Pantry Organization: Tips for a Creating a Healthy Pantry
129 Comments
Updated Mar 18, 2020
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
Create a healthy pantry and easily find ingredients (even if your pantry is small) with these glass containers and pantry organization ideas. You can customize all your jars and containers with handwritten labels using a water-based paint pen. Watch the video below to see how I do mine.
One of the lovely things about moving is that you’re forced to go through everything you own and assess if it’s worth keeping. Now, some people probably dread this (and I’ll admit it’s a ton of work), but in the end I actually find all the purging freeing. As in, my life just got heaps more “white space” – which gives me a sense of calm and satisfaction.
On my recent move I got rid of and/or donated quite a bit of stuff. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized I don’t like clutter and my style has morphed into a more minimalist, warm modern, Scandanavian-esque, yet rustic, SoCal neutral vibe. Clean and white makes me happy.
Watch my pantry organization video by clicking below:
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My entire apartment still needs furniture and decor, but as a foodie person it only made sense to tackle my kitchen first. Especially as that’s where I spend 80% of my time. A few years back I moved all my pantry dried goods into BPA-Free containers, thinking I was doing good. But now I know that BPA-Free plastics can be just as harmful as BPA, if not more. So on this recent move I ditched the plastic altogether and moved everything to glass.
Pantry organization: moving everything from plastic to glass
My number one goal on this pantry makeover was moving everything from plastic to glass. I didn’t want bulk goods and raw ingredients hanging around inside all that plastic. I also found that my former plastic containers weren’t as airtight as they claimed to be. I don’t know if it’s because of the pop-top mechanism, but I had several batches of nuts go rancid quickly in those old containers.
My new glass containers are Weck jars and I’m absolutely loving them! Ironically, they’re even cheaper than the plastic, which, I would have never guessed. But here’s what I love about them. First, the cylindrical jars are big enough for bulk ingredients, but you can still grab them easily with one hand. This was an important consideration for me, as I tend to grab things quickly. Second, the tops are 100% airtight with the gasket and clips so food stays fresh.
I use an assortment of Weck jars in everyday cooking (you’ll see them frequently in my recipe photos), but for my pantry organization I stuck to four sizes for one primary reason – the lids were the same size. The cylindrical jars line up uniformly next to one another and the mold jars (due to their slight taper) stack neatly on top of each other. This allows you to maximize storage space top to bottom.
Here are the exact pantry jars I used:
- 1.5 Liter Cylindrical Jar (974)
- 3/4 Liter Mold Jar (743)
- 1/5 Liter Mold Jar (742)
- 1/4 Liter Mold Jar (741)
Another great thing about these glass jars is they’re dishwasher safe. So if you want to swap ingredients or clean them out, just toss them in the dishwasher. I used the glass lids and gaskets that came with the jars as I wanted that guaranteed airtight fit for my nuts, seeds and berries, though you can find cork lids as well.
Large countertop jars for my flours
Because I’m gluten-free, I use several different types of flours in my baking, such as almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut flour and cassava flour. Initially I wasn’t planning to leave these flours out on my countertop, but after I found the gorgeous Montana Jars with acacia wood lids, I knew they were too pretty to hide.
These jars are perfect for flours as they’re large and the opening on top is wide, making it easy to get measuring cups in and out. The wood lids also match my barstools and wood floors, so everything tied together beautifully.
Here are the exact countertop jars I used:
If you can’t find these jars on Amazon, you can also purchase them at Crate & Barrel.
Customizing your pantry organization with glass jars and paint markers
One of the things I had the most fun with as I reorganized my pantry was writing labels on all the glass jars. I saw this post a year ago which inspired these glass jars and handwritten labels – and I knew I wanted to do the same. My handwriting isn’t going to win any penmanship awards, but the labels definitely make finding your ingredients easy. Especially as my pantry is quite dark inside.
Sharpie makes two types of paint markers (an oil-based and water-based), so make sure you purchase the water-based paint marker. These come in a variety of colors, but sticking with my minimalistic approach I went with white. I also used a medium tip, though you can purchase a fine tip as well.
If you write your label and make a mistake, you can quickly remove it with a paper towel and rewrite it. The paint marker dries after about a minute, then it won’t smudge off. But as it’s water-based, you can still remove it in the future with a little water and a scrub sponge.
Pantry organization: my wood basket and snack containers
In the video above you saw that I store my sweet potatoes, onions and garlic in a wood basket. It has handles on each end which make it easy to lift, but it’s also long and narrow so it’s great for a small pantry. I tend to just slide it in and out when I’m looking for ingredients. To ensure that the bottom doesn’t scratch my pantry shelves, I added small felt furniture sliders to the bottom.
