17 Realistic Tips For How To Organize Snacks in Your Pantry
If you are looking to organize the snacks in your pantry, this quick guide will give you plenty of realistic ideas for making your snacks easily accessible and helping to make your pantry not look so cluttered.
Having a cluttered pantry can be really overwhelming when you just want to grab a quick snack and you can’t seem to find anything.
You can also end up wasting money because snacks go bad when they are not stored correctly or get pushed to the back of the pantry and forgotten about.
Use the simple organizing hacks in this post to get a maintainable system for your snack storage. A simple afternoon organizing your pantry can save you tons of time, money, and frustration in the future!
This post is all about how to organize snacks in your pantry.
Best Way to Organize Snacks in Pantry
1. Use chalkboard labels to organize bins
Chalkboard labels are super helpful because you can change the label as your snacks rotate.
Having all of your bins labeled helps to cut down on digging through the bins to find the right snack thus making your pantry look super cluttered!
2. Create a snack station for kids
If you have kids it can be super helpful to create a snack section where they can easily access their favorite goodies!
If you have the space in your pantry, use a rolling cart like the one above to encourage them to get a variety of different snacks from each section.
For example, one level can be filled with fruit while another is filled with granola bars, chips, and other packaged snacks.
3. Organize your snack bars with drawers or baskets
Pick up some mini drawers to easily separate your snack bars.
This is a great system if you have family members that have allergies so that you can clearly section off which drawers contain safe snacks.
4. Use specific bins for on-the-go snacks
I love having specific sections that hold snacks I can grab when I am running out the door!
Some snack items like nuts and granola can be kept in large bulk bins but for convenience sometimes it is nice to have snacks in reusable bags to easily grab and go!
5. Use over-the-door organizers for your pantry door
Over-the-door organizers are the perfect solution for small pantries!
Using vertical space to maximize storage space is a secret trick I love to use in all areas of my home because it keeps items up and off the floor and easily accessible.
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6. Use detachable labels on storage bins
With items like pasta, flour, and sugar you can use permanent labels but with snacks, it can be nice to have the option to switch things around.
Use tags and labels that clip on or tie onto your storage bins so that as your preference in snacks changes, your pantry stays consistently organized.
7. Use clear containers so you can easily see snacks
It can’t be an organization post without mentioning clear containers!
You don’t need a bunch of them but they really do help to keep snacks contained and your pantry shelves organized.
8. Group snacks by type
This may seem like an obvious tip but keep similar snacks together. Chips with chips, granola bars with granola bars, etc.
9. Use stackable bins
Again with maximizing vertical space, use it! Find stackable bins for smaller snacks where you can easily move the bins in and out.
It may take a few extra seconds but it is worth it when your pantry looks streamlined.
10. Create snack zones
Designate different shelves for specific sections like salty, sweet, and healthy (more nutrient-dense) snacks.
Sometimes simplicity is best because it is easy to follow and maintain when your pantry inevitably gets a bit messy.
11. Snack rotation system
Place new snacks at the back and older ones at the front to minimize waste. I try to do this when I am unloading groceries.
It is quick and it helps to keep the freshest items always available.
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12. Low-level kid friendly shelf
Create a low shelf with easy-to-reach snacks for kids if you don’t have space for a specific “snack station”.
It may be a small switch but it is a great way to help your little one build independence. Asking them to keep their snack section organized is also a simple chore!
13. Use lazy Susans to easily access snacks in the back of your pantry shelves
Use a lazy Susan to make small snack bags, chip bags, and boxes more accessible.
Chip bags and dried fruit bags are kind of an awkward shape and can easily be stuffed in between other items if they don’t have a specific home to “live” in.
14. Use wicker or wire baskets
Baskets can give your pantry a neat, organized look while keeping snacks together. If you are trying to cut down on plastic in your kitchen or simply don’t like the look of clear bins, use wire baskets.
They have the same benefits of clearly allowing the snacker to see their snack options while keeping the shelves organized!
15. Add dividers to pantry drawers
Install dividers in pantry drawers to neatly arrange snack bars or small bags. They really help to keep your drawers separated and not turn into a pile of random snacks.
Even if you don’t have drawers in your pantry dividers can work great in storage bins on shelves.
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16. Store bulk snacks in airtight containers
It is so disappointing when you go grab your favorite snack and it is stale. Use airtight containers for large bags of snacks to keep them perfectly fresh.
17. Use shelf risers to clearly see snack boxes and containers
Shelf risers are the perfect way to lift jars of peanut butter or less-used snack containers up so that you can still access them. It creates a bit of extra space and allows everything to be clearly visible.
What to declutter from your pantry to better access your snacks
Before buying any new pantry organizers, it is crucial to start with decluttering first! Take out any organizers you currently have that are bent, broken, or take up too much space. If you can’t fix them, get rid of them.
Look through all of the snacks in your pantry and check the expiration dates! If it is too old to be eaten simply throw it out. If you or your family didn’t like a snack you bought try to pass it on to someone that might or donate it.
Lastly, head to the thrift store or use storage bins you already own to get your pantry organized using the tips above!
Kitchen organization tips
I hope these tips help you to get your pantry organized in a way that works best for you! Don’t feel pressured to buy all of the organizers on this list. We all have different needs and different kitchens so find what works best for you!
If you want to continue your kitchen organizing, check out some of our other articles below to get your kitchen looking clutter-free and organized!
Have any other snack organization hacks? Let us know in the comments below! I’m sure others in the community would love to learn from you as well.
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about organizing your pantry for an organized kitchen.
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