Spring Clean Your Pantry (& Fridge)

Now that Spring is here, many of us feel a natural urge to declutter and refresh our living spaces. While cleaning out your closet may be at the top of your spring cleaning checklist, don't forget about other important areas of your home: the pantry and fridge. Here are some tips for how you can clean out your pantry and fridge and make healthier choices one step at a time.

Remove Everything

Take everything out of your pantry shelves and place them on a clean surface like your kitchen counter or table. This allows you to see everything you have and assess what needs to go.

Check Expiration Dates

Go through each item and check the expiration dates. Discard anything that is expired or past its prime. This includes canned goods, spices, grains, and any other pantry staples.

Check Ingredient Lists 

Take a look at the ingredient lists for items you plan to keep. Run through the below checklist: 

• Does it contain added sugars or alternative sweeteners?
• Does it contain refined carbohydrates like white flour?
• Does it contain refined and industrialized oils such as canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed oil? 

Remember that ingredients appear in order of prevalence with the most prevalent ingredient listed first. If there is anything you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce, skip it! In general, the fewer the ingredients the better. Learn more about how to decode an ingredient list here. 

Group Similar Items Together

As you go through your pantry items, group similar items together. For example, put all the canned goods in one pile, grains in another, snacks in another, and so on. This will make it easier to organize your pantry later.

Clean Shelves and Containers

While your pantry is empty, take the opportunity to wipe down the shelves with a damp cloth or sponge. You can also clean any storage containers or bins you use to keep your pantry organized.

Organize and Restock

Once everything is clean and sorted, neatly organize your pantry items back onto the shelves. Use clear containers or labeled bins to store smaller items like spices or packets. Consider organizing items by category or frequency of use to make it easier to find what you need. The Container Store has great storage solutions. Make a list of items you might need to restock. Learn more about how to navigate a grocery store aisle and check out our products page for some Lanby approved brands. 

Donate or Discard

If you have unopened, non-perishable items that you know you won't use, consider donating them to a local food bank or charity. Otherwise, dispose of any expired or unwanted items responsibly.

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Now repeat the above steps with your fridge and freezer. 

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By following these steps, you can effectively clean out and upgrade your kitchen. We like to do this at least once a year, ideally once a season. 

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