I purchased my basket at Target, but if you can’t find it, these wood baskets are similar.
The plastic snack containers are similar to the wood basket in that they’re narrow and have a handle, again making them easy to pull in and out. I also love that they’re not too big, so my bars and fruit strips stay upright.
Pantry ingredients and food
Creating a healthy pantry means sticking to whole food ingredients as much as possible. Unfortunately, I can’t use those bulk bins at Whole Foods or other markets (due to potential gluten cross-contamination), but I do buy pantry staples and organic bags of items such as cashews, almonds and chia seeds, then transfer them to my glass jars.
Just remember that fresh pantry ingredients, such as nuts, seeds and berries are best eaten within a few months. So it’s a good habit to not buy too much.
I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t have snacks and munchies (remember: eating healthy isn’t about deprivation), but I do my best to purchase snacks with clean ingredients and from brands with an ethos aligned with mine.
Some of my favorite ingredients, brands and snacks I keep in my pantry include:
- Wild Planet Tuna
- Organic Coconut Oil
- Organic Avocado Oil
- Organic Coconut Milk
- Organic Honey
- Organic Maple Syrup
- Organic Coconut Sugar
- Raw Cacao Powder
- Simply Organic Vanilla Extract
- Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
- Larabars
- Epic Bars
- Alter Eco Organic Truffles
- Vital Proteins Collagen – make sure to read this post on collagen
And here are items always in my kitchen:
I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak in my pantry. And hopefully it provided a little inspiration for your own pantry organization. If you’d like to see more lifestyle videos like this on my YouTube channel, let me know in the comments below!
I’m trying to figure out ways to better organize my fridge and freezer storage. Trying to eliminate waste, save money, enjoy what i’ve got in a timely manor. Any tips? Thanks!
Hi Erin- I’d first toss out anything you know that’s really old or you won’t eat. Then, I’d plan out your meals around simple ingredients you can store in your fridge or pantry, which I have included in my Pantry staples post! You can use that to reference ingredients I always like to keep on hand :)
Love everything about your website…Thank you for inviting us into your home, and sharing this valuable information.
Of course! I’m here to provide some new inspiration and help you in the kitchen :)
Love your website and videos!! Any tips on how to keep track of expiration dates if the items are transferred from their original container? I guess I could use the pen and write it on the back of the jar, but I’d like to hear your thoughts. Thanks for all you do!
Hi Trisha – yes, that’s exactly what I do! I use that white paint pen and write either on the bottom or back the expiration date. So happy you love my website and videos!
What a beautiful way to organise the pantry! I wish I could get hold of Weck jars in China as well. I am a true believer in glassware. But what about the BPA-free plastic lid? I intend to use Glasslock’s freezer-proof container to store freezable food. Will that be ok? Many thanks. And if you consider having a Chinese version of your website, do let me know. I am sure there will be a lot of people in China who will be interested in reading and watching what you have been sharing. Thank you so very much for all the tips & info!
Hi Lu – thanks so much! I’m happy you love my website. I’m fine with the BPA-free lids as they don’t really come into contact with the food.
Hi Lisa. I love your esthetic and style. On the blog your link to the Montana jars has 3 sizes…48, 64, and 96 ounces. In your video and blog pictures I see only 2 sizes on the counter. I really appreciate the proportion of the 2 different sizes pictured. Which 2 sizes are they? Thanks!
Hi Danielle – Thanks so much! I actually have all 3 sizes on my counter top! The 2 large jars are the 96oz, the bottom middle one is 64oz, and the top middle one is 48oz. Hope that helps :)
Awesome post! Where do you source your matcha from?
Hi Eve – You can find my matcha powder in the Shop Page on my website :)
I am also interested in the brands of products you have in your collagen cabinet.
Thanks for this great video. It’s definitely inspiring the pantry organization that I want to do! I’m currently looking at glass jars and I was curious if you did any comparisons before buying your Weck Jars. Le Parfait and Bormioli also do glass jars and I kind like the idea of lids that are attached, but do they stack as well as Weck? You may not know but figured it didn’t hurt to ask if you knew of any pros and cons between the brands of jars. Thank you! You’ve really helped me make the switch to gluten-free eating.
Hi Sarah – In my opinion, the Le Parfait doesn’t stack as well as the Weck Jars. As for pros and cons, I would say it’s mostly how you like to close your lids, whether it be the latch lock or the clips on Wecks. But I personally find that the Weck Jars seal much tighter that the Le Parfait jars, so it’s a better option in terms of storing things :) I hope that helped and thank you so much for following along to my page!
