Order with a system
Kira Zabe
October 9, 2021
Pantry, storage room, or larder, everyone calls it something different, yet the same thing is meant "food storage". Whether in a small studio apartment, a shared flat, a loft, or a large single-family home. Everyone faces the same challenge.
How do I best organize my supplies so that I'm always up to date and not just reaching for what's immediately visible.
The be-all and end-all is a system tailored to the needs of the household and a list of staple foods that should always be on hand and are actually consumed. Because what's the point of having 10 cans of ravioli in tomato sauce if nobody eats them?! Once the staple foods are determined, it's time to plan for the perfect system. If you're one of the lucky ones who have a basement, a shelf system is best, whether stackable or modular, reaching up to the ceiling. This way, no space is wasted and everything is optimally utilized. If your space is limited and you store your food in your apartment, a pantry cabinet in the kitchen or hallway is a great alternative. Here, you can also use add-on elements to utilize the space up to the ceiling. Often, the gaps in the cabinets are too large for ideal stacking. You can solve this by adding additional shelves. If your landlord doesn't allow this, you can also create additional storage space with cabinet baskets.
So you don't have to search on your own, we've listed our recommendations here to help you find your perfect storage system.
Shelving unit with ample spaceAdjustable height shelving unitMultipurpose cabinet "The Tall One"Cabinet basketsShelving unit for cans a "must have" for the emergency reserve stock
Store open food items or items in small packets like baking powder, food coloring, etc., in sealable containers. This protects the food from pests, keeps everything organized, and saves you from cleaning up spills that scatter throughout the cupboard.
Storage containers with clip-lock
Do you prefer to store your food in glass? Then we have clip-top jars for you. The ones we have listed here for you are space-saving thanks to their square shape, and they come with labeling stickers. If you have an open shelf at home for storage, they are a real eye-catcher. What do you think?
Clamp-lid jars with labelsSpace-saving bottle storage
- Storage location determined -> check
- System selected -> check
- Container acquired -> check, now we can get started.
If you haven't already been diligently scanning each product with our Speisekammer.app after shopping, NOW is the chance to start. Since you're handling all the groceries anyway, from now on you'll have your pantry with you on the go. Isn't that great?
To now fill your cupboard or shelf, we recommend proceeding like a pyramid. Heavy food items such as drinks, cans, or kilogram packages should go at the bottom. Ideally, they should be arranged in rows by category. That way, only flour is behind flour or milk behind milk. For instance, if you have different types of flour, it would be annoying to have to sort through the flour row every time to know which flour is still there. But with one click on the Speisekammer.App and the storage location assigned for flour, you can immediately see which flour and how many are still there.
This is how you work your way up from the bottom. Foods that are open and frequently used should be placed within reach and at eye level, so they are always at hand when cooking. The higher areas can hold paper towels, snacks, etc., meaning storage for lightweight items that are not used as often.
Of course, stockpiling doesn't stop now. With fruits and refrigerated products, space-saving, systematic organization is also possible. Here we have a few ideas for the refrigerator and fruit storage for you.
Verschließbare Boxen für den KühlschrankOffene Stapelboxen für Schrank und KühlschrankObst- /Gemüselager für die Wand
For those who need to economize on space, we have found a great addition. Here, the space behind the door can be used for spices, oils, etc. This frees up more space in the cupboard for an organized arrangement.
door shelf
DIY is your passion and you enjoy crafting things tailored to your needs? We know the feeling, that's why we've picked out a can rack and materials for a potato storage as inspiration for you.
Storing Cans/Preserves - nettetipps.denettetipps.deDIY Can Rack
Here you will find everything you need to build your own potato storage.
Well, are you inspired and ready to start implementing? We're pleased if this post has been supportive. Have fun putting it into action!
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!
Sharing supplies together – why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend – it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together – as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
👉 The shared economy doesn't stop with cars – it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.
At last, it's here: The categorization of articles 🎉
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you – and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- 🥦 More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- ⏱️ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling – jump straight to the right category.
- 👨👩👧👦 Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- 🌍 Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs – whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality ✨
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app – fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned – as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
👉 Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests – your input might directly influence the ongoing development.