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A working pantry. That is the secret weapon of a well-organised kitchen.
A planned reserve of foodstuffs and sundries used in the home, a pantry saves time, money and stress in the kitchen. Tap the pantry for unexpected meals and reduce trips to the supermarket. Stock it with frugal finds to lower grocery costs. Set aside a supply of food and sundries for a rainy day and protect your family against weather emergencies or financial dislocation.
Certainly, it is helpful to have designated cabinet space for pantry goods – but that is not the pantry. Think of the pantry as a reservoir of consumable goods which may be stored in any area of the home.
Tiny urban apartment or spacious rural farmhouse, all homes can include a pantry. That some houses may or may not feature a specific storage area labelled “pantry” is beside the point. A pantry is not a place, it is an attitude!
What is the goal of establishing and maintaining a pantry? It is two-fold: household convenience and protection against unexpected events. A well-planned pantry means that the household will never run out of commonly used products such as toilet paper.
More important, a pantry is a reserve against hard times. Whether it is job loss, illness, or natural disaster, a pantry ensures that the family will continue to be fed, clean and be comfortable in the face of adversity.
A beginner’s pantry focuses on convenience and contains back-up products for each storable item used in the home. The standard is simple: for each open bag, box or carton in the household, the pantry contains a second, back-up product, toothbrushes to tortellini. A good first goal: a three-day supply of food and hygiene supplies adequate to support your family plus one additional person.
More robust pantries serve additional goals. A mid-range pantry can feed a family for a period of two weeks to a month in case of emergency.
This pantry includes substitutes for fresh foods, such as powdered milk, dried fruits and vegetables, and protein products. A mid-range pantry offers convenience and basic protection.
The most comprehensive home pantries are designed to meet long-term food storage needs.
Reality check!
Each family’s pantry will vary according to their own tastes, needs and standard of living. Storage space and financial constraints also affect pantry contents.
For instance, single-income households with young children will build pantries replete with cold cereal, formula, disposable diapers and child-friendly snack foods – all purchased on sale with coupons.
Empty-nesters with an active social life and his-and-hers diets will lean toward pickled asparagus, cocktail crackers and tiny jars of caviar for pick-up appetisers and hostess gifts.
Dedicated home bakers include specialty flours, gluten, and dried buttermilk powder in their pantries, while non-cooks rely heavily on microwave entrees and freezer pizza. And just about every family can stockpile basics for kitchen and bath: toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry and dishwasher detergent, disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, paper napkins and food storage bags.
Larger pantries may be stored in multiple locations around the house, so pay attention to food storage guidelines as you store. A cool, dry basement room is a good storage environment for root vegetables, apples, or baking staples, canned goods and dried beans can be safely stored in areas with greater temperature variation.
Even beginner’s pantries may have a hard time finding a home in small houses or apartments. Try these storage ideas to tuck away a pantry in the tiniest home:
Break the mould: look beyond the kitchen to store pantry items in a small home. Provided that temperature and moisture are not issues, any room in the house is a candidate for pantry storage. Who says cans can’t live in the coat closet?
Disguise it: integrate pantry goods into the home. For example, stack two large bulk-food storage containers and top with a plywood circle and round tablecloth.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter