"Pantry" Organization

[Cavalry]

I try to keep the level of preparedness that visible to outsiders to a minimum. Sure, I have long term bulk preps that are squirreled away from anyone visiting my home so this isn't about that. My philosophy has always been store what you eat so I have a very large "pantry" in the basement. It sounds much better to those who just don't get it.
Anyway, onto the point of this. I have always used wire racking, but never had enough shelves and felt like I had a ton of wasted room. I picked up some very shelf intense wire shelves at an auction and am finally taking advantage of a shitty day to go through everything, unfuck my kids poor stocking and populate my new shelves.
I am really struggling with an ideal shelf height that maximizes while making sense at the same time. I'm just too anal retentive I guess.
Condiments are the worst, and I seem to have a lot. I might only have onesies or a few at most of most and its pretty typical that they are funny shaped bottles. I have some plastic 6"x14" bins, I'm thinking about having them in bins roughly by type.
Just taking a break to vent, and to see what others have done to keep it neat and making sense.

 

[Blimey]

I try to keep the level of preparedness that visible to outsiders to a minimum. Sure, I have long term bulk preps that are squirreled away from anyone visiting my home so this isn't about that. My philosophy has always been store what you eat so I have a very large "pantry" in the basement. It sounds much better to those who just don't get it.
Anyway, onto the point of this. I have always used wire racking, but never had enough shelves and felt like I had a ton of wasted room. I picked up some very shelf intense wire shelves at an auction and am finally taking advantage of a shitty day to go through everything, unfuck my kids poor stocking and populate my new shelves.
I am really struggling with an ideal shelf height that maximizes while making sense at the same time. I'm just too anal retentive I guess.
Condiments are the worst, and I seem to have a lot. I might only have onesies or a few at most of most and its pretty typical that they are funny shaped bottles. I have some plastic 6"x14" bins, I'm thinking about having them in bins roughly by type.
Just taking a break to vent, and to see what others have done to keep it neat and making sense.

Similar issue. I need wire shelves for smaller items like condiments. I also found my shelves recently were bowing in the middle so now the heavy stuff is off to the edges (most of my shelves are 2x4 with an 8’ unsupported span).

 

[repete]

Same problem here and still looking for a real solution. I do have #10 cans on wire shelving that are all connected together and that works well but for the fact that the shelves are short in length and only hold so many cans. Smaller cans suck to store as does jars of sauce and the like.

 

[Steal2B]

I too have been on this ever changing quest.

I started with a few free standing wood shelves (constructed with 2x4 kd df dimensional lumber framing using simpson strong tie connectors and 5/8" plywood shelves) using oversize plastic milkcrates or clear storage bins (that may also house smaller clear bins) to store like items in a retrievable manner. These are now pretty much all hardware-ish storage. Pantry-ish items have been relocated.

Many food products and pantry-ish items are now stored in Gladiator Storage Cabinets with some clear storage bins to facilitate stacking of small items like condiments. I already used these model cabinets for power tool storage and flammable / chemical storage for out of sight storage, dolly wheel maneuverability and kid resistant storage. They were not dirt cheap but found some more during decent sales and clearance that I use as pantries.

Heavier bulk items (e.g. drinking water, potable flush water, cleaning supplies are on open heavy duty metal shelves using 1/2" ply instead of the cheap ass sheet goods normally supplied.

Bulk paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, wipes) and some dry goods were consuming too much precious shelf space so they have been relegated to large clear storage bins (some edible dry goods are also vacuumed sealed) that are stacked high on furniture dollies for easy movement / dense storage.

 

[ManualF150]

I don't do anything too fancy... but what I do is write on the cans and containers date of purchase and rewrite the expiration date with a sharpie. I then order on the shelves accordingly.

 

[spat]

I try to keep the level of preparedness that visible to outsiders to a minimum. Sure, I have long term bulk preps that are squirreled away from anyone visiting my home so this isn't about that. My philosophy has always been store what you eat so I have a very large "pantry" in the basement. It sounds much better to those who just don't get it.
Anyway, onto the point of this. I have always used wire racking, but never had enough shelves and felt like I had a ton of wasted room. I picked up some very shelf intense wire shelves at an auction and am finally taking advantage of a shitty day to go through everything, unfuck my kids poor stocking and populate my new shelves.
I am really struggling with an ideal shelf height that maximizes while making sense at the same time. I'm just too anal retentive I guess.
Condiments are the worst, and I seem to have a lot. I might only have onesies or a few at most of most and its pretty typical that they are funny shaped bottles. I have some plastic 6"x14" bins, I'm thinking about having them in bins roughly by type.
Just taking a break to vent, and to see what others have done to keep it neat and making sense.

Odd stuff in boxes or bins with like items that makes it not odd. You put a bunch of ketchup, mustard, and salad dressing together in a box, and suddenly it's all a nice rectangular shape that stores well.

