Tips for Organizing Deep Pantry Shelves

It’s been a while since I last shared some pantry organization tips. I’m excited to give you my best ideas on how to organize a pantry with deep shelves. I never established an effective pantry organization system. While using labeled airtight containers, clear bins, and baskets helped organize our food, they didn’t address the underlying issue. Despite my efforts, the core problem remained: deep pantry shelves. But that is history now since I installed some DIY pullout drawers over the pantry shelves!

pantry organization tips

Our pantry consists of one tall (floor to almost ceiling) cabinet with four long doors. Inside are eight very deep shelves, where everything gets lost. Reaching into the dark back of the cabinet was a nuisance at the time.

A couple of months ago, I organized my baking supplies. Soon, I realized that the same pullout drawers would work wonders for the deep shelves in our pantry.

pantry organization tips

The Challenge of Organizing Deep Pantry Shelves

Unlike shallow shelves, where you can see everything at a glance, deep pantry shelves lead to items getting pushed to the back—out of sight and out of mind! I was frequently frustrated. As hard as I tried to organize the pantry shelves, moving things around to reach the back led to disorganized clutter, wasting time and food.

All these years, I’ve focused my organizational efforts on many other areas of my home. So, technically – up until last month- my pantry still looked like it did in 2016. Back then, my best tips were to decant as much as possible with a quick and inexpensive pantry organization with Dollar Tree baskets.

My most recent makeshift solution was to remove a shelf and add shelf risers. I must say, this was by far the best solution at the moment, and I wish I had thought of it sooner. However, while the pantry looked so neat the day I implemented the system, it didn’t take long for it to get messy again. I could see better in the back, but I still had to make a lot of maneuvers to reach for stuff.

To organize the deep shelves, I knew I needed a better system in my pantry that made everything accessible and visible. While my organization system isn’t the most budget-friendly, it’s definitely more affordable than building pullout shelves or an entire pantry closet.

Investing in a few quality bins and pullout drawers on your pantry shelves can significantly improve its function. It’s worth the expense, as it immediately gives you a clearer vision—both literally and figuratively—when planning meals.

DIY Pullout Drawers on Pantry Shelves

So, to enhance my pantry organization, I put back in place the shelf I had removed and purchased five pullout drawers that peel and stick easily to each shelf. I was fortunate to find the perfect dimensions that fit both the depth and width of my pantry shelves (20″ W x 21″ D).

DIY pantry shelves
Slide out Drawers for Kitchen Cabinets

These pullout drawers transformed my pantry shelves. I no longer have to reach into the “dark abyss” of the deep shelves. With just a gentle pull, I can access everything stored inside. This makes it easy to grab what I need without having to move other items around.

pullout pantry shelves

Pantry Organization Tips

Whether you have a tiny or a large pantry, deep, shallow, fixed, or pullout shelves, here are my best tips for a stress-free organization.

Tip #1: Install Pullout Pantry Shelves

Naturally, my number 1 tip to help you organize a pantry would be to install the pullout drawers. Here are some benefits of installing them to organize deep shelves in your pantry:

  • Easy Access: Pull-out drawers eliminate the need to reach into the back of deep shelves.
  • Maximized Space: They allow you to utilize vertical space more effectively, making the most of your pantry’s potential.
  • Organized Visibility: Having everything visible at a glance helps you quickly find what you need.
pantry organization tips

Tip #2: Create Categories

When making categories, my advice is to start with your essentials. It’s nearly impossible to categorize everything perfectly from the beginning. This can be especially true if you have a diverse range of pantry items.

Creating categories will help you utilize space better and create a functional layout that meets your cooking habits. By prioritizing frequently used items, you can ensure that your pantry organization system is sustainable.

how to organize pantry with deep shelves

So, one of the first steps in my pantry organization was to choose which shelves needed a pullout drawer and then create personal categories that worked for my family’s needs.

Grouping similar items together not only saves time but also helps maintain order. My categories included from top to bottom:

  • Grains: Rice, lentils, beans, quinoa, and other staple grains.
  • Snacks: Chips, nuts, popcorn, crackers, gummies, granola bars, and various snack bars.
  • Pasta and Sauces: Various types of pasta, such as cans of tomato sauce, tomato paste, and jar sauce.
  • Breakfast and Miscellaneous: Granola, oats, pancake mix, protein powder, peanut butter, jelly, and others.
  • Oils, Vinegars, Dressings, and Condiments: Everything from olive oil to hot sauce.

