Last Updated on March 05, 2023
Organizing your cupboards and pantry ain’t no puppy, but we all got to start from somewhere. With the right containers and organizers, you can even turn the clean-up into a pretty fun task.
If you are the type who keeps their ingredients in their bags, you might be thinking you’re being practical and economical. But you could save so much time by stacking your ingredients in see-through containers instead of going through rolled-up bags of flour, oats, and sugar in your pantry.
Sure, you can keep your ingredients in mason jars, in fact, we’re all for it! But mason jars aren’t always the best solution to store everything. They don’t stack up neatly, the round shape makes you compromise on the space, and they don’t always add that wow factor to your kitchen shelves.
If you want to give your pantry and kitchen a good shape-up but don’t know where to start, we have you covered. Here is a list of the best storage containers for your pantry and cabinets, with a variety of functionalities.
For Dry Goods: Chef’s Path Airtight Containers With Lids
Chef’s Path dry food storage set includes 14 containers and respective lids with a hinge locking system that makes the containers airtight, plus a watertight seal that ensures zero spillage and maximum freshness. The lids can be used interchangeably, so you don’t have to go through a cluster of lids to find the one to store your dry goods.
The containers come in various sizes. You’ll find 4 small containers of 0.8 liters, 4 medium containers of 1.4 liters, 4 large tall containers of 2 liters, and 2 extra tall containers of 2.8 liters. The whole set covers your dry goods storage needs, from flour to beans and even spaghetti. If you think you need more, you can upgrade to the extra-large pack with 24 containers. The containers are rectangle-shaped and easily stackable, so you can maximize the space in your pantry. They are also dishwasher-safe.
What sets Chef’s Path airtight containers apart from its competitors is the reusable, customizable chalk labels, which make sure you never confuse sugar, flour, or salt again. You can even stack the containers sideways and stick the labels on the top. Finally, this set is very reasonably priced compared to its equivalents.
For Dry Goods in Bulk: Rubbermaid Commercial Storage Container
If you cook for a family that gets through the basic staples like beans, lentils, or flour every month, the chances of you shopping in bulk are pretty high. This Rubbermaid storage container is made for commercial use, so it’ll endure long years of usage. The square container holds the maximum amount of ingredients and lets you use your space as efficiently as possible.
Made from high-quality, break-resistant polycarbonate, the Rubbermaid commercial storage container can endure -40 C to 100 C. This allows you to store it in the fridge, dishwasher, and even freezer or use the container for sous vide cooking.
Depending on your household needs, you can choose from a range of containers – 2, 4, 6, 7.5, 12, 18, and 22 liters. Plus, with the visible ratio marks printed on the box, you’ll know the exact amount of ingredients in the box.
The only downside of this heavy-duty container is that you have to buy the lid separately. But even when you add that up, these containers are a good bang for your buck if you regularly store dry ingredients in bulk.
Airtight and Opaque For Coffee: Airscape Stainless Steel Coffee Canister
It’s usually good to have see-through containers, so you don’t confuse whatever is stored inside them. But the drill with coffee is different. If you don’t store your freshly roasted coffee in an opaque container that blocks UV light, chances are you’ll taste some rancidity by the time you reach the bottom of the package.
The reason we like Airscape stainless steel coffee canisters so much is that they push out all the air and seal the contents perfectly, thanks to their patented plunger lid design. Storing your coffee in a vacuum ensures maximum freshness and flavor whenever you brew yourself a cup of coffee.
The canister is made of commercial-grade stainless steel and BPA-free polycarbonate. We also loved Airscape’s pastel color palette and would love to display the elegant coffee canisters on our coffee station.
Thanks to their innovative design, these containers can also be your best friend when you want to keep your herbs, teas, and spices at their freshest. They are also resistant to stains as well as taste and odor transfer.
Basket for Miscellaneous: Gourmet Basics by Mikasa Madam Metal Stacking/Nesting Rectangular Basket
You don’t always come back from the grocery store carrying goods that need airtight containers. Snacks like crackers, chocolate bars, packs of chips, or even granola and oats come in all shapes and sizes. You can shove them in a drawer or a cupboard, but why not try some Gourmet Basics baskets that both enable you to see your inventory and keep them tidy and stacked together? Once you open the packages, you can simply seal them back with this Kardiga Mini Bag Sealer, and they’re good to go back in the basket.
The steel of the basket is heavy-gauge, carbon structured, with a coating of food-safe powder. This makes it also a great storage basket for the vegetables and fruits you should store outside of the fridge, such as apples, onions, and potatoes.
