Stocking Your Pantry 101

In today's volatile economy, it makes more and more sense to buy ahead and stock the pantry.  This saving-for-the-rainy-day thinking offers protection and security against sudden price surges.  A full pantry also means fewer grocery trips which translate to savings on gas, money, time and effort.

Yet it is easy to go overboard in stocking the pantry.  There have been cases where mothers stock the pantry just for the sake of stocking the pantry.  It has become a mere hobby instead of a sensible money-saving plan. The pantry has to be kept full no matter what, even if most of the items do not get used or just expire.  This is an even graver kind of wasting.  Stocking the pantry has to be purposeful and guided by sense and reason.
So here are the guidelines:

Buy only what the family will use.

This may seem to be a no-brainer but it is an all-too-common mistake most people commit.  The rule is to buy items which your family likes and uses, not some exotic item which may never suit your family's palate.  If you're hit with the urge to go adventurous in your menu, at least keep that to a minimum by buying a trial pack or the smallest jar or bottle.

Stock up on sale items.

Wait for a sale before really stocking up on items.  Most stores have one-day-a-week sale and you better take note of them.  Get familiar with your stores' bargain shelves and check them out.  Keep track of coupons, especially double and triple coupons. 

Use up available space for pantry.

Rather than letting empty spaces go unused, utilize them as pantry.  Those empty shelves, drawers, hutches and cabinets can all be used to store non-perishable items.  Just make sure that those spaces are cool and dry to prevent spoiling.

Keep track of expiry dates.

A good trick in stocking the pantry is to arrange it logically so that the soon-to-expire items are easier to spot and use.  For instance, display a row of ketchup bottles on a shelf in such a way that the first bottle is the one with the soonest expiry date.  From time to time, rearrange your pantry to keep it organized this way.

Equip your pantry with the right storage containers.

Airtight containers keep nuts and sugars moist-free.  Some grains are best stored in sacks.  Seeds generally keep in the refrigerator.  Educate yourself on where and when to use glass jars, plastic bins or wooden buckets. 

Organize or agonize.

If the items in your pantry are topsy-turvy, chances are you can't find what you're looking for and some items would go unused.  It helps to keep it in order for easy viewing.  Transparent or translucent containers make viewing easy.  Opaque containers should be labeled accordingly with both the food item and the expiry date or date of purchase.