While I had implemented these categories before, they weren’t as clear as they are now. I should note that I store my canned goods in a separate cabinet near the stove, keeping my pantry focused on other essentials. This separation makes cooking and meal prep more efficient for me, as I can grab what I need without rummaging through my pantry.

Tip #3: Create Pantry Zones with Clear Bins

While the pullout drawers on the shelves help contain pantry items, I recommend including clear bins to create some separation within the space. This additional organization helps me categorize similar items, making it easier to find what I need quickly.

For example, I keep granola bars and small cracker packets inside clear bins. Having these items out of their original packaging saves space and reduces clutter in my pantry. I also store my tall olive oil and vinegar bottles standing upright in clear bins, safeguarding the drawers from potential leaks and ensuring the bottles remain stable.

Benefits of Using Clear Bins:

  • Visibility: Clear bins allow you to see what’s inside at a glance, making it easier to locate items and keep track of what’s needed.
  • Sub-categorization: They create zones within the drawers, helping to group similar items together.
  • Stability: Clear bins help keep pantry items upright and organized, preventing them from sliding or falling.

Tip #4. Decant What’s Necessary

Decanting items can be an effective strategy for organizing your pantry, but it’s essential to know what to decant and what to leave in its original packaging. I only use airtight containers to decant grains, certain snacks like nuts, and sometimes leftover pasta once the box has been opened. I always decant items I buy in the ‘bulk aisle,’ like oats, granola, brown rice, or grains, for obvious reasons. However, it’s not necessary to decant everything.

For instance, I decided to leave the spaghetti in its original packaging and lay it down inside a clear bin. The tall, airtight OXO containers I used before, while practical, take up too much space and height. Since we typically use 1 lb of spaghetti each time, there’s no need to decant it. If there’s any leftover, I put it inside a gallon-size Ziploc bag. This is a great space-saving tip to help you simplify the pantry organization process.

Tip #5: Embrace Flexibility Over Perfection

This is an important tip: embrace the realities of your pantry organization. While organizing the pantry, I’ve learned that flexibility is essential. If you can’t find room in the snack drawer for an extra bag of chips, it’s perfectly okay to place it temporarily in a different category. Perfection should never be the enemy of your progress. I have learned that the hard way.

Notice that I have a bottle of vinegar in the back of the drawer where I allocated breakfast items. It was the only shelf that could accommodate a tall pantry item. Eventually, I may opt to purchase a smaller bottle or just keep it this way. Organization methods are ever-changing, and the systems could stay in place for years.

pantry organization tips

You’ll also see that I placed boxes of broth and a box of taco shells in the ‘grains drawer.’ Along the same lines, an impulsive buy of Tazo Tea in Tetrapak found its temporary home with the pasta; once opened, it will have to be refrigerated.

I’ve abandoned the notion that my pantry must be picture-perfect. Don’t believe everything you see on Instagram! Instead, embrace practicality, which has been life-changing for me. The goal is to create a system that works, not one that looks good on Instagram reels.

The Benefits of an Organized Pantry

An organized pantry offers numerous benefits that extend beyond aesthetics. One of the primary advantages is that it helps keep track of inventory, making meal planning much more manageable. When everything is visible and organized, it’s easier to see what ingredients you have on hand and what you might need to restock.

Meal Planning Made Easier:

  • Efficient Cooking: An organized pantry streamlines the cooking process, allowing for quick meal prep.
  • Avoid Waste: Knowing what you have prevents overbuying and helps you use up items before expiration.
  • Creative Cooking: When you can see everything, you might be inspired to try new recipes with ingredients you already have.

Pantry Perfection is Overrated

I’ve come to realize that perfectionism is overrated in any home organization project. The most important thing is that the system works for you and is pleasing to the eye. My pantry may not be the most Instagram-worthy, but it’s functional and organized, which makes my daily life so much easier.

I hope my journey and tips inspire you to tackle your pantry organization, embrace practicality, and create a space that meets your needs. Remember, as long as your system works for you, perfection is overrated in my book.

happy organizing, Flavia

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