How to optimize food storage - Clever hacks for your pantry
Kira Zabe
November 29, 2024
Storing food correctly not only saves space, but also extends its shelf life and helps to reduce food waste. With a few simple and creative tricks, you can organize your pantry optimally and make your life easier. Here are some innovative ideas that you may not yet know!
Use transparent containers for a better overview
Instead of opaque packaging, transparent containers are a game changer. Transfer flour, rice, pasta or pulses into jars or plastic boxes. This way, you can see at a glance how much is left and make more targeted purchases. Label the containers with a label or an erasable marker to avoid confusion.
Vertical storage - go up high
Many pantries have unused vertical space. Stackable bins, hanging baskets or shelf inserts are perfect for maximizing space. Even doors can be used with a hanging system for small jars of spices or snacks. Every inch of your pantry is put to good use.
Rotation principle: first in, first out (FIFO)
Place newly purchased food behind existing food. The FIFO principle helps you to use up older products first and prevents food from expiring on the last shelf. In addition, mark the best-before date with a thick marker on the front to keep track.
DIY sorting systems for small items
Small food items such as spice bags, stock cubes or tea bags often get lost in the shuffle. Use discarded ice cube trays, muffin tins or small boxes to sort these items neatly. Alternatively, you can also upcycle shoe boxes or storage baskets.
Use creative storage locations
Not all food needs to be stored in the kitchen. Potatoes, onions and root vegetables feel particularly at home in a cool, dark place. A small storage room, cellar or a special basket in the pantry are perfect. Make sure to store potatoes and onions separately, as they spoil more quickly.
Vacuum sealing for a longer shelf life
Foods such as nuts, dried fruit and coffee stay fresh for longer if they are vacuum-sealed. There are now affordable vacuum sealers that you can use for larger quantities. This minimizes oxidation and maximizes shelf life.
Seasonal and thematic sorting
Organize your pantry seasonally or thematically, depending on what you use frequently. For example, fragrant spices and baking ingredients can be at the front in fall, while in summer you tend to reach for barbecue sauces and light ingredients. This keeps the organization lively and suitable for everyday use.
Pay attention to temperature and humidity
Pantries should be cool and dry. Too much humidity can cause foods such as flour or sugar to clump together, while heat accelerates decay. A small hygrometer helps to check conditions, and a bag of silica gel (out of the reach of children!) or rice can absorb excess moisture.
Conclusion
A well-organized pantry is not only fun, but also makes everyday life easier. With creative containers, clever storage and a few DIY hacks, you can manage your supplies optimally and ensure that less food is wasted at the same time. Try out these tips and discover how much more enjoyable cooking and housekeeping can be!
Have you tried the Smantry app yet? It helps you keep track of your supplies and even find recipes to match your food. Download it today and make your pantry organization perfect!
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.