year, etc. With this in mind, you will know what to stock in large quantities considering their expiration dates and freshness states.

A few things to consider when building a pantry

1.. Choose the space you want to convert into a pantry.

This is to assume you do not have a pantry but now consider installing one. Before you do, there are a few things you need to sit down with and think through them carefully. Here’s a list of what you should assess before installing a pantry.

• Storage capacity. Remember the list you were making for your food categories? The list will come in handy to help you know how much storage you need for your staples. The wall and floor space may be small in size, but the categories will act as a guideline on how to structure your pantry.
• Accessibility. This is a key aspect of a pantry. I find a pantry best placed just a few meters away from the kitchen. The trip from your kitchen to the pantry should be as short as possible. Also, factor in the opening of drawers and door opening- the space.
• Ventilation and airflow. Go for a space where you are assured of proper ventilation. If the space you have in mind does not meet ventilation requirements, you can have this aspect rectified beforehand. Good ventilation helps maintain optimal conditions within the pantry, preventing moisture buildup and food spoilage. Adequate airflow, through vents or open shelving, helps keep the pantry dry and fresh.
• Temperature and humidity control. A pantry should be installed far from sources of heat and moisture. If you read product labels, most of them indicate ‘keep it in a cool and dry place’. Good temperature and humidity levels are important for preserving food quality and extending shelf life.
• Lighting. A good pantry should be well-lit! This makes it easier to spot your staples. Moreover, a well-lit pantry is appealing to the eyes.
• Maintenance and durability. The materials you use to build your pantry should be durable and easy to clean and maintain. Of course, you do not want to deal with permanent stains from spills.
• Flexibility. The design you choose for your pantry should allow you to adjust and customize easily should storage needs change. For example, you can work with adjustable shelving and multi-purpose storage containers.

2.. Settle for a good design for your pantry.

Let your creativity be at play here while keeping it simple. You can also seek inspiration from various online platforms such as Pinterest. The options are limitless! Pick one that reflects your style while considering what’s highlighted above.

3.. Do not attempt to stock all your staples at once.

At least not yet. Do it in bits as you figure out what works and in what quantities. Try out the stock for a month, then two, and by the time you get to the third month, you will have a pretty good idea of your main staples.

4.. Always work with a list and labels

Here is a free pantry stock list you can download and use to help you stock your staples in categories.

5.. Keep your pantry organized!