Smantry.Blog

Smarter Pantries. Less Waste. More Good.

Welcome to the Smantry Blog — your go-to hub for tips, inspiration, and insights on reducing food waste and making the most of what’s already in your kitchen. Whether you're looking for creative ways to use up ingredients, pantry organization hacks, or guides on sustainable grocery shopping, we’ve got you covered.

Our mission is simple: help you stay organized, save money, and waste less — one pantry at a time. From real-life stories to expert advice, we’re here to support your journey toward a smarter, more sustainable kitchen.

Let’s rethink what we eat, how we store it, and how we can all do a little better, every day.

Lebensmittelverschwendung im internationalen Vergleich

Food waste in international comparison – Who does what?

Food waste is a global issue – but the solutions are as diverse as the countries themselves. While some regions still require awareness-raising efforts, others rely on technological innovations, legal regulations, or creative incentives for consumers. In this article, we take a look beyond our own backyard and show you exciting initiatives fighting against food waste worldwide – and what you might be able to incorporate into your daily life.

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The Doomsday Clock and the significance of sustainable living – Why it's now even more important to live consciously

In recent weeks, headlines about the Doomsday Clock have once again caused a stir. The 'Doomsday Clock', operated by the scientists of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, is moving us ever closer to midnight – a symbol of the proximity to global catastrophe. But what does this have to do with us? Why should we, in the face of these disturbing news, reflect on how we lead our lives, especially when it comes to our consumer behavior?

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Outsmarting Inflation - Tips and Tricks for Smarter Shopping

In times of economic uncertainty and rising prices, everyday shopping can certainly become a challenge. On one hand, I want to pay attention to a healthy, balanced, and sustainable diet, but on the other hand, many of us have a certain budget when it comes to food. This means that such shopping needs to be cleverly planned so that costs remain within limits. In this guide, I deal with tips and tricks around the topic of shopping affordably, simply, and healthily despite inflation and rising prices - and yes, it is possible.

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Self-sufficient vacation: Tips for independent travel

Most people probably associate 'vacation' with the beach, relaxation, and the all-inclusive worry-free package at a resort. However, this way of traveling is not for everyone, especially if you want to remain independent. A small interjection at this point: all-inclusive vacations are not inherently bad, and this guide is not intended to bash them. A self-catering vacation combines independence, sustainability, and a connection to nature - but it also requires quite a bit of preparation, whether you're traveling with an RV, van, or tent, or have rented an apartment, holiday home, or tiny house. For me, a self-catering vacation even has much more charm than a hotel stay, simply because you get to see so much more of the country and its people.

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Transportation costs, climate change, extreme weather - and how they affect food prices

It feels like everything is getting more expensive - especially food. There are many reasons for this - and it's not just due to inflation. We must not forget at this point that we live in an era of global connectivity. Additionally, there's the undeniable climate change and the resulting increasingly frequent extreme weather events. All of this also affects food prices and ultimately the consumer's wallet.

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10 Steps to Creating an Effective Shopping List

You know the drill - you're standing in front of your fridge trying to figure out what's missing and urgently needs to be bought, thinking to yourself, 'Oh, just a few items, I can easily remember them.' Then you head towards the supermarket and discount stores. Once home, while putting things away, you realize that some very specific items are missing, and usually, these are the ones you urgently need for cooking/baking. Well, I'm definitely one of those people. The solution is actually quite simple: A shopping list. Here are 10 steps that make creating a shopping list much easier.

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Stock up now before everything becomes expensive

Currently, the prices for food, gasoline, or other products seem to change daily, at least perceptually. This is partly due to inflation, the geopolitical situation, and changes in supply and demand. Especially in such times, it can be a smart strategy to build up a stockpile. This guide is about the benefits of stockpiling and how it can help you maintain at least some financial stability. By smart stockpiling, we do not mean accumulating a century's supply of toilet paper, yeast, or sunflower oil, by the way.

