What should I keep in my pantry?

For Kadri, the pantry encompasses all dry goods, meaning items that can be stored for long periods at room temperature. That includes spices, baking ingredients, canned goods, rice, lentils, beans, packaged snacks, and more. Her pantry storage is spread throughout her kitchen because she doesn’t have a walk-in pantry. Her example is good to follow: just because you don’t have a walk-in closet or even a reach-in pantry off your kitchen doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think strategically about organizing and optimizing those items.

How often should I clean my pantry?

Kadri’s kitchen regularly hosts photo and video shoots for Diaspora Co., so it gets deep-cleaned relatively often. She says she sorts through her pantry at least once a year, but for less avid organizers, more often is better. The good news is that the better organized your pantry is, the less often you’ll need to clean it. Loose bags of flour and rice tend to spill or leave residue, while sealed plastic containers will save you the hassle.

What are some ways to better organize your pantry cabinets?

Kadri uses the regularity with which she uses something as the principle around which to organize her cabinets. Items that she uses constantly are closer to her stove, while less frequently used ingredients are further away. She also utilizes shelves and lazy susans to make sure she can access everything in each cabinet without removing the entire contents of the cabinet.

The 15 Best Pantry Organizers of 2024, by Food & Wine

Best Pantry Organizers of 2023 — Food and Wine / Brian Kopinski

To find the best pantry organizers, we turned to an expert for some advice. As the founder and CEO of the spice company Diaspora Co., Sana Javeri Kadri is a lover of pantry products and is committed to a beautiful and functional kitchen. Her home is short on storage, and the creative solutions she uses to keep her kitchen organized apply to all kinds of home cooks.

“I bulk shop for a lot of my favorite things,” Kadri explains. “I see bulk shopping as a way to support great companies and get a better deal on some of the things that I eat all the time like rice and olive oil. But that also means I have to get creative about organizing and storing.”

Her approach relies on the simple strategy of keeping her most-used items right next to her stove, with items of lesser importance and less frequent use tucked further away. For items like spices that she uses daily, Kadri says she doesn’t bother to decant them into containers. For big-ticket things like rice, pasta, and flour, she prefers to store them in airtight food storage containers that keep them fresh longer and prevent wasted space.

With Kadri's advice plus our experience with testing a wide range of kitchen storage solutions, we’ve rounded up the best pantry organizers to use at home. Read on for all of our favorite options.

The Container Store

View On The Container Store

A turntable is an essential tool to avoid losing things in the jumble of a cabinet. Use it to organize sauces, jars of spices, or even canned goods. Kadri says she keeps one next to her stove for easy access to her most-used oils and vinegar. This one from the Container Store is easy to clean, doesn't slide around, and has an even spin that is neither too loose nor too tight.

Dimensions: 10.5 x 0.75 inches | Material: Stainless steel

Le Creuset

View On Amazon $66 View On Williams-Sonoma $46 View On Nordstrom $66

For properly storing coffee, an airtight coffee container that also blocks light is a must to preserve beans or ground coffee. We love this Le Creuset storage container because it does both those things while also looking beautiful on your countertop or your pantry shelf. The wooden lid creates a tight seal with the canister, and the durable ceramic is dishwasher safe.

During testing, we liked that the lid was easy to open without being loose, and noted that it is large enough to hold several pounds of coffee. We also liked how it looked on countertops and open shelves, and noted that the interior is smooth ceramic, which makes it easy to wash. We noted that the rubber seal on the lid can hide water, so we encourage users to make sure it's fully dry before refilling the canister.

Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 8 inches | Material: Stoneware

The Container Store

View On The Container Store

One of the ways that Kadri makes the most of her limited storage is by taking advantage of vertical space. These shelves allow you to do just that and can even stack on top of each other for particularly tall spaces. Use them as an alternative storage option for canned goods and soda, or combine them with bins to create super-organized DIY shelving units based on your pantry size.

Dimensions: 23.25 x 9.5 x 8 inches | Material: Stainless steel

Smart Design Over The Door Pantry Organizer

Amazon

View On Amazon $50 View On Target $50 View On Walmart $50

The back of the door is a great spot to store items you reach for often. Flexible fabric pockets are a common tool for this storage style, but they’re difficult to clean, and the pockets are often too small to store many household items. This over-the-door shelving system is sturdy, easy to wipe clean, and can accommodate anything from snacks to cleaning products.

This pantry organizer has six sturdy shelves to store dry goods, cans, or even dish towels and linens. The entire unit extends up to 63.2 inches in height to fit your exact door size.

