6 Steps for Organizing Your Pantry for the Holidays

Turkey. Cornbread stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, ushering in the holiday cooking season. Which means that now is the time to get your kitchen—and especially your pantry—organized! An hour spent before the cooking flurry begins will save you many more in the weeks ahead. Follow these steps for a clean and well-organized pantry.

1. Clear the countertop closest to your pantry area of any small appliances or other items.
2. Remove the contents of your pantry cabinets and stack everything on the countertop.
3. Gently wipe down the cabinet doors first and then the insides of the cabinets. Use a damp cloth with mild soap or a cleaning product designed for wood furniture. Dry with a clean towel or rag. (See a previous blog post for more information about how to clean your Merillat cabinets.)
4. Reorganize the space by thinking about how often you reach for each item. Designate one area or shelf for baking supplies and another for soups and vegetables. A corner cabinet with Lazy Susan may be a good place for cereal and breakfast items. If space is at a premium, install a spice rack on the inside of a door. Group together any items you use only for holidays, like Christmas cookie sprinkles or cupcake liners.
5. Assess each pantry staple as you move it to its new home. Check expiration dates on spices and canned goods and toss anything old. Empty any half-full bags of pasta or flour into a canister to consolidate space and to keep them from spilling.
6. Make a shopping list of any supplies that are low or out, especially those items you’ll need for your holiday recipes. Be sure to leave room for these items in your newly organized pantry so they can be put away as soon as you return from shopping.

All that’s left to do is wipe down the countertop and take out the garbage. Your pantry is ready to tackle any cooking the holidays bring!

Just for fun: what’s an item found in your pantry only during the holidays? Leave a comment and let us know.

Merillat Cabinet Storage Solutions

People love their things, but they may get even more excited about having a place to put those things. After price, storage is the most important factor for 84% of cabinetry shoppers. Yet they often don’t know what kinds of storage options they have.

Paul Radoy, Manager of Design Services for Merillat, recommends looking at a kitchen in sections. “All kitchens have cooking and cleanup zones; some kitchens may have an island or even a pantry. I see each section as a gold mine of storage opportunities.”

In the cooking zone, smart storage can save you time. A drawer organizer kit or a utensil hanging system can keep utensils in order and within reach. A top-hinged cabinet locks open so you can get at the contents while you’re cooking. You can store a lot on a lazy susan, or in a swing-out base cabinet, and access it all without digging. A pull-down knife rack can hang under a nearby wall cabinet. Under the cooktop, extra wide or deep drawers can hold pots and pans, and a deep drawer organizer can separate them with solid hardwood pegs.

In the cleanup zone, around the sink and dishwasher, a tilt-out sink tray will keep soaps and sponges out of sight. Under sink totes help you keep bigger items under control.

Kitchen islands offer convenient storage. Paul says, “An island set up for wine storage and serving is classy and practical, and spice drawers are great for napkins and corkscrews.”

Paul finds that most people have a pantry on their wish list. After all, it’s a great way to store lots of items in one convenient place. “The more storage you have, the more places you’ll have to hide the cookies.”

See the Merillat’s new intelligent storage options for yourself at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas January 19-22.