Keep these items far away from your pantry shelves.
A well-stocked pantry can makedinner(or breakfast or lunch) prep a snap.
I like my pantry solely dedicated to housing food items and related products.
Credit:Getty Images
Getty Images
Perishable Items
Avoid perishable items in the pantry, says Parks.
Such foods are best housed in the refrigerator or freezer.
Storing them in the pantry can cause faster spoilage, resulting in smelly pantries and potential health risks.
Cleaning Products
I would also avoid putting hazardous materials in your pantry.
Storing cleaning products, batteries, and the like can be dangerous.
The risks of ingestion or accidental contamination of food items are too significant to overlook, says Parks.
Even in air tight containers, it is prone to attract bugsspecifically roaches!
Attracting bugs isnt the only issue with keeping pet food in the pantry.
I know that many of us are animal lovers however, there are many people who are not!
adds Hayley Daw ofEl Paso Organizing.
Open Food Packets
Do not store open packets of food in the pantry!
warns Angela Mai ofOrganized Calmin Dallas, Texas.
Preserve freshness and keep pests at bay by storing it in airtight containers.
It’s a simple but effective way to maintain an organized and pest-free pantry.
Keeping that food fresh can also make your pantry look photo-worthy.
Whole Grain Wheat Flour
Whole grain wheat flour can become rancid if stored at room temperature.
I would store it in the refrigerator, says Ruthann Betz-Essinger ofJust Organizedin Birmingham, Alabama.
Take 15 minutes and go through your pantry.If food is expired or stale, chuck it.
Anything that you wont eat but is still edible, can be donated to a food pantry.
Produce that tends to spoil quickly should be kept in the refrigerator.
This includes root vegetables,oranges, pineapple, watermelon, and grapefruit.
The ventilation keeps the air circulating so your produce stays fresh longer.
do not belong in the pantry, says Jennifer Ross ofThe Spruce Gooseorganizers in San Antonio, Texas.
There are exceptions, of course, but they should be kept to a minimum if space allows.
We often find utility items such as batteries and light bulbs in pantries, says Reclaims Flinn.
Those are more suitable for a utility closet.
However, that can lead to a pantry that is hard to use.
Overbuying is often the culprit for items spilling into areas that they don’t belong, says Ross.
My biggest tip is to buy only what you need and have space for.
