The PantryApp Guide to Minimalism - Minimalism in the Kitchen
Miriam Weitz
May 11, 2023
The minimalist kitchen
First things first: Minimalism to me does not mean sterile like an operating room. It's fine to decorate with pictures, dried flowers, or the like. It just shouldn't get out of hand. The art of minimalism lies in omitting the right unnecessary things.
Especially in the kitchen, chaos often reigns - whether in a single household or a large family. Moreover, there are certain kitchen utensils and dishes that tend to accumulate, which are hardly ever used. By the way, I am no exception. For example, I have soup cups that I feel I have never used - but they have moved with me dozens of times. The same goes for the immersion blender - because I use the stand mixer 99.9% of the time.
As a rough guideline, one should throw away anything that hasn't been used in the last six months. Of course, there are the famous exceptions to the rule, for example, cookie cutters.
The thing about the storage containers and the dishes
I must confess that I am an absolute hoarder of storage containers and lids. I have a lot of containers without lids and vice versa. I will keep a few of the lidless containers as they are quite useful for the fridge. The rest will go into recycling - as well as the orphaned lids. Likewise, with a heavy heart, I must sort out the surplus dishes, such as the aforementioned soup cups. Those will also be taken to the recycling center.
Everything has its proper place
In the new kitchen, every appliance that we keep will have a permanent spot (at least that's the plan). In the future, we will also prefer to spend a bit more money on a kitchen appliance, but then use it until it falls apart. I dream of a certain kitchen machine that starts with a K (no, not the one that starts with T.)
Order in the kitchen cabinets
Minimalism in the kitchen always has something to do with clarity and functionality. This is especially true for kitchen cabinets, where things often disappear into the depths, only to reappear years later. A tool that prevents such unpleasant experiences is the SpeisekammerApp. As a storage location, once I have scanned the food item, I can easily assign it to the kitchen cabinet. This way, I'm always informed.
What also contributes to organization are divider or organizing systems. In my case, the lidless storage containers will be used for the most part.
Glasses, cups and the like
During the move, I started to sort out cups and glasses that I hadn't used for more than three months. By the way, a lot of glasses and cups accumulated. However, there will always be dishes in my cupboard that I keep for sentimental reasons and which I would really regret throwing away. I've mentioned it before, minimalism is different for everyone. Since we mostly cook at home, we also have more than two pots and a pan - and I don't feel guilty about it at all ;) I will also never give up my coffee machine.
Create storage space
Even if it might make some minimalists cringe - storage space is simply extremely important. Because the things that don't stand on the work surface and that I still need have to go somewhere. We managed quite simply with shelves and additional cabinets. I find kitchen items in the bedroom or on the balcony quite odd. I actually found this tip while researching on another blog.
By the way: A minimalist kitchen doesn't have to cost a fortune. For example, we took the kitchen from our old apartment and spiced it up with furniture from Ebay classifieds and the second-hand store. For me, minimalism is also about sustainability - and that's something that the PantryApp stands for. I think it's perfectly okay to buy used furniture - but I also know that's not for everyone. When everything is finished (right now it looks a bit chaotic) I will also post a picture on this blog.
What we still need to work on
Where there is definitely still a lot of room for improvement for us is the issue of dishes. We combined two households and therefore have many things in duplicate or triplicate. Cups and plates will probably be stored in the basement for now, because they do tend to break. This way, we always have a spare on hand at home - which is also sustainable.
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.