Fall is the season when the pantry truly earns its keep. Between hearty soups, family dinners, and home baking marathons, it quickly becomes one of the hardest-working parts of the home.
That's why pro organizers and chefs swear by giving their pantries a full refresh before the holiday rush.
These are the five steps they take to organize a pantry and prepare a pantry for fall ahead of the peak baking season.
The Fall Pantry Reset
1. Take Stock
One of the reasons why your pantry looks cluttered is that you don't know what is on every shelf.
Before you can reorganize your pantry for the holiday baking season, Alexandra Shytsman, recipe developer, cookbook author, and owner of The New Baguette, suggests taking everything out and doing a 'stock check'
'Go through every shelf and take stock of what you already have. Then make sure it's not expired.
'It's a great way to optimize storage to prevent duplicates and reduce food waste. For instance, instead of putting pumpkin spice or vanilla extract on your grocery list, you might find you still have plenty from last year.'
2. Decant
Decanting your dried food goods is not just an aesthetic choice. It's a great food storage idea to keep food fresh and improve pantry organization.
Alexandra says, 'Think flours, nuts, chocolate chips, and coconut flakes. Not only does this make items easier to find at a glance, but it also reduces clutter from irregularly shaped packages and containers.
'For bulky things like flour, OXO's popular "Pop" containers [available at Target] are best. For smaller quantities, I love basic takeout quart containers. Pro tip: Use masking tape [from Walmart] and a Sharpie to label everything.'
3. Swap Shelves Seasonally
A common kitchen organizing mistake is leaving everything in the same spots year-round.
For a more efficient kitchen layout during the peak fall baking months, consider altering your kitchen storage to suit your new seasonal routine.
Instead, Angelia York, VP of Saint Louis Closet Co., recommends, 'Adjustable shelving means you can lower a section to make room for tall canisters of flour and sugar, while summer barbecue rubs or s’mores kits get shifted up and out of the way. It’s like rotating your closet, but for your food.'
4. Sure Up Your Spice Storage
Organizing your spices is essential for cozy fall cooking and baking.
You have a few options for spice storage, Angelia says.
If you have the space, built-in spice drawers are the most chic option, but she assures that pull-out spice racks from Wayfair, or adjustable shelves from The Container Store, can work just as well.
Don't forget to declutter, too. Angelia urges, 'If that cinnamon doesn’t smell like cinnamon anymore, it’s time to let it go before it ruins your holiday cookies.'
5. Create Zones
When designing and building a pantry, you have already set it up to have zones. If not, a fall pantry reset is the perfect time to put this neat trick into play.
Angelia explains, 'Create zones that work for your lifestyle. Custom pull-out drawers [available at Amazon] for baking ingredients, pull-out bins [from The Container Store] for snacks, and even a lazy Susan [also from The Container Store] for oils keep everything visible and accessible.
'That way, when you’ve got a house full of guests, you can actually enjoy cooking instead of digging through clutter.'
Holiday Pantry Essentials
This two-tier organizer makes keeping your spices neat and organized simple, helping you to save space by using vertical height and making the back of the cabinet accessible.
Make better use of vertical storage to save space on shelves by using stacking drawers in pantries to store snacks and packet goods.
These clear stacking bins are ideal for items that need ventilation, such as food packets or bathroom products, helping to keep them neat without the risk of mold or odors.
It isn't just your food goods that need organizing. Keep your baking trays and pans stacked in your cabinets can make them easier to navigate and prevent damage to your cookware.
Sponge cloths are plant-based, meaning they are free from plastics and decompose in compost heaps in around 10 months, making them an eco-friendly, hygienic alternative to traditional sponges and paper towels.
Distilled white vinegar is a fantastic non-toxic cleaning tool for any home. When used correctly, it can help to kill mold and bacteria, making cleaning your pantry safe and simple.
Meet The Experts
Angelia concludes, 'The beauty of a custom pantry is that it isn’t “one size fits all” but it evolves with the seasons, just like the way you live in your home.'
Don't have a full pantry space in your own home? We have some tricks to convert your kitchen cabinets into a pantry to make your kitchen work harder this holiday season.
