How to Reorganize your Pantry

Do you just hate it when you open your pantry and you cannot find anything?  Or when you go to use something and it has expired?  Here are a few easy tips in order to organize your pantry.

1. Rotate by date.  Organize your food be expiration date.  That way, you use what expires first.  Make sure when you put your food away that you keep up with your expiration dates. 
2. Containerize and label. Dried beans, pasta, rice and cereal are easier to store if you use a seperate container.  Also, by using a container, the air seal is much tighter and the food will stay fresher than in the original packaging.
3. Improvise on storage items.  You do not need to go out and buy a fancy expensive organizational system for your pantry.  Use things that you already have around the house.  An unused box or container would be great for storing small snack items.
4. Throw it away!  If you do know know if its safe to eat or not, just throw it away. 
5. Organize by type of food.  Keep your pasta, beans and rice together, cereals & other breakfast items together, canned goods together. 
6. As soon as your have organized your pantry, assess your stock.  Make a list of things that you  need, and replenish.  That way, when you go to prepare your next meal, you will have everything that you need!  This will also help avoid over buying at the grocery store.