Dimensions: ‎63.2 x 18.5 x 7.25 inches | Material: Stainless steel and plastic

Amazon

View On Amazon $40 View On Walmart $20 View On Clearspacestore.com

Large bins help corral food and other items all over your home, but especially in kitchen and pantry storage. These larger plastic bins are excellent pantry organizers, great for holding boxes of pasta, tins of fish, and opened snack bags. If you notice that smaller items are getting lost in the back of your pantry, bins are a helpful tool.

We like these bins because their clear plastic walls make it easy to see what is inside, and they keep the inevitable crumbs and spills under control. They’re easy to hand wash and are dishwasher safe. They can also be used for refrigerator or bathroom organization if you need to focus on organizing other rooms in your home.

Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 6 inches | Material: Plastic

Amazon

View On Amazon $40 View On Kmart.com View On Razab.com

Although glass food storage containers work great for leftovers, they're also a compact solution for storing dried fruits, nuts, and snacks in your pantry. Razab’s Extra Large glass food storage containers are durable, spacious, and easy to clean. The three sizes are appropriate for family-sized leftovers or cleaned and prepped ingredients, while the lids snap firmly for a watertight seal. These glass containers are fully microwave- and oven-safe, so you can prep food and store it in the same container.

During testing, we liked that these glass food storage containers are stackable and nesting without lids and that they’re large enough for family-sized meals or potluck dishes. We noted that the sleek glass design makes these containers nice enough for serving, which is a bonus.

Dimensions: 8.46 x 8.43 x 7.83 inches | Material: Glass, plastic, and polyvinyl chloride

Cambro 2-Quart Translucent Round Container with Lid

Amazon

View On Amazon $13 View On Walmart $9 View On Webstaurantstore.com

For storing dried goods like flour, rice, sugar, and more, Cambro’s quart containers are affordable and durable. The container set includes a lid, and this 1-quart size is good for everything from letting dough rise to storing decanted flour and other pantry essentials.

In testing, we found that these containers were great for storing onions and potatoes, bulk leftovers like chopped fruit or cooked grains, and even a sourdough starter. We liked that the containers stack when not in use, and we noted that the markers on the sides of the containers are handy and easy to read.

Dimensions: 11.37 x 8.75 x 5.25 inches | Material: Polypropylene

Amazon

View On Amazon $37

If you have a lot of unused space underneath high shelves or in your refrigerator, under-shelf storage can give you a lot of extra storage with minimal installation required. These simple metal shelves have one-inch brackets that slide onto cabinet or refrigerator shelves. Tough-to-store things like plastic bags, pot lids, or even small cans of tuna or tomato paste can be stored easily on these shelves.

Dimensions: 12.75 x 12.75 x 5.25 inches | Material: Metal

Amazon

View On Amazon $66 View On Target $55 View On Stasherbag.com

One of the best pantry organizers comes in a flexible, reusable format. If you’re working to reduce your reliance on single-use plastics or simply want to save money on plastic bags, Stasher’s silicone storage bags are microwave and dishwasher-safe. Plus, they come in a variety of sizes for all kinds of situations. We prefer clear bags, but Stasher also makes bags in an array of colors great for kids and adults alike.

During our reusable food storage bag testing, we liked that the larger bags have a broad, flat base that stands on its own when full. We noted that soft produce was sometimes damaged by the bags, but that firmer foods were kept well in the fridge, freezer, and especially in the pantry.

Dimensions: Various sizes | Material: Silicone

Amazon

View On Amazon $23 View On Walmart $23

If cans are the bane of your existence, opt for a can rack that offers buildable storage with easy access. This rack holds 36 cans at an angle, so the cans slide forward as you use them. The stainless steel body is strong and easy to wipe down. We also like that this rack can be stacked for extra storage. This rack fits in a cabinet or walk-in pantry, but can also be used for floor storage or in a garage.

Dimensions: 11.5 x 17 x 13.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel

Amazon

View On Amazon $16

These clear plastic bins are divided into compartments to keep your pantry super organized. If you use lots of smaller items, like tinned fish, soup packets, or seasoning packets, these bins are great for displaying those items for easy access. They’re also good for individual snack bags and pouches that kids can grab on their own.

They’re also stackable which allows you to take advantage of vertical space that can often be lost in a pantry or cabinet. The plastic is easy to clean by hand but is not dishwasher safe.

Dimensions: 11 x 5.5 x 3.5 inches | Material: Plastic

Amazon

View On Amazon $25 View On Walmart $32

If your food storage needs are more focused on single-serving leftovers and meal prepping, Rubbermaid’s 10-piece set might be a better fit. The two sizes of containers are meant to hold single portions of leftovers. These containers are made of BPA-free plastic that is designed to be as clear as glass and highly stain-resistant.

