Every homeowner has a spot in their home that needs occasional organization. For most of us, the one place in the home we don’t think is messy is the pantry. There’s no denying that it’s one of the hardest parts of the house to keep neat and organized.
A great thing about the pantry is that you can store anything in there but with careful thought. Finding what you need can become overwhelming if you don’t keep it organized. You might even end up buying the same things twice without realizing it. Let’s avoid this and look at some of the pantry staples you might be storing incorrectly.
Grains
One thing that seems easy enough to store is grains. This household staple requires only a container with a detachable lid that keeps bugs and rodents out. Additionally, storing grains in a cool, dark place prevents them from going bad. You can’t store them all in the pantry! You can store grains like oats, rice, and quinoa in the pantry, while you should store flour, cornmeal, and nuts in the fridge or freezer.
Spices
Spices are another staple that we commonly misplace. Keeping spices and herbs in the cabinet instead of the pantry is essential because most containers are small enough that you forget about them. If you have ever been to your grandparent’s house and found a spice from the ‘90s, it’s a sign that they forgot about it. It’s a good idea to keep your spices in a cabinet and label them with the date you bought them so that you know when to replace them. That way, you don’t end up using expired, flavorless spices.
Canned Goods
Can canned goods go bad? They can if they have dents, swelling, or rust. Although they’re easy to store, we tend to underestimate how long we can keep them before they expire. Canned goods have a long shelf life, but checking the expiration date before consuming them is a good idea. Organize canned goods by putting the newest cans in the back and using the oldest ones first.
Sweeteners
You should store every dry good in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. If you have honey or sugar, too much sun exposure could melt and break down the glucose and fructose in sugar and darken and ferment honey. If you dislike dark honey, keep it in a dark space. If you have a humid pantry, one simple yet effective suggestion for storing dried goods is to use airtight seals. An airtight seal prevents dried goods from softening and spoiling.
A well-organized pantry saves you time, money, and even the stress of forgetting where you placed that particular ingredient. Now that you know the pantry staples you’re storing wrong, start enjoying the next trip to the pantry by applying our advice on how you can better your organization methods.
