Warm weather provides a “window of time” to prepare for a potentially harsh winter ahead. There is the possibility of unpredictable weather such as snowstorms and natural disasters as well as lingering health concerns. Some predict that COVID-19 and the flu will create a possible second round of shutdowns and shelter-in-place requirements. Due to the range of uncertainty, there is a desire to keep everyone safe and “holed up” for the cold, winter months that lie ahead.
I am beginning to stock up and shop in a reasonable, calculated, thoughtful-of-others fashion. Yet, storing these emergency supplies in preparation for the undetermined seasons may be a challenge with current closet sizes and organization patterns.
Here are five pantry organization tips to stash emergency supplies:
Clean and Take Inventory
Clean out the pantry and update the design to store more canned and dry goods in the house. Pantry organization will help you to quickly see where the needs are in your inventory. You can keep a better track of what you are buying with respect to the goods you already have, meaning less food goes to waste.
Categorize and Create Dedicated Spaces
Create a shelving storage area for paper goods, cleaning supplies, and detergents in the basement or garage. Store small appliances that tend to be for “occasional use” in these spaces if possible. These steps will free up more space for food storage and give more convenience to find exactly what you were looking for in the kitchen pantry.
Having shelves in the pantry like in the images below allows for easy access. In addition, updating shelving in closets can maximize storage possibilities, as shown in the corner pantry below.
Create a Rotating System
Find a rotation system for canned food so that the rotation moves from oldest to newest can as far as expiration dates go. Steps one through step three will also help empty the pantry and other closets of already expired food that you may have forgotten about to make room for new products. Save room for the new purchases towards the back of the shelves to keep the rotation flowing.
Proper Food Storage
If you plan to keep a lot of pre-frozen food or decide to freezing fresh foods, place an order for a highly-demanded chest freezer. Chest freezers have been on backorder due to the desire to stock up on meat with the current pandemic. Other possible winter conditions, such as snowstorms, are good reasons for having meat already stored in the freezer.
Having a chest freezer available, even when you do not think you will need one, will help in times of emergency and can save more room for everyday used appliances.
Start Stocking Up
Keep extra stock of the basics–flour, yeast, oil, sugar, dried beans, rice, pasta, frozen goods, etc. If you start now, you won’t be hoarding and you can follow the quantity limits in stores. You will be prepared for any situation and will have less stress knowing that within the 25 weeks until Thanksgiving, you will be in great shape for the winter.
This walk-in pantry pictured is a great design for maximizing space for both food and other necessities. Remember the previous pantry organization tips when putting away new groceries.
Get your pantry redesigned and upgraded now. Closet companies are now open as states move into different phases. Catch this window of time now to get the pantry upgrades you have been dreaming of for both using every day and storing for the future. Your pantry will be one less thing to worry about this winter and you will have amazing, newly designed closets to work with as you continue reorganizing.
We are going to be likened to “squirrels” as we begin our food storage now. However, we will be comfortable in our homes and ready for any potential bumps the winter will bring.
Need assistance with your closet update? Get in touch with My Custom Closet!