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Digital Helpers: The 8 Best Apps for Household Organization

This blog contains unsolicited and unpaid advertising. You know how it is: After a stressful day at work, you just want to lean back and do nothing at all. But then it hits you like a bolt of lightning: You actually need to go shopping because there's nothing left to eat, the cat litter box (if you have one) urgently needs cleaning, and the laundry still needs to be put in the machine. All things that many people (including myself) tend to procrastinate on. Especially when it comes to shopping, I am a master procrastinator. Anything I can't order from Motatos and the like, I tend to put off for days until the fridge is so empty it echoes. Then there's the annoying issue of cleaning, which can lead to discussions among couples, families, and flatmates alike. Fortunately, there are now digital helpers that make household chores much easier. I just still have to do the shopping myself ;)

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Optimizing the refrigerator - keeping things organized in the fridge is not that difficult

The refrigerator is a place where food often disappears only to reappear months later as malodorous food corpses, perhaps additionally clad in a furry little coat. So it's high time to get things in order. But how does one even go about that and how can I optimally store my food in the refrigerator? A tidy fridge has another advantage: it saves electricity. In an organized refrigerator, one finds the sought-after food much faster, and the shorter the door needs to be open. Because after every opening, the refrigerator has to cool down to the operating temperature again, which consumes a lot of electricity in some appliances. By the way, it's also not sustainable to get a new energy-saving refrigerator just because the old one might have higher electricity consumption but is otherwise still fully functional.

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Prepper - Preparing for emergencies, what basic food supplies do I need

Note: This blog is aimed at people who are interested in the topic of preppers or 'prepping'. Our contribution is completely politically neutral and is intended solely as information. In the USA, prepping is a huge trend and has now also spilled over the big pond to us. Preppers are people who are prepared for the day when nothing is as it was before, in short, for a disaster. This does not necessarily have to be the outbreak of a war, a zombie apocalypse, or the impending end of the world. Even in a flood, it can quickly become tight with medications and/or food supplies. Anyone who can provide for themselves and their fellow human beings in such a case - even if it is only for a short period - relieves aid organizations. Moreover, having such a stockpile also means that you can react more flexibly, for example, if visitors unexpectedly show up. Even the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance recommends keeping an emergency supply for about 10 days.

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Containerization - could 'saving' food soon become legal?

In many cities and villages, it's a common sight. Not only students set out in the evenings to 'save' perfectly edible food from the trash bins of supermarkets, discount stores, and restaurants. To do this, they have to climb over barriers, gates, or walls - and this is precisely the problem. Because it is illegal, and the dumpster divers are committing a crime. Politicians want to legalize 'dumpster diving', but the trade sector is against it, and organizations like food banks view it rather critically, though they don't outright reject it.

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Behind the Scenes - Why we are involved with the PantryApp

Behind the Scenes - Why we are involved with the PantryApp When Matthias, founder and inventor of the PantryApp, had the idea for the app, he probably did not anticipate that it would become a quite successful community project. But how did Matthias even come to program an app that wants to declare war on food waste? It all started during his university studies and the time living in a shared apartment. Students generally have to manage their money well, yet it still happened that food in the fridge or pantry would spoil - simply because its existence was completely forgotten. Every discarded food item also means discarded money, and Matthias was annoyed every time something had to go to the trash - whether it was due to roommates or his own fault. However, then came job and life, and the endeavor to do something about food waste was put on hold for the time being.

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What food to stock up on? The path to the optimal supply made easy

There are many reasons why you should keep a stock of food at home - and it doesn't necessarily have to be for a disaster or the often feared blackout. However, one question that consistently arises in this context is, "Which foods should I even stockpile?" To ease your mind: Not all of us need to turn into hardcore preppers whose garage/basement/other storage area is perfectly equipped with supplies. Many people don't even have the space for that. This article is more about which foods you should always have at home so that you are well-prepared for emergencies - or simply when you don't feel like doing a big shopping trip on the weekend (or any other day of the week). In any case, it makes sense to have a certain stock of food at home.

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When one embarks on a journey - stocking up in a van and motorhome

Traveling with a converted van or motorhome has seen a real boom in the last two years. Being able to spontaneously stay overnight wherever it's beautiful, being independent of hotel meal times, and being relaxed on the road without time pressure. Most travelers probably appreciate these aspects of vacationing in a van or motorhome. However, culinary delights are less associated with this way of traveling. Most probably think of canned ravioli, packet soups, and ready meals. But it definitely doesn't have to be that way.

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Do you have any questions?

  • How does Speisekammer.app help to prevent food waste?

    Smantry app was developed to help you manage your food efficiently and minimize waste. With the app, you can easily record your supplies, keep an eye on expiration dates, and automatically create shopping lists. This way, you only buy what you really need, and prevent food from spoiling unnecessarily. Additionally, the app regularly offers tips and recipes to help you make the most of your food.

