15 Items in Your Pantry That Could Be Wasting Space

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If you find your pantry more cluttered than helpful these days, you’re not alone. Maybe you’re like many and have things lingering in the back that haven’t seen the light of day in years. It’s easy to fill up on things from canned goods to exotic spices, but some of these pantry staples may be overstaying their welcome.

Now, let’s look at some of the common culprits that could be silently ruining your storage game.

Duplicate Items

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Do you actually need three jars of peanut butter or four bottles of soy sauce? We sometimes forget what we have and buy the same thing again. Before you go on your next grocery run, make sure you take inventory of what you already have so you don’t end up overcrowding your pantry with unnecessary extras.

Unidentifiable Ingredients in Jars

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You know that jar with some sort of unknown thing in it, that you bought for a recipe you once had, but can’t remember what it was or how to use it. Reclaim some valuable shelf space and let it go. I don’t think you would use it so it just crowding your pantry.

Snacks Past Their Prime

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The half empty bag of chips or stale crackers, isn’t going to taste any better in another month in the pantry. The problem with snacks is that newer treats tend to push the older ones aside, so it’s worth rummaging through your stash and chucking anything that’s past its best.

Old Baking Soda or Powder

Though baking soda and powder may be pantry must haves, they’re not going to last forever. If you’ve had them for a long time, they’ve probably lost their effectiveness. Even if you bake often, you can’t use them anymore because these ingredients lose potency over time.

Expired Packets of Yeast

If you’ve ever been bitten by the bread baking bug, then you probably have yeast on hand. Yeast goes bad, and old yeast won’t do as much (if any) good. If you have packets that have been around for a bit, it’s time to say goodbye and make room for those that are a bit more fresh.

Half-Used Pasta Bags

I want to guess that you know this drill: Open a new bag of pasta before the old one is done. You suddenly have half filled bags of penne, spaghetti, and fusilli floating around. Always use up your pasta before you open or buy more. This way, you reduce the clutter in your pantry.

Baking Mixes You’ll Never Use

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Perhaps you purchased a pancake mix that seemed fun at the time, or a cake mix for a rainy day. It’s been months (or years) now, and it’s still sitting there. Chances are, if you haven’t used it by now, then you won’t. And baking mixes, too, can go stale or lose their potency, so maybe it’s time to toss them.

Too Many Condiments

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Condiments sometimes get forgotten about in the pantry clutter. What does one person need with many types of mustard? Yeah, I know they are all different, but with time, they are of no cooking good. Clean out your condiment drawer and toss anything that’s out of date or that you haven’t reached for in ages.

Old Flour

Flour doesn’t last forever, but it does last a while. If your bag of flour is a few years old, it’s time to say goodbye. According to Healthline, old flour can lose its freshness, and in some cases, even develop an off smell or taste. Double check the date and if it’s been sitting too long, don’t be afraid to let it go.

Unloved Cereals

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Maybe you ate a new cereal that was an utter failure, or maybe it has been shoved to the back and forgotten. If it’s not something your family eats on a regular basis, it’s taking up space. If it’s stale, discard it, or pass it along to somebody who will appreciate it.

Mismatched Storage Containers

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The old plastic containers that don’t have lids or are stained beyond recognition? They are taking up more space than they are worth. If you have some containers you don’t use, clear them out to make room for the ones you do, and consider switching to uniform, stackable containers to keep things tidy.

Seldom-Used Grains

Farro, quinoa, bulgur: these healthy grains are great, but if you bought them for a specific recipe and haven’t used them since, they’re probably gathering dust. These grains are better off somewhere else unless you plan to incorporate them into your regular meal rotation.

Unused Canned Vegetables

Canned veggies may seem convenient, but let’s be honest, sometimes we purchase them with good intentions and never get around to actually using them. If you’ve got cans of veggies that have been sitting for years, now is the time to say goodbye.

Expired Spices

Spice Bottles on Shelf — Photo Credit: Pexels

There are some spices you may have purchased years ago for one recipe and haven’t touched since. Spices don’t last forever. According to Healthline, over time, they lose their flavor, so that old jar of ground cumin probably isn’t doing you any favors. If your spice rack is filled with old containers, you’re due for a quick audit.

Canned Goods Past Their Prime

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Canned goods are pantry heroes because they last a long time, but even they aren’t immortal. Check the expiration dates, if you’ve got cans hiding in the back from who knows when. Some of them have probably gone bad or lost their nutritional value. Clearing out old, expired cans can make some serious space in your garage.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.