Also solves the shelf spacing issue. Now you're spacing for boxes or bins, not individual items.

For the things we store a lot of, like canned green beans and other stuff we eat a lot of, I just stack their boxes 2 high on a shelf, and that solves the "need more shelves" problem.

I don't mind having to unstack a box or 2 every once in a while to get something out. Just don't bury anything so deep that people are tempted to use the new stuff first.

 

[GOPerfect]

So, I am running out of shelf space. I am mostly using metal shelving units that I got when my Father in law died. I added a few plastic shelf units as well.

Here in the spring, I think I will be taking it all down and designing a shelf system out of 2x4's and plywood that will be custom for all of my needs.

Right now, all is organized and makes sense, just not enough room for all that I have and all that I will be adding.

 

[tirwin1]

I had a series of plastic shelving units that worked for years but I overloaded them and one failed and collapsed. Had to clean up the mess and then re-arrange things. Bought a metal shelving unit that works much better and will be replacing the plastic ones at some point in time in the future.

 

[Cavalry]

Here in the spring, I think I will be taking it all down and designing a shelf system out of 2x4's and plywood that will be custom for all of my needs.

Right now, all is organized and makes sense, just not enough room for all that I have and all that I will be adding.

I am under the impression you are one of the best stocked members here, at least publicly. I am curious if you would share the aprox square footage or footprint of your dry storage area

 

[GTN]

I have two 4’x6’ wire metal shelf units. One on each side of the basement stairs. I get fruit/veg boxes from Costco that are low, strong to keep each type of canned good separate. Everything is dated before loading into the boxes from the back side. Pull out as needed from the stair side.
2nd wire shelf is more for cereals, rice, snacks, water, small paper products. Some how my wife’s cleaning supplies have taken over some space.
Then at the top of the stairs I built dividers between the studs for canned goods also. This way my wife and my Mom don’t have to go downstairs to get stuff.
I always thought I had a lot of stuff but after taking the photos it really isn’t that much.

 

[ManualF150]

^^ Looks like you need to refill that sucker full of cans about now...

 

[GTN]

^^ Looks like you need to refill that sucker full of cans about now...

Yeah I am slacking

 

[GOPerfect]

I am under the impression you are one of the best stocked members here, at least publicly. I am curious if you would share the aprox square footage or footprint of your dry storage area

Square footage???

Not sure if I can give that. Lots of math.

I have three metal shelve units that contain eight shelves apiece. Each shelf is 3 foot by a bit under two feet. Each shelf is full.

I have four plastic shelve units that have four shelves. Those are 18inches by 2.5 feet. I have a day bed in the basement that is raised about four inches off the ground and the entire underside is filled with cases of canned goods. I currently have about 24, five gallon buckets of food. Most are full. I have an area about six foot by two foot set aside for all paper products, ie. TP, plates, napkins and the like.

I have stacks of bottle water cases from floor to ceiling in a couple of places. I currently have filled, 14 plastic totes with odds and ends and things that I think I may need.

I have another shelf unit that contains cleaning supplies and another entire shelf unit dedicated to personal hygiene and medicines. All is labeled and easy to access. If I ever need to bug out, I am not sure where to put everything.....

 

[libertysnake]

I have two 4’x6’ wire metal shelf units. One on each side of the basement stairs. I get fruit/veg boxes from Costco that are low, strong to keep each type of canned good separate. Everything is dated before loading into the boxes from the back side. Pull out as needed from the stair side.
2nd wire shelf is more for cereals, rice, snacks, water, small paper products. Some how my wife’s cleaning supplies have taken over some space.
Then at the top of the stairs I built dividers between the studs for canned goods also. This way my wife and my Mom don’t have to go downstairs to get stuff.
I always thought I had a lot of stuff but after taking the photos it really isn’t that much. View attachment 150769 View attachment 150770 View attachment 150771

Add some oatmeal in there if you don't already have it. Also powdered egg and milk powder -- both are very long lasting BINDERS of fats and water and other solids. Important because if you're preparing a meal it holds it together due to long protein chains in both, although eggs are better at this (yolks especially).

 

[Cavalry]

I have three metal shelve units that contain eight shelves apiece. Each shelf is 3 foot by a bit under two feet. Each shelf is full......

Yeah, I really need to step up my game lol.

 

[GTN]

Add some oatmeal in there if you don't already have it. Also powdered egg and milk powder -- both are very long lasting BINDERS of fats and water and other solids. Important because if you're preparing a meal it holds it together due to long protein chains in both, although eggs are better at this (yolks especially).

I do have a couple oatmeal containers. Being just cardboard container should I put them in something else?
I don't have powered eggs or milk. I’ll add that to my list. Thanks