Say goodbye to the clutter taking over your kitchen and get inspired with these Easy Pantry Organization Ideas!
When you think about it, using just a few new pantry organization hacks can really make your life so much easier. When you know how to organize pantry items, meal planning will be so much easier. Plus, when you actually know what you have in your pantry, you’ll avoid buying groceries you don’t even need.
It’s the perfect time to put some genius Home Decluttering Tips to work and get your home organized. Use these creative pantry ideas to create a system that will organize the chaos once and for all…
Pantry Organization Ideas
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Are you ready to kiss that wild clutter goodbye? Let’s get started!
Stackable Containers: One of the first things I did when organizing my pantry, was purchase some sets of Rubbermaid Modular Containers. They stack well, so you can work up and use that vertical space too! I use them to store my Flour, Sugar, Powdered Sugar, Brown Sugar, Coconut Flakes, Popcorn, Rice, etc. They keep everything sealed and fresh, and are easy to grab and go with the clear containers. The best part? They use so much less space as opposed to the bags and boxes the items come in.
Jennifer said: “I love these containers! They make everything uniform and findable!”
Rubbermaid Modular Containers
Janice said: “One thing I found so helpful years ago is getting Rubbermaid Modular Containers. These stack so well and they have charts telling how much of each thing can fit in the container. It’s easy to see if something is getting low. The food stays fresh, and best of all, the cabinets and pantry stay so neat! It is a little work after shopping, but I find it so satisfying to have an organized pantry that it’s actually fun.”
Shelia said: “I did my whole pantry about a year ago with plastic containers and some glass jars too, easy to keep in order and clean now, i labeled everything too. I wish i had done this years ago.”
Shannon said: “All dry ingredients/products are stored in 32 oz mason jars. (pasta, raisins, choc. chips, rice, flour, etc)”
Patti said: “Jars are such a space saver in the cabinets and so much easier to see and re-seal after using!”
Gayle said: “Use mason jars to store food and spices.”
Mason Jar Snack Tip: I personally love storing nuts, trail mix, and dried fruits in jars. I seem to grab for the healthy snacks when I can see them easier!
32 oz. Mason Jars
Coffee and Oatmeal: Even larger Larger Mason Jars can be used to store things like Coffee, Oatmeal, Cereal, etc!
Cupcake Liners: I even like to use Wide Mouth Mason Jars for storing my muffin and cupcake liners! They stack up perfectly, take less space, and are easy to spot!
Organizing Cupcake Liners in Mason Jars
Stackable Can Racks: Are cans taking over your shelves? Stackable Can Racks are one of the easiest ways to organize your canned goods. You can easily spot and grab just what you need!
Stackable Can Racks
Mandi said: “I have a small dry erase board on the inside of my pantry door. That way when I take the last of something I can write it down. It also makes its easy to jot down what “else” you need to buy for a recipe as you are looking for ingredients. Then on grocery day, I refer to the dry erase board when making my list.”
Melissa said: “I use Storage Baskets in the pantry to keep snack foods together and easily accessible.”
Jody said: “Pantry Organization Ideas? I use a closet door shoe rack. Great for all my toddler snacks, jello, rice, spice packets… endless options!!”
Pantry Shoe Organizer Hack
Stacey said: “I bought a label maker and put labels (e.g. cereal, canned fruit, pasta, etc.) so my family would know where to put the stuff. It has worked pretty well.”
Chalkboard Labels: Chalkboard Style Pantry Label Stickers also work great! Just write, stick and you’re done!
Pantry Label Stickers
Ashley said: “Our pantry is ‘sorta’ organized with items that go together. Example: peanut butter & bread/ taco shells & taco meat packet mix, cereal on another shelf (with cookies hidden behind tall boxes), cans of soup & ingredients, baking goods on another shelf. The only problem I’ve had is, my hubs doesn’t put the items back in their proper spots, which is why I said ‘sorta’ organized.”
