When I did my own pantry clean out, I was reminded of the rice paper I bought to try my hand at homemade spring rolls. Give yourself a deadline to use these items. But it’s been six months and you still don’t feel like making Aunt Jean’s casserole with the specialty noodles. Otherwise you can get into a constant shuffle that isn’t actually all that impactful in the long run.Īspirational food items, and what to do with them - During your clean sweep, you may be reminded of a food item you brought home at some point to try out a new recipe - let’s call these aspirational food items. This will simplify your brain, and will reserve the space for when you re-up on your Project Juice granola. of granola, keep the granola in a jar the correct size for 24 oz, even when there is only 4 oz. It can be helpful to “set it an forget it” rather than constantly shuffle from one size container to the next. When using your own containers, it can take some practice to know the right sized container for the type of food, but don’t be dismayed.

Glass storage containers - Using your own glass containers keeps food fresh, longer and just looks nice. This also might create your own version of the recipe with something you typically have on-hand, making it easier to cook this recipes in the future. If your recipe calls for white vinegar and you only have red, you could try using the red vinegar for a twist on the recipe. When following a new recipe, try to use some items you have on hand, rather than run out to buy the exact ingredient that the recipes calls for.

This approach keeps your pantry items super fresh, and simplifies your decision-making when it comes to what to cook.īreak the rules - Part of the fun of cooking is to try new things. Then, brown rice is your “chosen grain” for the next few recipes, and you don’t buy another grain until you are finished with the rice. For example, you have a large jar of brown rice. Choose one type of grain to use at a time and only store this option until you are finished with it. Release the need for variety - Follow the lead of zero-waste pioneer, Bea Johnson, and simply keep one variety of food at a time. Warm water and soap works well for cleaning out glass jars and bottles. Rinse and recycle plastic and glass containers. Don’t forget about the spice collection and the condiments in the refrigerator.Ĭonsider the planet during this clean out - Compost any food that has expired. This forces you to assess each and every item, like the ones you might glaze over out of habit. Use a step-ladder to reach the items hiding at the back of the upper cabinets. Start fresh - Remove all food items from all the cabinets and drawers and place them on the counters.

Declutter your pantry