When we tested these food storage containers, we liked that these containers were stackable both with and without lids, making the space efficient in the refrigerator and pantry. We noted that the various sizes can be difficult to store, but others liked having different options. We also noted that the lids snap into one another, which makes them easier to keep track of and less likely to go missing in a pantry.

Dimensions: ‎12.26 x 8.6 x 8.1 inches | Material: Plastic

Amazon

View On Amazon $25 View On Walmart $5

These Ziploc food storage containers are classic for a reason: they’re lightweight, stackable, and affordable enough to send home with a friend who wants leftovers. The variety of sizes is great for everything from single servings of nuts or chocolates to road trip snacks for the whole family.

During our tests, we liked that these containers are square for the most efficient use of fridge or pantry space, and we noted that they kept treats like granola or fruit fresh for days at a time. Because they’re not leakproof, we prefer them for dry snacks or food without a lot of liquid.

Dimensions: Various sizes | Material: Plastic

Amazon

View On Amazon $23 View On Walmart $33

You may think of your pantry as a space strictly for food storage, but chances are you also keep some cooking tools tucked away among all the cans and containers. While it may seem like the obvious answer, stacking can damage the surface of nonstick pans and make it difficult to access the pan you need when you need it. Instead, opt for this pan rack, which helps you keep even heavy cast iron pans within arm’s reach and can be used vertically or horizontally, depending on the size of your cabinet or pantry.

Dimensions: 8.9 x 10.4 x 12.8 inches | Material: Alloy steel

Amazon

View On Amazon $10

Rubbermaid’s commercial bins are great for bulk shopping, one of Kadri’s biggest pantry hacks. These bins are space-efficient and tightly sealed to keep things fresh for items like rice, flour, pasta, and other dry goods that you might buy in large quantities. When not in use, these containers easily stack inside each other so they don’t take up precious storage space. We like the markings on the sides of the containers to indicate quantity. Note that lids are sold separately.

Dimensions: ‎8.75 x 0.51 x 4.75 inches | Material: Polycarbonate

Factors to Consider

Material

No matter how careful you are, the tools you use to store food will eventually get dirty. That’s why Kadri leans heavily on sturdy, BPA-free plastic and stainless steel for heavy-use areas. For areas that are more visible, like the shelves above her stove, she uses wood but makes sure to wipe it down regularly. Wood can absorb moisture and warp over time, so if you live in a humid climate, think twice about using it in your pantry, where you’ll want everything to be functional and easy to clean. Glass is also durable and easy to clean, but it must be handled with care.

Quantity

It may seem like a great idea to buy huge sets of matching pantry organizers, but the reality is that efficient storage doesn’t always mean using many of the same containers. We recommend choosing items for your specific needs as they arise, so we avoid recommending large numbers of the same size containers.

Pantry Size

Most of the items recommended here come in various sizes, so make sure to measure your own space and buy the things that will fit your space. Consider choosing nesting options for containers that won’t be in use all the time, and stacking for places where there’s extra vertical space. Pantries vary significantly from house to house, as will your specific needs depending on what you like to cook, how many people you cook for, and how you use your kitchen.

Care

To ensure you can maintain your newfound organizational systems in the long term, make sure to select items whose maintenance is realistic for you. If you hate hand washing or rarely have the time, choose items that are dishwasher safe, and so on. Chip- and stain-resistant items are best for families with children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I keep in my pantry?

For Kadri, the pantry encompasses all dry goods, meaning items that can be stored for long periods at room temperature. That includes spices, baking ingredients, canned goods, rice, lentils, beans, packaged snacks, and more. Her pantry storage is spread throughout her kitchen because she doesn’t have a walk-in pantry.

Her example is good to follow: just because you don’t have a walk-in closet or even a reach-in pantry off your kitchen doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think strategically about organizing and optimizing those items.
How often should I clean my pantry?

Kadri’s kitchen regularly hosts photo and video shoots for Diaspora Co., so it gets deep-cleaned relatively often. She says she sorts through her pantry at least once a year, but for less avid organizers, more often is better. The good news is that the better organized your pantry is, the less often you’ll need to clean it. Loose bags of flour and rice tend to spill or leave residue, while sealed plastic containers will save you the hassle.
What are some ways to better organize your pantry cabinets?

Kadri uses the regularity with which she uses something as the principle around which to organize her cabinets. Items that she uses constantly are closer to her stove, while less frequently used ingredients are further away. She also utilizes shelves and lazy susans to make sure she can access everything in each cabinet without removing the entire contents of the cabinet.

Our Expertise

Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is a food and restaurant writer based in Philadelphia, where she has limited space to organize a very overstocked kitchen. An avid bulk shopper with a professional cook for a partner, she’s always looking for ways to better optimize what little space she has.