A few weeks ago, I took you all along with me on another Costco shopping trip. I love doing those! Afterwards, Elizabeth asked the following question on Facebook, and I thought I’d create this post sharing my response. 🙂
Elizabeth: My question to you, Sarah, is how you store all of your items. Do you have a room dedicated as your pantry? Living in a condo, I don’t have much room for storing large quantities.
Sarah: I also live in a condo, Elizabeth! 🙂 I store all of my dry goods in 2 cupboards and all paper/laundry products in my linen closet. All other items are stored in the fridge or freezer. Because I don’t keep too many snacks/boxed products, I have enough room for everything although it is organized by type of product, as things can be stacked and are easily accessible that way. When I am back home, I will post a pic of my cupboards!
I thought it might be easier if I shot a quick video showing you how I organize my cupboards in an effort to house all those Costco items, so here it is:
What About Everything Else?
So, for everything else, here is how I store it all:
I store the remaining products on the top shelf of my front hall closet.
Things like:
- Extra tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- EVOO
- Almond Milk
- Condiments
- and Ziploc bags, parchment paper, tinfoil and extra plastic wrap are all found there.
In my fridge, I keep:
- Eggs
- Nuts, Seeds
- Condiments (Tamari, Chili sauce, ketchup, mustard, Dijon)
- Open Nut butters (almond butter, tahini, peanut butter)
- Almond milk (homemade and/or store-bought)
- Fresh berries
- Apples
- Lemons
- Fresh greens (I am in love with the organic red butter lettuce and spinach found at Costco)
- Carrots
- Other seasonal, fresh vegetables
- I also like to have a jug of fresh citrus water on the go at all times.
In my freezer, I have:
- Meat for about a week
- 2 bags of organic berries
- A box of spinach that I freeze (Costco now carries organic Earthbound Farm spinach in the box, so I freeze a whole box to use in smoothies and dishes!)
- Frozen bananas
- Frozen avocados
- Pieces of peeled, frozen ginger in a Ziploc bag (I love using grated frozen ginger in my morning lemon water/ginger drink. So easy to grate using a rasp!) Also great to have on hand for cooking.
- Several gluten-free flours and starches (almond flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, quinoa flour, arrowroot starch etc…) My mom got me into this so that they keep longer (I don’t bake all that often). And, of course, she has me storing them in an empty spinach container!
- Several Ice packs for packing a cooler.
...And All The Rest...
- Above my stove, I store my spices (I typically buy spices in bulk and use salt/pepper shakers for them).
- Next to my coffee cups, I store my decaf coffee and all of my dry smoothie ingredients (one again, all tucked inside an empty spinach container, LOL!!!)
- I store potatoes/sweet potatoes and onions beside my fridge in a designated area, stored in separate containers to avoid onion gases from spoiling the potatoes.
- I house my currently-in-use plastic wrap, parchment paper, tinfoil and Ziploc bags in a low drawer.
And That's It!
I know it can be challenging to find room for everything, especially with a big family or when living in a small space, but with some planning and organization, it can work.
The cost-savings and quality of the products found at Costco mean that I will continue to shop there, even while living in a small space, and so I happily bring home the large Dijon bottle, the two-pack of organic olive oil, the jumbo bag of hemp hearts… It just means everything lasts longer, and I love having a well-stocked kitchen. 🙂
I also find that I purge my cupboards of any cups/mugs and dishes that I no longer use in order to create a clutter-free space. In a household of only two, I try not to buy too many dishes (a weakness of mine!) so that extra cupboard space isn’t used unnecessarily.
I like to go through and organize/clean out/purge pantry products at least once a year, and preferably twice. Spices don’t last too long (about 6 months), and I like to use up canned goods within about 3 months. By doing a clean-out, you may even find things you forgot you had as well. 🙂
Oh, One Last Thing...
Oh, and remember that coconut milk powder I talked about in the video? Well, I researched it, and it seems it’s a decent product. It’s definitely not going to offer the same health benefits we get from canned coconut milk, but I like having it on hand when I am feeling like, say, a Thai dish, but I don’t have any coconut milk in my pantry. The only ingredients in the powder are coconut milk, maltodextrin, and sodium caseinate.
And that’s it! That’s how I manage those Costco trips and how I stock my kitchen. I hope this served you.
Because I want you to love your life one bite at a time.
P.S. If you have any space-saving tips or any suggestions for storing items, I’d love to hear them! And if you feel this post would help a friend, I’d love for you to share it with them. 🙂
P.P.S Let’s be friends! Connect with me on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. 🙂
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