Pantry Storage Solutions

Whether you are an experienced home chef or a novice cook, having an organised and accessible pantry is essential. The pantry is the heart of the kitchen, the place where we store our ingredients, tools, cookware gadgets, and often overlooked items that we use on a daily basis.

From spices and oils to baking ingredients and snacks, a well-organised pantry can make meal preparation faster, easier and more enjoyable. We’ll be sharing some of the best pantry storage solutions, custom-built solutions and storage ideas for the most popular kitchen gadgets.

Why Organising Your Pantry Matters

Before we dive into storage ideas, let's talk about why organising your pantry is important.

Time-efficiency

When your pantry is organised, you can quickly and easily find the ingredients you need. This saves time during meal prep, which means you can spend more time enjoying your cookery creations with family and friends.

Reduces Stress

A cluttered and disorganised pantry can be stressful and overbearing. It can be extremely frustrating when you can't find the ingredients you need or are constantly tripping over kitchen clutter. Organising your pantry can help you greatly reduce stress in the kitchen, making for a more mindful and enjoyable experience.

Prevents Food Waste

When you can't find beloved ingredients, or they expire because they were hidden at the back of the pantry, you ultimately waste food.

Organising your pantry can help you keep track of what you have and avoid buying items you don't need, both saving the planet and your pockets!

Saves On the Pennies

When you always know what you have in your pantry, you can avoid buying duplicates or unnecessary items. This can save you money off your weekly food shop costs - which is much needed in the current climate.

Simple Pantry Storage Solutions

Having an organised pantry is essential to making meal prep and cooking a breeze. When your pantry is cluttered and disorganised, it can be difficult to find the ingredients you need and make the most of your space.

Fortunately, there are plenty of pantry storage solutions and hacks that can help you transform your pantry into both a functional and beautiful space.

Whether you have a small closet-sized pantry or a large walk-in pantry, these ideas can be tailored to fit your space and needs:

Use Clear Containers

One of the best ways to keep your pantry organised is to use a range of clear containers. This allows you to see what's inside without having to dig through bags and boxes for your much-loved ingredients. You can use glass or plastic containers, depending on your preference and home aesthetic.

Clear containers come in various sizes and shapes, making it so simple to store a variety of ingredients!

Label Everything

Another essential step to achieving your dream is to label everything in sight. Labelling your boxes, bags, and ingredients makes it so much easier to find what you need quickly. You can use a label maker, chalkboard labels or even just simple masking tape and a marker - whatever floats your boat!

Utilise Vertical Space

Don't forget to use the vertical space in your pantry - an area that is most often forgotten about. You can install shelves that fit from ceiling to floor or use a hanging organiser for smaller items like snacks and spices.

Store Items According to Use

Grouping similar items together and storing them according to use can really aid in prioritising your items and making them easier to find.

Try grouping all your baking ingredients together in one area and making separate spaces for your snacks, canned goods and cereals. This will make it easier to find what you need, saving you time on a daily basis.

Custom-Built Pantry Solutions

If you have a larger budget or a unique home structure, custom-built solutions can be a great option to make the most of your pantry space.

Here are some custom-built ideas for your pantry:

Pull-Out Shelves

Installing pull-out shelves can make it easier to access items in the back of your pantry. This is especially useful for deep pantries where items can get lost or forgotten.

With pull-out shelves, you can easily see and reach everything in your pantry without having to dig through stacks of items. Plus, they come in a variety of sizes and materials to fit your pantry's specific needs.

Corner Shelves

If you have an awkward corner in your pantry, consider installing corner shelves. This will make use of the space and provide additional storage for items that might otherwise go unused.

You can use them for small appliances, pantry staples, or even cookbooks. Corner shelves can even offer a unique design to your pantry and create a focal point in an otherwise overlooked area.

Roll-Out Drawers

Roll-out drawers are a versatile option for organising your pantry. They come in a variety of sizes and depths, making them perfect for storing everything from snacks to canned goods.

Roll-out drawers can also be used to store kitchen gadgets and appliances, freeing up valuable counter space as well as giving easy access to your pantry items, making meal prep and cooking much more efficient. They can even be customised to fit your specific pantry needs and preferences.

Storage Ideas for Popular Kitchen Gadgets

Kitchen gadgets can be a lifesaver when it comes to meal prep, but they can also take up a lot of space and cause your cookery to look cluttered.

Here are some great storage ideas for your most popular kitchen gadgets:

Air Fryer

Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years due to their quick efficiency and energy-saving properties. However, a lot of air fryers can be bulky and unappealing to the eye.

Installing a pull-out shelf for your air fryer is a great way to make the most of your pantry space. With easy access to your air fryer, you'll be more likely to use it and less likely to forget about it. The shelf can also be used for storing other small appliances or pantry items, freeing up valuable counter space.

If you're short on counter space, consider installing a shelf within a cabinet for your air fryer. This will keep it out of the way but still easily accessible when needed.

You can also use the shelf to store other small appliances, such as your toaster or blender, further decluttering your kitchen counters. This is a great option for those who prefer a minimalist look in their kitchen, as it keeps small appliances hidden, providing that clean, fresh kitchen look.

A stackable basket is another versatile option for storing your air fryer. If you have limited counter or cabinet space, this is a great way to make the most of it. Baskets can be stacked to save room and can also be used to store other small kitchen items, such as utensils or spices. Plus, they're easy to clean and can be quickly stored away when not in use!

Stand Mixer

As much as you may love your stand mixer for those tasty weekend treats, they can often be extremely heavy and bulky. These rather large appliances take up valuable counter space and can be especially difficult to move around.

Unless you’re a baking enthusiast, a stand mixer will most likely be used only on occasion and not on a daily basis, so it’s important to find an efficient space to keep it out of the way.

A rolling cart is a versatile solution that can be used to store your stand mixer and other valuable kitchen appliances. Look for a cart with a sturdy frame and strong wheels that can support the weight of your mixer.

A cart with additional shelves or drawers can provide extra storage for attachments or baking tools - perfect for the avid baker!

A cabinet lift is a more custom-built solution that can allow you to store your stand mixer within a cabinet but lift it onto your countertop when you need it. This is a great option if you have limited counter space and want to keep your mixer hidden away when not in use.

This option most likely will require professional skill to install; however, it’s worth the extra cost!

If you have a deep pantry, consider installing a shelf specifically for your much-loved stand mixer. This will keep it out of the way but still easily accessible for those spontaneous baking sessions with family and friends.

You can also store your mixer attachments and other baking tools on the same shelf for that added touch of convenience.

Toaster

The toaster is a commonly used kitchen appliance that can tend to take up valuable counter space and make quite a mess when in use. Unless you use it every day, it's helpful to find an efficient space to keep it out of the way.

A wall-mounted toaster is a great solution for those with limited counter space. This will keep it off your counter and in a convenient location, easy to grab when you fancy a slice of toast. Look for a model that has a compact design and can be easily mounted to your kitchen wall.

A toaster caddy is another great option for storing your toaster. This is a compact and versatile storage solution that can hold your toasting appliance and other kitchen appliances like coffee makers or blenders. A toaster caddy can be placed on a countertop, in a cabinet or pantry, or even on a rolling cart for easy access.

If you have a deeper pantry than most, consider installing a pull-out shelf for your toaster. This will make it easy to access and keep it out of the way when not in use. A pull-out shelf can also be used to store toaster accessories like tongs or bread trays. Or, install a cabinet shelf specifically for your toaster. This will keep it off your counter and easily accessible when you need it!