I use all Oxo pop containers in my kitchen because 1) they’re cute and 2) BPA free. What motivated you to switch from those? LOVE your videos, btw. I am embarking on an anti-inflammatory diet and started watching you when I found your anti-inflammatory foods video and have been obsessed with your meal prep videos since then.
Hi Kimberly – I mention on the post and video why I switched from BPA-free plastics. Make sure to read the link. :)
hello! I’ve seen this post/video numerous times due to my lack of memory but also the tranquil-ness of it makes the world a bit more calm! it would be great to do a video or post on a grocery list! like pantry essentials, and all of the basic kitchen needs regarding food (not including the meal prep items, specific meal ingredients and whatnot). mainly how to have an adult stocked pantry and refrigerator!
Hi Sydney – I’m happy you enjoyed this video! And yes, I’ll definitely be doing more in the realm of kitchen basics, pantry essentials, etc in the future. Thanks for the feedback!
I was hoping for name brands of your product suppliers. (product company brand)
Hi Lucy – which product are you interested in? Most of the items I have linked throughout the post.
Lisa:
I love your posts and you inspired me to change from plastic storage to glass. I love to organize, but it doesn’t come easy to me. Will you please do a video of your fridge organization & storage? Let us know if you did one already and please provide us the link. Many thanks.
Thanks Sue! And I’m happy to hear my videos have provided a little inspiration for you! I’ll definitely keep that in mind for a future video idea. :)
I stumbled onto your post from a link on Google where I was looking for arrow root powder, trying to purge my pantry to keep my husband & I alive. We need to lose a lot of weight.
TMI- sorry.
I like what I see & your writing is easy to read & remember. Thank you for what you do & I’ll likely be subscribing on YouTube, whatever that means. I’m old. ? I’ll check out your videos there. I’ve also shared this article with 3 family members.
God Bless.
I’m glad you stumbled on my site Gayleen! And yes, subscribe to my YouTube channel as well for all my videos. I hope my recipes and videos provide a little healthy inspiration for you! :) x
I took your recommendation and bought a bunch of Weck jars but have the hardest time lining up the rubber gasket and closing them. Any suggestions?
Hi Alix – it just takes a little practice. I add the gasket to the lid, then flip it over on top of the jar. For the clip, hold the top of it with one thumb on the lid, then use the other thumb to press down. It does get easier the more you do it. I’m super fast at it now. :)
Dear Lisa
First of all, I’m in love with all information that you share. I want to organize my pantry now.
Please after you open a spaghetti box, where do you store the ones that you didn’t use? On a Weck jar?
Thank you so much for everything
Crissy
Hi Crissy – I don’t eat spaghetti so never have a problem storing it. ;) But yes, I’d probably store it in a Weck Jar.
I’ve heard that it’s better to store nuts in the fridge. Thoughts? And I’d like to display my flours on my countertop too, but I’ve also been told they should be kept in a cool dark place? (I use regular wheat flours. I don’t know if wheat vs. gluten-free flours are more or less prone to spoilage).
Yes, if you don’t use your nuts very often or go through them quickly they’ll definitely last longer in the fridge or freezer. I don’t buy large quantities and I tend to go through mine fairly quick. For the flours, I’ve never had any problem with spoilage on the counter but again, I do cook a lot. :)
Would love to see a fridge tour! And freezer! What kinds of things do you keep in your freezer and how do you use them to make meals (similar to how you do your meal prep videos)? If that applies to you. If not, a just a tour would be great!
Thanks for letting me know Kaitlin! I’m sure I’ll do a video on that in the future. :)
Hey Lisa! Since moving to Europe I’ve also been introduced to Weck jars (and am now addicted to them). I use them for their original canning purpose too and their great.
I was wondering what solution you use for spices?
Thank you!
I have a whole post and video all about my spice drawer – make sure to check that out! :)
Lisa: I’ve just stumbled into your post. I enjoyed your advice. It was very informative without being obsessive. I’m old and have lupus, fibromyalgia and the many crossover ailments. I NEED to organize and simplify my life. I’ve began with my pantry, mine is a little bit larger than yours but not large. I’ve began by emptying it totally. What a shock! I’m amazed at the ‘stuff’ I’ve accumulated. Getting to what do I ‘need’ is somewhat painful. That is where your post came in. The end result is encouraging. It is a great lesson in humility checking expiration dates. I am guilty of things getting buried behind and incoming put away in a hurry in front of older items. What an education. I have been blessed to have help with shopping and ‘putting away’ but makes you a target for a problem pantry.
