Storage locations, shelves, and compartments - how do I best organize my supplies?
Matthias Schmid
July 19, 2021
For the Pantry App, we have decided on a three-tier concept:
Communities - Storage Locations - Shelves/Compartments. The following sections explain each level in detail with examples to simplify the structuring of your own pantry.
Storage locations
First, we will discuss the concept of a storage location. A storage location is a place where food and possibly other household items are kept.
If products are located in two different rooms, as a general rule, two storage locations should be created.
Similarly, a storage location should be established if the storage conditions differ significantly - this is the case with a fridge/freezer combination.
In the refrigerator, the temperature is usually around 4°C, while in the freezer it is -18°C. This temperature difference leads to significantly different conditions, therefore a storage location should be created for both the refrigerator and the freezer compartment.
Examples of storage locations include: pantry, refrigerator, kitchen cabinet, freezer compartment/freezer chest, basement room/storage cellar, living room cabinet, garage.
Shelves/Compartments
Another grouping characteristic for products within a storage location is a freely definable text field, which can be used to differentiate between shelves or compartments.
For small storage locations like a freezer compartment, this is usually not necessary - but for a large cellar room with several shelves, a subdivision significantly increases clarity.
Typical for all shelves/compartments/boxes are the identical storage conditions within a storage location.
Examples of how to use this field include:
- Shelf on the left, shelf on the right
- Compartment 1, Compartment 2, ... Compartment 5
- Top drawer, middle drawer, bottom drawer
- Storage box 1, Storage box 2, Storage box 3
Communities
Zuletzt gehen wir auf das Konzept der Gemeinschaften ein.
Mit den oben genannten Strukturierungsmerkmalen lässt sich ein normaler Haushalt abbilden. Alle Lagerorte in einem Haushalt werden in einer Gemeinschaft zusammengefasst - charakteristisch für die Gemeinschaft ist, dass eine vorher definierte Gruppe von Personen in diese Gemeinschaft bilden und alle auf die zugehörigen Lagerorte mit Lebensmittel Zugriff haben. Für die Planung von Lebensmittelvorräten gehen wir davon aus, dass sich die Mitglieder einer Gemeinschaft aus den Lebensmittel einer Gemeinschaft bedienen.
Example shared apartments
If in a shared apartment with several roommates the groceries are bought and planned together, they can all be managed in one community. However, if each roommate has a separate shelf space and a compartment in the refrigerator, then each is responsible for their own food and multiple communities need to be established - even though the premises and possibly even the storage locations are identical.
More examples
Examples of engaging with other communities in addition to one's own household include:
- Vacation homes and weekend cottages
- Shared housing where shopping is done together
- Office kitchens where coffee, milk, etc. are purchased collectively
Of course, deviations from this model can be made according to one's own needs. If you have discovered a use for the Pantry App that is not listed above in the examples, we would be delighted to receive feedback!
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.