February is "Organize Your Pantry" month, at least according to me. I decided this when I went to make chili and pulled out a can of tomatoes that expired in 09...how is this possible?
Those expiration dates often come as a surprise to my organizing clients as well. I can't tell you how many cans I have had to pry off the back of pantry shelves, as they leaked their contents from 1982. It's so easy to push cans and bottles to the back of the shelf when you bring home supplies are in a hurry to get them off the kitchen counter.
So, let's just take a look at what is going on in our pantries this month. Even if you just do one shelf at a time, by the end of the month you will probably have a pretty good looking pantry.
Getting started: pick a shelf and pull everything out, check the dates, check the condition of the contents - are cans bulging? Do you still recognize the contents of what's in the jars? Will you ever use that one can of coconut milk you bought on a whim...
Now is a good time to wipe down those sticky shelves and maybe even change the contact paper.
Group like things together, soups with soups, veggies with veggies, etc. Bin like items - think peanut butter and jelly or beans and rice.
Use airtight containers to hold items that go stale, like crackers, cookies and cereals.
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Looking at expiration dates - what a concept! If more people did that, their pantries would be less full. Let's make January 31st of every year a Purge Your Expired Food Day!!
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