Plant-Based Pantry Makeover | Decanting & Organizing
Plant-Based Pantry Makeover
There is nothing more satisfying, more therapeutic, than walking into an organized pantry and being able to easily find, and clearly see, the item you are looking for. I have been caught just staring, because she is something quite beautiful. My pantry brings me a sense of satisfaction and calm.
Being plant-based, we eat a lot of dry goods. Nuts, seeds, whole wheat & legume pastas, wild rice, protein powders, sprout seeds, and oats, to name a few - and this is where decanting items can work in ones favor. We have our staples, and it was these items we purchased glass canisters for so we could view our stock and effortlessly grab what we need when in the kitchen.
HOW TO & TIPS
If you’re going the canister route and wanting to decant to get rid of store bought packaging, write a list of the staple items you always have on hand so you know how many canisters and what sizes to buy. We go through A LOT of rice, oats, and pasta, so those canisters are larger than our seed & nut canisters. If you want to keep the directions and expiration dates, you can cut from packaging and simply tape to the bottom or back of canister. I have directions mastered, but I use a chalk marker to write expiration dates on the bottom of my jars. I linked all product used in my post below under “The Product Used”.
After your canisters and other storage items have arrived (yay!), start by clearing out your entire pantry, as daunting as that may seem. Toss items that are expired or that you KNOW you and your family will no longer consume.
Group like items together into categories: baking (flours & sugars), nuts & seeds, cereals & granolas, soups, pastas & dinner items, etc. This will help the flow of the pantry and make it easier for everyone to find what they need AND know where to put it back. THIS IS KEY! No more just tossing a bag where there is an open spot.
Because we buy in bulk (Costco, Amazon, and Proprietary GR), we typically have a lot of back-stock we store in our basement. When it comes time to refill (maybe once a week), I bring up the back-stock basket. It’s a simple method that has been working very well, and helps keep the pantry free of those pesky bags with clips hanging off.
And a pantry flow tip! I like to store heavier, bulkier items near the bottom and smaller canisters and glass items near the top. This looks better visually and will help bring that sense of peace and calm when you enter your space.
THE PRODUCT USED
I ended up mixing a few different canister brands which to my (hopeful) surprise, flows really well! We love our OXO Good Grips POP containers from Amazon and have these in several different sizes. They are great for cereals, pastas & snacks, and stack for easy storage and great aesthetics.
From Amazon, I also purchased these Essos Glass Jars with Wood Lids (32oz) and these Glass Storage Jars with Airtight Lids in various sizes. These are where I store our nuts, seeds, quinoa, and other grains! The Essos brand is also stackable, huge bonus!
Our flours and sugars are stored in these Anchor Hocking Montana Glass Canisters from The Container Store. I like the bulkier size and wider mouth for scooping & measuring.
Other miscellaneous storage items were purchased from a combination of Amazon and The Container Store such as our black produce bins, our divided lazy susans, our hyacinth storage bins, and our glass vinegar bottles.
And let’s not forget about the minimal yet beautiful labels! Those were custom made by The Dweling Company on Etsy! Love her little shop there!
I hope this leaves you feeling inspired and encouraged! A pantry overhaul may be a daunting task and a bit of an investment up front, but is SO worth every last penny a bit of effort spent.
My family easily knows where to locate what they are looking for and BONUS, they put it back in the correct spot, too! A pantry you worked for that now works for YOU.