Luise said: “My pantry is sorted by type, (sides, baking, canned, cereal) as well as by expiration date. Any time I buy stuff (on sale!) I sort it in by date. That way things don’t get forgotten in the back of the shelf and nothing expires.”
Erica said: “I actually used the large size coffee canisters for storing sugar, floor, etc… Works great!”
Alyssa said: “I have one shelf for “quick foods” like cereal, mac & cheese, oatmeal, ect. And another one for ingredients, such as canned veggies, pasta noodles, rice, ect. Then the last shelf is entirely soups, since my husband takes a can to work every day. It makes it easier in the morning, so he doesn’t end up accidentally grabbing a can of green beans for his lunch, and when we come in tired, we can just grab a quick food from the main shelf and know it only takes one or two ingredients to make a meal.”
3 Tier Spice Shelf {I have 2 of these}
Stephanie said: “I have turned our hall closet into an extra pantry, full of BOGO’s from Publix. I put the newest stuff in the back. Our kitchen pantry is organized by type of food. One shelf is for baking, one is canned and jarred, one for boxed, extra soda & k-cups are on the bottom and my cookbooks & cutting boards are on the top shelf.”
Suzanne said: “Last year we took our tax refund and turned part of the garage into a pantry that leads off the kitchen. Best investment ever.”
K-Cup Organizer
Angie said: “I have a shelf for baking (flour, sugar, etc) and pasta, another for canned goods, another for boxed dinners for nights we’re in a pinch, one for boxed snacks, and a 2 tier sliding tray for packet gravies and soups!”
Robin said: “I put boxed foods in clear plastic boxes for the pantry. Instead of changing/making labels, I simply cut off the box top or part of the name of the product and put it in the container with the food. I can easily SEE what’s in the container and KNOW by name exactly what it is. If it needs directions, I also cut that out and put it in the container where it can be seen.”
Lorraine said: “I have 3 shelves in my pantry… The top for sides like mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, pastas yatta yatta. The second is for the breakfast foods. And our bottom one is for everything else. I have a storage bin for the randoms like single ramen noodles and anything else that has cluttered the other shelves. I also have a cabinet cleared out just for cans.” 
Alison said: “I recommend a Lazy Susan for canned and small items!”
Lazy Susan
Amy said: “I save all my empty containers, (i.e. butter and sour cream tubs) and use them instead of buying expensive Tupperware or Ziploc tubs… and my children get to decorate them so I know whats in it”
Stephanie said: “Never underestimate the power of BINS! Micro organize things in your cabinets like band-aids, things you use in the bath, things you use for your manicures/pedicures, pet supplies, etc…. In the kitchen you can use a bin for spice packets too, or baking items in a large bin! PURGE! If you haven’t used it in a year, donate it! Feel good for paying it forward and you will live better with less clutter.”
Venessa said: “I use clear storage containers. I also have my spices in a rectangular container and they are alphabetized with the 1st initial on the top of a lid. It helps a lot!”
Kathy said: “I also attempt to use baskets or bins for meal planning. For each meal, all non-frozen ingredients go in a basket.”
Vi said: “Take a Sharpie and write the date on your groceries the day you buy them. With this written on the package in larger print, you can read it easier and use the older dated items first. That is what I do before I put the items in my pantry.”
Kitchen Timesaver Tips
Elizabeth said: “I go through mine every Wednesday and get rid of expired items and make a list of what I need to get at the store.”
Debi said: “If I was smart, I would let my daughter organize it! She doesn’t hesitate to throw things out that we don’t use! ;0)”
Lynn said: “I am getting ready for vacation by NOT grocery shopping. Cleaning out the freezer and pantry both. When I get back in a month, we’ll start from close to empty!”
And finally… Dawn just admitted that “ours is a freaking disaster!” 😉
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So do you have any Pantry Organization Ideas or tricks that work for you?
Share with us in the comments below!