The acacia lid is straight and smooth so that you can stack more containers on top of it while still being able to reach the goods inside through the hole on the side of the basket. You can also stack multiple baskets on top of each other to declutter your kitchen and pantry.
For Cans: DecoBros Supreme Stackable Can Rack Organizer
From chicken broth to cranberry sauce, beans, and chilis – or even cat food – you probably buy canned goods on a regular basis. But cans come in all shapes and sizes and don’t always stack up nicely on top of each other. To turn your pantry from a cluster of cans to a Warhol artwork, we recommend you get one of these DecoBros Supreme Stackable Can Racks that can hold up to 36 cans in variable sizes.
The plastic dividers are portable, so you can adjust them according to the different can sizes. The rack dimensions are 17 – 11.5 – 13.5 inches (43.18, 29.21, 39.29 cm) and aren’t adjustable, so you need to ensure they’ll fit your designated spot in the pantry or cabinets.
Turntable for Condiments and Spices: AXTEE Turntable Organizer
Okay, this is not a container, but hear us out. Just when we thought lazy susans were out of date, this turntable came to our aid to organize all those jars and bottles of sauces and spices. It’s especially convenient for the corners in the cabinets and pantry or even in the refrigerator. You can easily reach the right jar you’re looking for by giving it a light spin.
The solid pine wood base is elegant and stable, thanks to the 4 non-slip pads on the bottom, ensuring nothing slides when you rotate it and preventing contents from falling off.
The turntable is 23 cm in diameter, which may sound small, but it’s actually the perfect size for adding functionality to compact spaces. A bigger one might not make sense if you want to store small jars of continents and spices on it, but if you need it for bigger bottles, this lazy susan also comes in with radiuses of 25 cm, 28 cm, and 30 cm.
Utilize the Doors: ClosetMaid Adjustable Organizer Rack
If you have a walk-in pantry, or a closet one, you can — and definitely should — utilize the back of the doors. This hanging rack with baskets can make up so much more space in your pantry than you ever thought possible.
The 8 baskets are all adjustable, so you can personalize them depending on what you want to store. Tall bottles, small cans and jars, or cartoons of juices, you can make space for just about anything. You can also purchase additional baskets to increase your pantry space even more.
The ClosetMaid does require you to mount it on the door — you can also mount it on a wall — for maximum security. All the hardware pieces come included, so all you need is a drill.
Sliding Shelves for Pots: LYNK Professional Slide Out Cookware Organizer
Clunky pans and pots are the hardest to maintain in order in regular cabinets. It’s not only annoying but also bad for your precious non-stick and copper pans and pots. To save yourself the trouble, take a cue from the LYNK slide-out cabinet organizer. Thanks to its patented ball-bearing glide system, it opens and closes in a breeze and keeps everything organized and separated, letting you reach out for your favorite skillet in a snap.
The dividers on the shelf are easily adjustable to your needs, and the whole thing is very easy to install. Just make sure you have enough space in the designated cupboard, and enjoy never having to take out that cast iron skillet underneath several pans and pots again.
Thyme to Organize the Spice Section: SWOMMOLY Spice Rack Organizer with 24 Jars
We all have that spice cabinet that you just have to dig through to reach for that special spice you need. It not only makes it hard to find what you’re looking for but also makes it so much easier to forget about that jar of anise or charnushka you’ve bought and swore to include in all your dishes.
To keep your spices tidier and use your vertical space, take a cue from this spice rack organizer. You can mount it on the wall, on a door, keep it on the countertop, or place it in a cupboard. The 3 tiers can hold up to 24 glass jars that also come with the rack. You also get a marker and a chalk label set so that you don’t have to smell through 5 jars to find that baharat mix.
Double Your Shelf Space: Smart Design Expandable Storage Rack
Okay, this one is also not a container, but it’s a simple yet delightful solution to the small cupboard or pantry shelf spaces. These expandable racks let you use the vertical space you have in your cupboards and pantry by creating another layer of space. You can combine the racks and adjust their length — they will fit almost anywhere — or simply detach them to use separately. Practical, durable, and functional.
No More Chaos in the Pantry!
You can be a neat, tidy cook who runs through their pantry and cabinets and organizes stuff to regularly keep things clean and in line. But if you lack the right storage tools and containers, you’ll see that your pantry and kitchen quickly turn into the chaotic mess they used to be before you went in and organized every corner.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can simply create a system that works sustainably with the help of appropriate tools and containers for all the dry staples, snack packages, cans, spice jars, and pots you use to work your magic in the kitchen. Once you sort it out, everything will work like a clock!
