Pantry storage for singles: simple, sustainable and delicious

Kira Zabe
September 16, 2024
Stockpiling or prepping is very much in vogue. Even the Federal Office of Civil Protection now recommends that people stock up for around 10 days. However, this can be a real challenge, especially for singles, as most pack sizes are designed for couples or families, which is not a bad thing for stockpiling - but it is for consumption. There is also the problem of space, as most singles will not have the storage facilities that a family with a house has, for example.
Nevertheless, keeping stocks is not impossible, even for single people. But how do you start? And what belongs in a single person's pantry that should be both practical and inspiring?
The storage cupboard: a small universe full of possibilities
The heart of any pantry, whether for singles, couples or families, is the larder. The following list is just a good starting point and not something you have to stick to slavishly. Your pantry should always reflect your individual preferences. There's no point in storing five packs of rice, for example, if you don't eat it at all. It will probably take some time to put together the perfect stock for you, but we're not aiming for perfection here. Always keep in mind: a little stockpile is always better than no stockpile at all. Feel free to experiment and adapt.
Staple foods:
Grains and pseudocereals: quinoa, rice, couscous, bulgur and of course pasta - choose whole grain varieties for an extra nutritional kick.
Pulses: Lentils, chickpeas and beans (dried or canned) are nutritious, versatile and have a long shelf life.
Nuts and seeds: Perfect as a quick snack between meals, as a topping or ingredient in many dishes.
-Spices and herbs: They are the magicians in your kitchen. A well-stocked spice rack can really make a difference. Also stocks, sauce cubes and the like.
Preserves and jars:
Tomato products: Strained tomatoes, tomato paste and whole peeled tomatoes can serve as a base for numerous dishes.
Pickled vegetables: Cucumbers, olives, artichokes and more offer quick flavor kicks and enrich salads and hot dishes. However, pickled vegetables are not for everyone. If you don't like them, it's no problem if they don't make it into your pantry.
Pickled fruit: For desserts, as a topping for breakfast porridge or simply as a snack between meals. Of course, the same applies here as for pickled vegetables, if you simply can't stand pickled fruit.
Miscellaneous:
Vinegar and oil - vinegar in particular has an eternal shelf life if left unopened
Sweeteners: honey, maple syrup or agave syrup. This also includes sugar and sweeteners such as erythritol. These should be stored in an airtight container if possible, as both can absorb water and then clump together.
Sometimes less is simply more: meaningful pantry management
It is, of course, extremely tempting to jump at every offer in order to replenish your stock as quickly as possible. This makes perfect sense when you're just starting to stock up. But it doesn't make sense if you have to throw the food away after a while because it starts to spoil. Of course, there is a solution to this too. The magic word (or rather the magic words) is “active stockpiling”. When you stock up, use up the food that is about to expire first. You can use the pantry app to monitor when this is the case. Then simply buy more of the product.
Practical tips for everyday life
- Plan your meals: This may sound like a lot of work and completely overwhelming at first, at least that's how it was for me. I then started to take a step-by-step approach and first planned my meals for two days in advance and then went shopping accordingly. I also got into the habit of always taking an extra packet of pasta or oatmeal, for example.
2. First in, first out: actually quite logical. Use up what you bought first. It is best to record the food in the pantry app immediately after shopping.
3. Preserving jars: I personally love preserving jars. I use them for multiple purposes. As drinking glasses, as pen storage and for storing dry food. I have also converted some of them into lanterns.
4. Creativity is required: I have to admit that I hate having to throw food away, which is why we make sure we only buy what we really like when we go shopping. If, contrary to expectations, there is food that urgently needs to be used up, we try to get creative with the recipes so that we can use up as much as possible before it has to go in the garbage can.

Finally, one more recipe
Quick lentil and tomato soup
1 cup of red lentils
1 tin of peeled tomatoes
1 onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
vegetable stock
spices: Cumin, paprika powder, salt, pepper
Optional: a dash of coconut milk for extra creaminess
Sauté the onion and garlic in a pan with a little oil. Add the lentils, tomatoes and stock. Season with spices and simmer for about 20 minutes. You can puree the soup for a smoother consistency. Done!
Download our Smantry.App now to optimise your storage even in a single household. This is your helper if you don't want to throw food away and if you want to keep an overview about everything you have in your pantry!

More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent
Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.
Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database
The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.
An overview of the most important scores
1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?
Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.
- A (green) means: very balanced.
- E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.
The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
👉 So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.
2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?
Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:
- 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
- 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
- 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
- 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes
👉 With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.
3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?
Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:
- CO₂ emissions from production and transportation,
- Packaging and recyclability,
- Origin and seasonal factors.
The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
👉 For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.
What this means for you as a Smantry user
Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.
Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass
The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.

Cooking with the Future: Augmented Reality and Smart Interfaces for Your Recipes
That’s exactly what augmented reality (AR) and smart interfaces bring to the table. They project digital information where you need it most: into your cooking environment. This makes it easier to stay organized, cook more efficiently, and even reduce waste – because less stress in the kitchen often means fewer forgotten or spoiled ingredients.
And here’s where Smantry comes in. The app already helps you keep track of your pantry, avoid food waste, and stay in control of your kitchen. With upcoming features like leftover-based recipe suggestions, you’re already stepping into the smart kitchen future today.
👉 Bottom line: The kitchen of tomorrow is here – and it’s efficient, sustainable, and surprisingly fun.

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!