Letscurry says
This is such a helpful post coming now Heidi, during this lockdown my pantry needed much attention and being the organised person I was before lockdown,now with everyone in the family having access to it mean a chaos in my pantry. I liked the idea of not underestimating the power of bins. I always use ziplocks to keep the packets that I have opened to retain the freshness of any item that has no container of its own.
Heidi says
Right? Mine got a little wild with the constant cooking at home, too, so I was so happy to get it all organized again a few weeks ago.. And that’s a great tip about the Ziplocks!
Christie says
So many great ideas that you’ve shared to help organize the pantry better! I love keeping organized. Never thought of using the shoe organizer to help with this!
Heidi says
I’m so glad you liked the tips, Christie! 🙂
Donna says
This is a great idea, I must have 4 bottles of oregano because I couldn’t find it in my cupboard ! I’ll get busy doing this today !
barb beverly says
TUPPERWARE-guaranteed replacements, worth the cost…seals great, keeps food fresh, no waste.
Jennifer says
I carry my cell phone with me everywhere – yes, I’m one of those – so I put my grocery list on it. Then if the hubby goes to the store and calls to ask what I need, since he forgot by the time he got there, I can just text him the list no matter where I am.
donna duree says
I have a deep pantry, so I purchased pull out shelf’s so that I can reach everything! One for boxed items, one for baking/pasta and rice/beans and one for cans and jars. I even put them in for my pots and pans. I really love being able to reach everything, one of the best investments I have made!
Maryann says
I have found that using those plastic shoe boxes work great for storing packets(taco seasoning,ranch dip, etc) also I put labels on the ends telling what they are. This started when we got a mouse in the house. I was determined it would starve if he insisted on living in my house.
Kathy Jones says
I also attempt to take baskets or bins and when I do my meal planning if I have meals that I have frozen that needs a few items I put them in a basket for each meal, if not frozen all ingredients go in a basket.
Mandi says
I have a small dry erase board on the inside of my pantry door. That way when I take the last of something I can write it down. It also makes its easy to jot down what “else” you need to buy for a recipe as you are looking for ingredients. Then on grocery day, I refer to the dry erase board when making my list.
norma says
Like!
Robin says
When I put boxed foods in clear plastic boxes for the pantry, Instead of changing/making labels, I simply cut off the box top or part of the name of the product and put it in the container with the food. I can easily SEE what’s in the container and KNOW by name exactly what it is. If it needs directions, I also cut that out and put it in the container where it can be seen.
Mandi says
I do the same thing!
Susan says
I do the same thing. I will cut out the name of what I’m putting in plastic containers and the directions and I will tape it to the outside of the container. I do a lot of vacuum packing for the freezer and I will cut the labels from the package with the directions and I will vacuum it with the product.
Amy says
I save all my empty containers i.e. Butter tubs and sourcream tubs and use them instead of buying expenssive tupperware or ziplock tubs.. and my children get to decorate them so i know whats in it
Brandy Clegg Newell says
13th way for organizing MY pantry: Have someone else do it!!!! hee hee
Lorraine says
I have 3 shelves in my pantry……The top one is for sides like mashed potatoes, rice in bowes, mac n cheese, pastas yatta yatta. The second is for the breakfast foods: cereal cream of wheat, morning muffins, oatmeal. And our bottom one is for everything else on the left i keep my pasta noodles extra sauces the middle i have a storage bin with randoms like single ramen noodles extras of anything that cluttered the other shelves and to the right I have snacks and crackers.
I also have a cabinet cleared out esp for cans which has only 2 shelves top shelf is for veggies bottom shelf is for the few canned fruits i have and pie fillings 🙂
debi CA) says
if i was smart, i’d let my daughter organize it! she doesn’t hesitate to throw things out that we don’t use! ;0)
Connie says
The cute little boy (above) looks like a good organizer too!
Heidi says
Aww ~ thanks, Connie! It’s my oldest son, and he’s quite the organizer! 😉
Angela Christopher says
Mine is different every week. Plus I have things all over the house in cabinets. I try to organize it some, but we use everything so fast, and coupons give us different types of deals each week it’s hard to keep a system.