I agree with your move to glass. I have been a Tupperware queen. Not to knock the product but, glass is so much cleaner. Unfortunately I’m not healthy enough to tackle my project in one day, so I just gutted, cleaned in sessions and now I can reorganize and convert to glass a little each day. Mine will have canned goods and baskets. I wish I could download you to help me with this project. Thanks again for your younger wisdom and for sharing!
Hi Ruth – so glad you enjoyed the post and found the tips helpful! It sounds like you’ve done an awesome job tackling your pantry. Just take it at your own pace and you’ll have a revamped pantry before you know it! :) x
Absolutely love your glass storage ideas. I am also going plastic free and having wooden shelves installed in my pantry.
Thank you for the detail in which containers to purchase.
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed the post/video. :)
This is awesome for my pantry thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed the post!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your video. Just wanted to ask if you find opening and closing the Weck Jars a problem or inconvenient. Does the rubber seal stay in place or do you have to position it every time you use the jar? Cheers, Toni
Hi Toni – you do have to position the rubber seal a little when you open/close the jars, but I’ve just gotten used to it. You could always get some of their wood pop on tops, or get the screw lids for the Le Parfait jars as well. :)
Where do you keep cooking instructions for the items?
Most of my items are just single ingredients like rice, cashews, almonds, oats, etc. But you could always tape instructions to the bottom or back. :)
Hi Lisa, thank you for this video! I’ve watched it a few times! I am wanting to switch to the Montana Jars and the 1.5 liter Weck jars for my bulkier baking ingredients, however even the largest Montana jar (specifically the wood lid) one will be too small once I buy a new bag of certain ingredients. Do you experience this? If so, what do you do for ingredients that would overflow the containers when you first buy them?
Hi Carly – I don’t buy in super large quantity, so most of my dried GF flours fit in the Montana Jars. But if I have any leftover, I just keep them in their original bag until I can fit them all in. :)
Thank you Lisa! That’s what I was thinking I may need to do :)
Hi Lisa! Excellent job on your pantry. I am so inspired and will definitely refer to these tips for when I organize my own. I have a couple questions: do you have a favorite place (physical or online) that you buy organic nuts? And do you ever store nuts and/or flours in the fridge (or freezer) to extend shelf life?
Hi Allie – Yay, I’m glad my pantry gave you some inspiration for your own! I buy almost all my nut on Amazon and lately I’ve buying this brand: http://amzn.to/2H9iKXK. You can definitely store nuts/flours in the fridge or freezer and that’s a smart idea. I go through my nuts/flours every few weeks because I’m doing so much cooking and recipe development, but if you don’t plan to use yours as quickly then definitely opt for the fridge/freezer. :) x
Hi Lisa thank you so much for all the info you have on your sight I love it !! would love for you to put out a grocery list . I know you have done a video on what you got in the pantry but a Lisa Grocery list would be so cool !
Hi Lucilla – that’s a great idea. I’ll add that to my to-do list! :) x
I’ve just come across your blog and videos. They are wonderful. I just tried paleo 2 weeks ago, and I can’t believe how much it has turn my life around. The mental clarity is amazing. I’m going to try to read and see all your suggestions. I am so excited. Anyway, I also want to try to clean up my tiny panty on a budget. Can you recommend where to buy the weck jars, or any of your reccomended glass jars, for the best price? Can’t beleive the motivation and clarity I have now, can’t wait to redo my food and storage in my kitchen.
I’m so thrilled for you Keala that you’ve adopted healthier eating and are reaping the rewards. Mental clarity is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? :) As for the Weck jars, I buy mine online (linked above), but I’ve also seen them sometimes at Home Goods or Crate and Barrel on sale. Have fun organizing your pantry and kitchen! :) x
Okay, so your pantry isn’t a whole lot bigger than mine, yet you seem to have enough space whereas I do not, even though you have a lot of things in there that I keep elsewhere: nuts and seeds in the freezer, maple syrup in the fridge, baking stuff in a high cupboard because I use it so rarely, and snacky stuff not at all. Keeping flours on the countertop would be great if I had space, but where do you keep your legumes (lentils, split peas, and assorted beans, both dry and canned)? And the celiac-friendly grains such as quinoa (I’ve got several different kinds), and millet? And tea? I also have oats (regular, steel-cut, and quick) and spelt, which you may not be able to eat, so that may be part of the puzzle, and a selection of rice and buckwheat pastas. Still, you’ve inspired me to get rid of some of the stuff that I’m realizing I never use… And I love your labelling tip!
