A Pantry of Pancakes
In December 2024 I got a call from a client who has maintained a home here in CO as well as one out of state for several years. But a decision was made to sell the CO home as health issues are impacting their desire to continue to go back and forth.
As a result, I began some initial decluttering to prepare the house for staging and selling including the kitchen pantry. This is what the pantry looked like before any editing...
Sadly, there was around $750 worth of food that had expired due to the over-purchasing that occurred since the last time I edited and reorganized the space a few years ago. This is just one pile that accumulated over the course of the few hours it took to go through the entire pantry for items that needed to go in the trash…
They simply didn't spend enough time in the house and, therefore, the pantry was truly out of sight and out of mind. This was very apparent just by the number of boxes of pancake/waffle mix they had that had all expired prior to the pandemic…as well as this bottle of Manischewitz Concord Grape wine that, like most bottles of this brand, is rarely used except to fill the Elijah’s Cup at a Passover seder…
It is painful for me to see so much waste and the impact it has on anyone's wallet, not to mention the environment.
But in the end I accomplished what needed to be done and the client was extremely happy.
And when the Realtor who I referred the client to had her stager go in and come up with the plan of attack for getting the house truly “list ready”, the only area of the entire house that she said looked great was…
wait for it…
yeah, the pantry.
I gave myself a few pats on my back and then dove into the rest of the report for the items I will be working on with the client once she arrives at the end of the month to go through the entire house together but here’s the “after” video showing the transformation in a few hours…
I’ve done countless pantries but never wrote up quite a detailed transformation story with significant tips for anyone to consider to really reduce the amount of time, money, energy spent purchasing, storing and preparing food so here you go…
1. Plan & Shop Smart
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Make a Meal Plan – Plan your meals for the week and create a shopping list to buy only what you need.
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Check Your Inventory – Before shopping, check your fridge and pantry to avoid buying duplicates.
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Buy in Smaller Quantities – Purchase perishable items in smaller amounts to use them before they spoil.
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Avoid Impulse Buys – Stick to your list and resist unnecessary bulk purchases, especially for fresh foods.
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2. Store Food Properly
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Use Airtight Containers – Keep dry goods fresh by storing them in airtight containers.
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Refrigerate & Freeze Wisely – Store leftovers in clear containers and freeze excess food for later use.
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Use the “First In, First Out” Rule – Place older items in front so they get used first.
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Know Proper Storage – Some foods last longer outside the fridge (e.g., tomatoes, potatoes, onions), while others need refrigeration (e.g., dairy, berries).
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3. Get Creative with Leftovers
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Repurpose Ingredients – Use veggie scraps for broth, overripe bananas for baking, or stale bread for croutons.
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Transform Leftovers – Reinvent meals by turning roast chicken into sandwiches or pasta.
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Freeze Extra Portions – Freeze cooked meals in single servings for easy future meals.
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4. Be Mindful of Expiration Dates
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Understand Labels – “Best by” or “Sell by” dates are not safety indicators; many foods are still good after these dates.
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Use Your Senses – Smell, look, and taste food before discarding it unnecessarily.
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5. Compost Food Scraps
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If you still end up with food waste, compost peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells to reduce landfill waste and enrich soil.
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6. Share or Donate
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Share Extra Food – Give extra food to family, friends, or neighbors.
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Donate to Food Banks – Many food banks accept unopened non-perishable food items.
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While it may take a little extra effort to reduce your food waste, it is something we all need to be more conscious about especially as grocery prices continue to rise in 2025 and some of the actions from our current administration will dramatically impact farming and processing.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by your pantry and would like #TeamIJS to help guide you through the decluttering and reorganizing process please fill out our contact form to schedule a time to discuss your specific needs.