How to Organize Your Pantry in Zones (And Why It’s a Game Changer)

Learn how to organize your pantry in zones for a cleaner, more efficient kitchen! Discover the best zones to use and why this method works like magic.

One area of your kitchen that sees a lot of traffic is the pantry. Whether you have a small reach in pantry cabinet or a large walk-in butler's pantry, or anything in between, it is essential to keep your pantry organized so that it doesn't become a big mess.

My favorite way to organize the pantry is with zones. Today I want to talk about why zoning your pantry is so powerful and will totally change your kitchen organizational life!

What Does It Mean to Organize a Pantry in Zones?

When it comes to organizing a pantry, zones refer to specific areas designated for categories of items.

Imagine like you're in a grocery store - there are different aisles that are each logically categorized.

You can do the same thing in your pantry at home to make it really simple for anyone to find anything they are looking for, once they quickly understand your system.

By grouping similar items together based on purpose or type, you can easily create zones for your pantry.

Why Zoning Is the Best Way to Organize a Pantry

I feel strongly that zones are the best way to organize your pantry. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Saves time: You can quickly find what you need without searching.
• Reduces waste: You won’t forget about items hidden in the back.
• Streamlines meal prep: Makes grabbing ingredients fast and intuitive.
• Helps with grocery planning: You can easily see what you're running low on.
• Keeps everyone in the household on the same page: Even kids and partners know where things go and can clean up properly.

Tips for Setting Up Your Zones

Here is the process that I use to create zone organization in a pantry.

1. Take everything out first and group by category to see what you have.
2. Trash expired or duplicate items you won’t use. If there are unopened, un-expired items, consider donating to a small food pantry such as a Blessing Box in your area.
3. Measure your space and choose organizers that work with your pantry (bins, baskets, risers, turntables). Here are some of my favorite pantry organizers.
4. Label each zone clearly so it’s easy to maintain. This is optional, but if you have other people using your pantry, it can make it truly fool-proof to understand your system!
5. Adjust based on your needs. Every family is different — your zones should reflect your cooking and shopping habits. It's ok to change up your zones over time - do what works for you!

Common Pantry Zones to Set Up

The zones that you have in your pantry will be very specific to you in the type of food that you eat. But, here are some common pantry categories, and my top suggestion for each.

Baking Supplies

• Flour, sugar, baking soda, sprinkles, etc.
• Store in airtight clear containers for easy access.

Snacks

• Chips, granola bars, fruit snacks.
• Use bins labeled by type or per person/kid.
• If for kids, put on lower shelves in bins they can easily pull out themselves.
• These are the bins we use on the bottom shelf (actually the floor!) for kids snack food.

Breakfast Items

• Cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix.
• Store near the front for quick school-day access.
• Keep in original boxes or put in large air tight containers if you have issues with it going stale.

Dinner Ingredients / Meal Starters

• Pasta, rice, canned beans, sauces.
• Place mid-shelf for easy reach.
• I like to organize - ideally by meal - in these clear bins.
• Items that we buy in bulk/keep on hand get their own bin and we have 4 bins that cycle with "this weeks recipe ingredients".

Cans and Jars

• Soup, tomatoes, peanut butter, pickles.
• Use tiered risers or lazy Susans to maximize visibility.
• Consider storing bulk cans either on the very top or bottom shelf so they aren't taking up too much valuable space if you don't use them daily.

Spices and Seasonings

• Keep in a smaller zone with good visibility or a spice rack.
• We have a DIY spice drawer build that is not in the pantry but is super convenient!

Backstock / Extras

• Duplicates or overflow items.
• Store higher up or on lower shelves in bins.
• Don't waste valuable eye or arm-height shelves on backstock!!

Specialty or Seasonal Items

• Holiday baking, themed treats, or occasional-use ingredients.
• Store up and out of direct reach so it's not taking up valuable shelf space.

How to Keep It Organized

Once you set up your pantry zones, it is very important to keep them organized.

I like to check in on my zones every week when I put away groceries. I'm certainly not cleaning out the whole pantry, but I will notice if something is out of place and stick it where it belongs.

By checking in fairly frequently, it's unlikely that it will become a massive mess.

Even if you stick to regular maintenance, you will probably have to do a deep organization wants or twice a year. That's OK – and a great chance to purge unwanted items.

Remember - zoning brings order, saves time, and makes your pantry work with you instead of against you.

I hope that you will try my system but make adjustments so it fits in to your lifestyle.

Comment or share your favorite pantry organizing tip!