13 Ways to get the maximum support from your pantry, fridge & freezer

Without some sort of pantry backup, the Quick & Easy Planning System would struggle to live up to its name. The thing is, having some sort of pantry doesn’t need to be difficult or scary. Or require some sort of super human organisation.

Here are 13 ways to get the maximum support from your pantry, fridge & freezer.

1. Automate your shopping list.
A pantry is only as helpful as the ingredients it stocks. By developing the habit of having an ongoing list for pantry and other household items, you’ll find that you ‘automatically’ replenish pantry stock on a regular basis.

2. Organise your pantry into groups of similar items.
Now I’m not suggesting that you alphebetize your spices, but having some sort of structure or order to your pantry can make a massive difference. If like items are grouped together it can save you time trying to find what you need. And you’ll also be able to tell at a glance which types of items you’re getting low on.

3. Avoid the trap of deep shelves
There’s a saying of of sight out of mind for a reason. If you’re ever lucky enough to be designing a pantry, make sure your shelves aren’t too deep so you have maximum visibility. If a complete pantry redesign isn’t possible, consider investing in a few boxes so you can easily slide them out and have full view of all the contents.

4. Develop the habit of actually looking in your pantry on a regular basis
You know when you’re deciding what to wear and it feels like you have nothing suitable. And then you look in your wardrobe and find heaps of things you’d forgotten about. It’s the same with food and pantries. Don’t rely on your memory. Use your eyes and you’ll find possibilities opening up.

5. When shopping choose some ‘long shelf life’ vegetables
I’ve had celery and cabbages which have lasted up to a month in the fridge. Making sure some of your veg will last into the next week or longer, takes the pressure off getting the amount of food you buy exactly ‘right’.

6. Develop the habit of actually looking in your fridge and freezer on a regular basis.
There can be a whole world of options in both these locations. But you need to know about them to take advantage of them. I’m guilty of only opening the freezer when I want to get something out. And I’m always surprised at whats in there.

7. Explore options for stocking your ‘fridge’ pantry
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your pantry is only about the store cupboard ingredients stored at room temperature. The marvel of modern refrigeration makes ‘pantry’ staples out of many different foods. Think cheeses (especially halloumi), tofu, yoghurt, other dairy products, eggs, smoked fish, salami and other cured meats.

8. Find a butcher who will cryovac for you
Meat will keep for up to a month in the fridge, ready to use when vacuum packed or ‘cryovacced’. We’ve started buying our meat direct from the farmer and he packs everything up in cryovac. So some goes into the freezer but much of it just sits in the fridge until needed.

9. Rotate produce in your fridge on a regular basis
Lets face it, things can easily hide at the back of the fridge and get forgotten. I have a large and a smaller space in my veg drawer. Since I adopted the policy of transferring all the older veg to the small drawer before putting new purchases away. AND remembering to look in the smaller drawer first. I’ve made a massive difference to the amount of veg I throw away.

10. Freeze in small, easily accessible packages
We’ll cover freezing and defrosting in greater detail soon. But for now remember, taking the time to divide food into small packets before freezing makes it much quicker and easier to defrost as you need.

11. Explore the world of frozen veg & fruit
Frozen produce can be just as good, and in the case of frozen peas even better than ‘fresh’ produce from the supermarket. Think beyond frozen peas and berries. Soy beans (edamame), broad beans, mango, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower can all be wonderful from the freezer.

12. Have a spring clean from time to time.
A clean pantry can be a thing of joy. It’s also helpful to identify what you aren’t using to stop repeat purchase mistakes. Or inspire you to

13. Have a ‘use up the pantry’ project every now and then.
If you’re feeling a little broke. Or you know you’re going away for a while. It can be fun and economical to try eating from the pantry to have a little clear out.

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