Spring Cleaning: Kitchen Pantry Edition

From our founder

Spring & Fall Cleaning: How I Transformed My Pantry for Maximum Organization

There’s something incredibly empowering about a deep clean—whether it’s switching over your closet for a new season or tackling a full kitchen reorganization. This year, in addition to swapping my wardrobe for summer, I took on a much bigger project: reorganizing my entire kitchen.

The Pantry Problem: Deep Shelves & Bulk Buying

I have a galley kitchen with two long walls of cabinets and appliances, plus a large walk-in pantry with deep shelves that go all the way to the ceiling. While it’s great for storage, it’s frustrating to use—I constantly had to move items in front just to reach things in the back. As someone who buys in bulk, I have huge containers of flour, sugar, cocoa, seeds, and more, which made the organization even trickier.

The Solution: Creating an Everyday Pantry

To streamline my kitchen, I decided to create a separate everyday pantry for the ingredients and items I use most often. Years ago, I had transformed a walk-in closet into a baking storage space with industrial shelving, organizing cookie cutters by theme for easy access. This time, I applied the same logic to my pantry.

Step 1: The Perfect Storage System

I bought a narrow five-shelf industrial shelving unit from Amazon—easy to assemble and sturdy enough for heavy items. This shelving system is shallow, making it easy to see and grab what I need without digging through deep shelves.

✔️ Industrial shelving (sturdy & space-saving): $47 CAD on Amazon

Step 2: Smart Storage Containers

To avoid clutter and keep things fresh, I opted for mason jars in different sizes. They provide the perfect balance—just enough space for essentials without being too bulky.

✔️ Box of 12 (500mL) mason jars: $12.99 CAD on Amazon

I also wanted clear, waterproof, and reusable labels so I could easily swap out contents without messy sticker residue.

✔️ 60 waterproof & reusable labels: $12.99 CAD on Amazon

The End Result: A More Functional, Stress-Free Kitchen

With my everyday pantry set up, I now have:
✅ Easy-to-reach essentials without moving bulky containers
✅ A more visually organized, clutter-free space
✅ Clearly labeled items for quick access & efficiency

This transformation has made cooking and baking so much more enjoyable—no more hunting through deep shelves or dealing with half-open bags of ingredients. Plus, there’s a huge satisfaction in having everything neatly arranged.

If you love organizing as much as I do, trust me—this is a game-changer!

Label by Themes

How I Organized My Pantry: A Simple, Themed System for Maximum Efficiency

After setting up my everyday pantry with a sturdy industrial shelving unit, I decided to divide the shelves by theme—just like I did with my baking closet. This method makes it super easy to find exactly what I need without digging through deep shelves or moving heavy containers.

Top Shelf: Frequently Used Flours & Sugars

Since I bake often, I dedicated the top shelf to my most-used baking essentials in large quantities:

✔️ Turbinado sugar: A pure cane sugar with a deep, caramel-like flavor
✔️ Brown sugar—perfect for cookies, cakes, and marinades
✔️ Coconut flour: A great gluten-free alternative
✔️ Bread flour: a must-have for homemade bread and pizza dough

By storing these items on the top shelf in clear mason jars with waterproof labels, I can quickly grab what I need while keeping everything fresh and neatly organized.

This theme-based shelving system has completely transformed my pantry, making it more efficient, visually appealing, and stress-free to use.

Organizing My Pantry: Themed Shelving for Easy Access

Dividing my pantry shelves by theme has made meal prep so much easier! After organizing my top shelf with baking essentials, I dedicated the second shelf to my smoothie and smoothie bowl must-haves—everything I reach for daily to whip up a nutritious blend.

Second Shelf: Smoothie & Superfood Essentials

This shelf holds my go-to ingredients for smoothies and smoothie bowls, keeping them easy to access and neatly stored:

✔️ Protein powder: For a protein-packed boost
✔️ Chia, flax, and hemp seeds—full of fiber, omega-3s, and nutrients
✔️ Adaptogens: Like maca and ashwagandha for stress relief & energy
✔️ Organic raspberry powder adds natural fruity sweetness
✔️ Unsweetened cocoa powder: A rich, antioxidant-packed flavor enhancer
✔️ Dried berries: great for toppings or blending into smoothies

All items are stored in clear mason jars with waterproof labels, making it easy to see what I have at a glance—no more half-used bags cluttering the space!

Organizing My Pantry: Themed Shelving for a Stress-Free Kitchen

After organizing my baking essentials (top shelf) and smoothie ingredients (second shelf), I dedicated the third shelf to specialty baking items, including nuts, edible flowers, flavorings, and gluten-free flours. This keeps everything neatly stored and easy to grab when I’m baking something special.

Third Shelf: Nuts, Edible Flowers, Flavorings & Gluten-Free Flours

This shelf holds some of my favorite ingredients for pastries, puddings, and gluten-free baking:

✔️ Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts for baking & snacking
✔️ Organic edible flowers are Perfect for decorating cakes and pastries
✔️ Flavorings for puddings & panna cotta—like vanilla bean paste, rose water, and orange blossom extract
✔️ Gluten-free flours: almond flour, oat flour, rice flour, and cassava flour for alternative baking

Everything is stored in clear mason jars with waterproof labels, so I can easily spot what I need. No more hunting through deep shelves or dealing with messy, half-used bags!

Fourth Shelf: Beans & Coconut-Based Essentials

This shelf is all about pantry staples that I use in both savory and sweet recipes:

✔️ Dried & canned beans: chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, and lentils for soups, stews, and salads
✔️ Coconut oils are perfect for baking, frying, and even skincare!
✔️ Coconut milk & creams: great for curries, desserts, and dairy-free recipes

Everything is stored in mason jars and labeled containers, so I can easily grab what I need without shuffling through bulky packaging.

Fifth Shelf: Rice Noodles, Pasta, Canned Goods & Root Vegetables

This shelf holds my go-to ingredients for quick, hearty meals:

✔️ Rice noodles & pasta: A mix of whole wheat, gluten-free, and specialty noodles for easy dinners
✔️ Cans of chickpeas—perfect for hummus, salads, and stews
✔️ Chicken stock: essential for soups, risottos, and sauces
✔️ Potatoes & onions: Stored in breathable baskets to keep them fresh longer

By keeping root vegetables on this lower shelf, they stay in a cool, dark place, which helps prevent sprouting and spoilage. I also use baskets or mesh bags to allow for air circulation.

Customize Your Pantry: Organize in a Way That Works for YOU!

The key to a well-organized pantry isn’t just about following a specific system—it’s about creating a setup that fits your lifestyle and cooking habits. My themed shelves work for me, but if they don’t suit your needs, customize your pantry in a way that makes sense for you!

Find a System That Matches Your Cooking Style

✔️ By Meal Type: Breakfast essentials on one shelf, dinner staples on another
✔️ By Cuisine: Keep Italian pasta & sauces together, Asian ingredients in one section, baking items in another
✔️ By Usage Frequency: Daily-use ingredients at eye level, occasional items on higher/lower shelves

The goal is simple: make cooking and meal prep easier by having everything within reach. A well-organized kitchen isn’t about perfection—it’s about convenience, efficiency, and accessibility.

So, choose a system that helps you cook effortlessly and makes preparing healthy, delicious meals a breeze!