As we ease into the warmer months, you may feel the need to strip back the layers a little. A little cleansing, clearing of the wardrobe and, perhaps slightly less conventional, a clearing out of the pantry. The pantry is surprisingly a place of major clutter for many people. It’s amazing what can hide in there.
So, what does a packageless pantry mean?
It basically involves removing all the unnecessary packets of plastic, foil and wraps and replacing everything with a jar or sealed container. This means everything is more organised and remains fresh for much longer. A pantry doesn’t have to be hidden; once it’s beautified you could have it on display and bring some life and inspiration to your kitchen.
But where to start?
This crucial step involves pulling everything out of the pantry. Then it’s time to sort into piles of what to keep, what to compost or what to give away.
Gather all your empty jars and containers - fill your sink with hot soapy water, soak and scrub them then lay them out to dry completely (crucial!). If you’re short on jars, visit your local second-hand store or GoodFor store and equip yourself with a new set. Remember, after a good scrub, any old jar will suffice!
Next, empty out all opened packets, bags or boxes of food and transfer them into your shiny clean jars. Get rid of anything past its use-by date and work towards buying only what you need or use and the buy in bulk.
Once you’ve filled your jars, it’s time to label them. There are many ways to do this, a white chalk pen works well on glass, or use paper tape and a vivid marker. Otherwise investing in a label maker could be a good idea.
Now it’s time to fill your pantry. Start by dividing it into sections. Keep spuds and onions on the lower shelves in cane baskets or boxes. Then find space for your spice jars; spreads; grains and legumes; then oils and vinegars. This is where your creativity comes into play!
Once you’ve done all this, find your local store where you can take your jars, bottles and containers and refill without a hassle. GoodFor in Takapuna is the ultimate spot for this: “BYO packaging” is standard store etiquette; otherwise they provide paper bags which you can fill, then empty into your jars at home. Too easy.
YOUR NEW LOCAL:
GoodFor wholefoods refillery, 360 Lake Road, Takapuna
Opening Hours: weekdays 10am - 7pm, weekends 10am - 6pm
www.goodfor.co.nz 0800GOODFOR