That sharpie pen is the best, isn’t it?! As for space, I don’t eat many grains and legumes, which reduces the bulk of many items you mentioned. Even though they may be gluten-free I find that my body doesn’t always respond favorably to them. So that keeps out many of the items that you mentioned, though I do have rice, lentils, oats (I only keep regular) and a few cans of beans. I also don’t usually keep any GF pastas and opt for zucchini noodles or other veggie noodles. I try to go as fresh and seasonal as possible and view my pantry items as playing a supporting role, rather than being the bulk of a recipe. Hope that answers your questions! :)
I’m in the process of renovating my kitchen and converting an unused half bathroom into a pantry/closet. You’ve inspired me to get rid of all those mismatched plastic (unhealthy!) containers and get glass for all my bulk items. I’ll be going to IKEA to check out their glass jars and I’ve ordered the marker too. This will be a beautiful and simple way to keep my paleo & gluten-free kitchen organized. Thanks for this pretty and inspirational post. Loved the video too! Keep them coming please. :)
Kitchen renovations are always exciting – it’s a blank slate! Happy this post inspired you and thanks so much for your kind words on the video. I have plans to do a spice drawer organization video soon! :) x
I was shopping for a pantry cabinet and somehow I saw this video. It’s amazing! I am too hooked on all your videos. Great Job! But I do have to say I fell in love with you pantry cabinet, the style and color. May I ask where can I purchase one? Keep up the great work. Helping others change for better eating, one dish at a time!
Hi Priscilla- Thanks so much! But I actually live in an apartment, so I’m not sure where they got this from.
I’d been looking for something just like this! Couldn’t find anything that would fit perfectly or Look nearly as put together. Love it times a million. I’ll have to save this and recreate it!
Yay – love to hear that! It really does make your pantry nice and tidy (and pretty)! :) x
Thanks for the video, Lisa! My storage is a mix of plastic & glass so now I’m thinking I should change to all glass – thanks for the info. Here in the UK we use Kilner-style glass jars, very easy to open and air tight. But I’m going to look for the Montana jars on Amazon UK because they look good. There is a current trend for copper items here in the UK and the Montana jars would look good with those.
Yes, Kilner jars are great! Very similar to our canning jars in the US. And I’m loving that copper trend. I don’t have much copper, but I may have to grab a few pieces to add to my collection. ;) x
I’ll be moving soon so have pinned this to refer to when I come to organise my new pantry. Love those jars and I love your style. I’m dreading the move, it’s big one, returning home from being overseas for 10 years. Things will be going quiet on my blog front soon as I start to have a real purge. Can’t wait to get rid of loads of junk & clutter. :)
Moving from overseas really is a big endeavor! I’ve done it a few times…and it’s all those move that probably prompted my minimalist style. ;) But you’ll feel so good after getting rid of the junk and clutter. Best of luck to you Gillian! :) x
What a good point to move everything to glass. I love the look of organised cupboards… I think I have some work to do in my house :)
Spring is always such a good time to do a little pantry cleaning. :)
I dream of having enough cupboard space to fit everything into and when I do get it, them I’ll be following suit and making it look awesome. Great tip to get the lids the same size.
I’m with you Jane! In my dreams I’ll one day have a walk-in pantry. ;) x
Love all those glass containers! I agree with you, I much prefer to get rid of clutter and have a simple, clean-looking home.
Thanks Becca! A clutter-free home definitely feels good. :)
Reinventing the wheel! I have been doing this for years, it’s not rocket science, just common sense.
what a wonderful canisters you have there! lovely info!
Thanks Prasanna!
I definitely loved this pantry organization video! Excellent, useful tips. And I’d love to see an apartment tour video as well, if it’s not too much trouble to film. Love your decor style! :)
Thanks Liz! So glad you liked the video. I’ll queue up an apartment tour video for the future…and it’ll put a fire under my bum to finish decorating my place. Lol!
Wow, this was a really good video! Thanks! Very inspiring, I would love to see your apartment and maybe get inspired on simplifying even more. I love love loved your white maker! I’m ordering one right now!
Where do you get your cassava flour? It’s expensive on amazon!
That white marker is magic! You’ll want to start labeling everything – ha! And I do purchase my cassava flour on Amazon. I buy Otto’s brand and while I know it’s not the cheapest, the quality is the best I’ve found. Some readers have complained that other brands have been gritty or don’t bake well. So I pay the premium for quality (it also lasts quite a while). :) x http://amzn.to/2nNC9ay
Wonderful! I love these pantry ideas.
Thanks Carrie! Sometimes a spring refresh is in order. :) x
Thanks! I have been looking for glass containers, and will follow your lead!
Wonderful! You’ll love these glass jars. :) x