You down with OPP? (other people’s pantries)
Each Saturday, the Perfect Pantry blog satisfies our voyeurism by displaying photos from readers’ pantries. While the pantries vary quite a bit, the photos bring up this point: Cluttered pantries lead to waste. Chances are, if you can’t see something, you won’t use it before it goes bad.
A few other ideas gleaned from perusing the site: Container labels–what’s in it and when it’s from–are helpful for avoiding waste. And clear containers help–you can see how much is left and what’s inside.
While there are a few busy shelves, the majority of the pantries pictured are pretty tidy. I would guess that this sample may not be completely representational. What brave soul is going to submit a photo of their messy pantry?
Well, you can. Here are the instructions on how to submit photos from your pantry, spice rack, shelves, etc.
And yes, sooner or later, I’ll submit pictures from my less-than-ideal pantry. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some organizing to do.
Comments
4 responses to “Pantry Patrol”
I was surprised at how many still used store packaging for things or if they didn’t then used plastic containers or zip bags.
I try to buy everything in bulk where possible and try to use standard sizes of glass containers for storage. I didn’t go out and buy all the glass containers, I just stopped recycling ones that were good sizes. Since I try to buy items I can’t get in bulk in glass containers anyway, it didn’t take long. I find it’s much easier to stay organized if you’re not having to play “Tetris” with random shaped packaging.
For my spice containers I used some new glass “scientific sample” containers. They don’t have perforated lids, but I tend to either pour, pinch, or measure the spices anyway.
Since converting my pantry to glass, I’ve helped a couple other people do it as well. I think we should start a movement 🙂
In addition to not using plastic, my main reason for switching to glass was to not have the food in contact with plastic. Around the same time I did the glass conversion, I also learned of the importance of keeping oils and oil containing foods (like wheat/flour) in the refrigerator so they don’t go rancid. That might be another good topic for this blog.
Thanks for spreading the word about Other People’s Pantries. I invite all of your readers to stop by, check out the pantries we’ve already peeked into, and stay tuned on Saturdays for a look at another pantry. Everyone is welcome!
Hahaha! I don’t think I could help but organize my pantry a little bit before photographing it. Oh wait, that’s right, I don’t have a pantry! Such is the life of an apartment dweller.
You are very right though, while stocking up on ‘essentials’ is great, sometimes we go overboard and forget what we have. I try to keep the extras to a minimum aside from things I use daily: beans, rice, quinoa, lentils, nuts, other grains, etc. Other than that I get it when I need it or else I’ll forget about it.
There isn’t much worse than wasted food, especially when so many are hungry!
I love your blog by the way!
Can’t wait to read the “Glass Pantry Manifesto!”
I’m actually moving at the end of the month and will try to use the occasion to rethink my own pantry. At present, it’s pretty messy because I save so many little things (airline snacks, etc.). Maybe that’s the hidden blessing of not having a pantry, like Jennifer.