How to Store and Organize Bulk Food

Okay you want to save money, so you decide to do one of two things; buy in bulk, or coupon (which usually means buying in bulk).  Guess what?  Our kitchens and pantries are not designed for bulk food purchases!  So where to store it?  Read on and we’ll help you figure it out.

The first thing you need to do is evaluate your pantry.  Is it organized?  Can you find what you need?  If the answer to either of these questions is no, you need to start there.  While this post isn’t going to cover pantry organization, you can find some assistance here: http://thejoyfulorganizer.com/2013/11/17/pantry-organization/

If your pantry can’t hold all of your food purchases, think about a spot in your home that can hold a small (or large if need be!) set of shelves.  Use plastic shelving that can be assembled even in a small space.  Lots of super stores sell shelving sets for less than $20.  If you are going to storing heavier items (cans versus pastas), make sure they are rated for the appropriate weight.  Please to look for space in your home are the guest bedroom closet, a hallway closet, at the base of your basement or attic stairs and other places that are full of clutter and underused.

Even with shelves, there are things you can do to maximize your vertical space.  These solutions work in cabinets, pantries or secondary storage locations.

I like to organize cans by genre.  They are easy to stack on a shelf, however, you then lose the ability to see what you have on hand.  An organizer like this one is a great way to keep cans in place and make sure your inventory is up to date.

Second, take things out of their packaging wherever possible.  Stores and manufacturers “bulk up” products to make them look larger than they really are.  If you take things apart, you will save a lot of space.  Use containers to store all of your food and label the outside. If you want to go a step further, include the nutritional details.  These containers can be glass or plastic.  Whatever you decide to use, buy a lot so you always have some on hand, ready to do.  And, when you buy many from the same brand, they usually stack well.

 

Use shelf risers to make sure you can always see what’s in the back of the cabinet.  They come in a variety of widths and heights.  These are awesome for baby food, spices and jars of oils.

 

 

The key to success with buying in bulk is knowing what you have on hand.  Use an inventory list like this one: http://thejoyfulorganizer.com/2014/03/19/free-printable-fridge-and-freezer-contents-list/

Make sure you put the items that expire first in the front.  Also, if you have a lot of food about to expire, donate it to your local food bank.  They are always in need.  Buying in bulk can even help you help others.  Keep saving!