How to Organize a Pantry into Easy-to-Use and Efficient Zones

Zoning your pantry helps you see what food you have, what you need to restock, and where the groceries belong.

Updated on December 27, 2023

How to Organize Pantry Zones

food pantry shelves — Cameron Sadeghpour

Divide your pantry into zones to keep your food organized and reduce meal preparation time. First, identify food and cooking categories that suit your lifestyle (such as weeknight dinners, portable lunches, and baking). Next, designate an area for each, with the most often-used zones easiest to get to. Finally, label each zone to keep the sections straight.

Editor's Tip

A pantry door organizer might be an easy-access place to store after-school snacks for kids.

02 of 08

Impromptu Entertaining

The best method for how to organize a pantry is to anticipate food-related problems and emergencies. Stock a selection of fast-fix appetizers, napkins, toothpicks, and trays in baskets. Store them on a top shelf so they're not taking up room where everyday products should go. When guests arrive, pull a basket down, and you're ready to get the party started.

03 of 08

Baking Supplies

When determining how to organize a pantry, remember many gadgets are on the market. Choose ones that make sense for each pantry zone you create. Keep dry ingredients in clear, airtight containers that stack neatly so you can see when your stock is low. Place mixes, frostings, and other ingredients on a nearby shelf. You can use pantry shelf risers ($11, The Container Store) to stack ingredients on top of each other in an organized fashion.

Read Our Food Issue with Tabitha Brown

04 of 08

Easy Weeknight Meals

Meal planners will love this tip for how to organize a pantry that's on the smaller side. After grocery shopping, put a week's worth of dinner fixings front and center in sturdy mesh bins. Attach a label and the recipe. Divide each bin by meal so everything you need will be right there when it's time to start cooking. Instead of doing this at the top of each week, you can keep the bins stocked with ingredients for your family's go-to meals like spaghetti and meatballs or chicken noodle soup.

05 of 08

General Food Storage

pantry canned vegetables — Cameron Sadeghpour

At some point in your pantry organization plans, you'll have to make room for general food staples with long shelf life. Group food by type (veggies, fruits, soups, etc.) and arrange in rows on the shelf. Use stair-step shelves ($12, Target) to put the back row of cans in view.

06 of 08

Lunch on the Run

pantry quick lunch organization — Cameron Sadeghpour

Another good suggestion for how to organize a pantry is to make room for non-edible products. Store bags, utensils, napkins, and lunch items together to make packing easier. Place them in a basket with handles to quickly grab everything during busy mornings. This arrangement also makes preparing weekend lunches a snap.

07 of 08

Quick Breakfasts

pantry breakfast shelves — Cameron Sadeghpour

Keep morning meal supplies in an easy-access spot to find everything you need, even in a pre-coffee haze. Breads fit in an undershelf basket, and a double-decker turntable ($12, Walmart) makes the most of a corner. Save the shelf space for boxy items such as cereal, pancake mix, and instant oatmeal. Use this pantry organization idea to create a convenient coffee station for your morning brew.

08 of 08

Tools and Appliances

hanging kitchen utensils pantry — Cameron Sadeghpour

Don't take up precious shelf space with your cookware. Instead, hang bulky or seldom-used utensils from hooks mounted on the wall or back of the door. If space allows, store specialty appliances in the pantry, too. Your most-used pots, pans, utensils and bakeware should remain in your kitchen.