  • I have an idea on how the Smantry App could be improved! How can I request a feature?

    For this purpose, we have set up a feedback-portal. There you can vote for existing feature requests, leave feedback, or create new feature requests.

    We prioritize the wishes according to the number of users who have provided feedback.

  • I have found a bug. How can I report it?

    Perhaps another user has already reported a similar or the same bug. Here you can find a list of all known issues and their status. If you have found a new bug, please also log it there.

    We try to fix errors quickly. If you have any more questions, please contact support.

  • Is there a shopping list?

    Yes! The shopping list is integrated into the iOS and Android app, so you can add items from your inventory to the shopping list, as well as move purchases into the inventory after shopping.

  • How can I print out my inventory?

    Yes, you can create a PDF that you can print out. You can learn how this works in our .

  • Which platforms are supported?

    The Smantry App is available for iOS, Android and as a Web-App.

  • I have a team membership - how can I add someone?

    With the team membership (formerly family membership), 5 licenses are included. So, in addition to your account, you can upgrade 4 more accounts to Premium, provided they live in the same household.

    In our knowledge lab, you will find the corresponding instructions on how it works.

  • How can I invite someone to my community?

    You can invite as many pantry app users as you like to your community, so that you can manage the inventory together. This is particularly interesting for families, shared apartments, and offices. We have written a guide on the exact procedure.

  • What is the difference between the free and the premium account?

    First, by registering, you create a free account. You can test this indefinitely. You can try out the barcode scanner as well as the real-time synchronization on your own devices or on the devices of others once they have joined your community.

    The main limitation of the free version is that each account can manage a maximum of 100 articles. If you want to create more, you have to switch to a paid premium account. Of course, you will keep all your settings, communities, storage locations, products, and photos! This way, you can also enjoy the benefits of many more features!

  • Can I switch from one subscription to another?

    Yes, a switch is possible. Simply cancel your current subscription and wait until it expires. Then you can sign up for the new subscription you want. If you want to switch immediately, you can also contact us, and we will try to refund the amount you have already paid so that you can start the new subscription right away.

  • Are the iOS app and Android app free?

    The Smantry App is available for free download on the AppStore or PlayStore. In the free plan, the app comes with the same restrictions as the WebApp - however, with a premium subscription, all features are accessible without separate charges. So you pay for just one subscription and can use all three apps!

  • How long is the price of the concluded subscription valid?

    A subscription, whether with or without a discount, whether monthly or annual, will maintain the same price indefinitely - until it is cancelled. If you decide to subscribe again later, the subscription must be made at the price that is valid at that time.

  • I am interested in Premium, but I do not want to subscribe

    If you don't want to subscribe but still want to enjoy the premium features, then a one-time payment might be an option for you.

  • I don't have a credit card. Can I pay in another way?

    Yes, payment can also be made via PayPal, direct debit, and other payment methods. In exceptional cases, we even offer payment by bank transfer. Please contact support so we can set this up for you.

  • Can I test the premium features beforehand?

    Yes, all of our subscriptions include a free 7-day trial period. During this time, you can thoroughly test the app. If you don't like the app, you can cancel at any time - the premium features will then expire after the 7 days.

  • I purchased the app on the AppStore / PlayStore / Web - can I also use the app on other platforms?

    Yes! We have a generous model that includes the use of all platforms, no matter where you purchased.

  • I bought the app - does my partner have to pay again now?

    Premium Single is always linked to an account. The same applies if you purchase Premium in the AppStore or PlayStore.

    Every user needs their own account with an upgrade if they want to create more than 100 articles.

    To accommodate families, there is Smantry Premium Team, which includes 5 licenses and is significantly cheaper than 3, 4, or 5 individual licenses.

  • How can I cancel my subscription?

    Depending on where you subscribed, you must also cancel it there.

    You can find instructions on how to cancel your subscription in our Knowledge Lab.

    We would greatly appreciate it if you could let us know why you want to cancel your subscription, so that we can improve in the future. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

  • My question was not answered. Where can I get support?

    Please visit our new Knowledge Lab where we collect tutorials, more frequently asked questions, and reference articles. If you can't find an answer there, feel free to reach out via the chat box at the bottom right.