PANTRIES THAT RESTORE ORDER

Ever dreamt of a proper grown-up pantry, lined with beautifully labelled jars and abundantly filled baskets? Our guide to storing food like a pro will inspire you to up your pantry game – or at least muck out your kitchen cupboards…

- LINDA CLAYTON

A well-organised kitchen pantry is seriously, next-level satisfying. The joy of not only being able to find the exact ingredients you need, but also finding said ingredients are still in date, shouldn’t be underestimated – even if the only thing you ever need is vinegar for your oven chips. The main principle behind any pantry is all about creating a one-stop-shop for dry and ambient foods. Gathering everything you need in one go, rather than schlepping around the kitchen trying to remember where you stashed the soy sauce, makes cooking quicker, not to mention easier on the old brain cells.

The dream scenario is a beautifully appointed walk-in pantry. You’ve seen them on Reels, usually filled with artfully labelled jars and matchy-matchy wicker baskets. These spacious food rooms are shelved up to the eyeballs, which makes it super easy to spot what you came in for. The fanciest versions include marble ‘cold shelves’ for storing butter and cheese pre-entertaining, and perhaps a wine fridge or even a small sink. You’ll be forgiven for assuming such well-appointed, roomy pantries require a Downton Abbey-scale property, and it’s true that not every home can spare the space. However, a walk-in pantry can be created within the footprint of your existing kitchen using simple stud walls, and many people are choosing to sacrifice a little floorspace in favour of a clutter-free kitchen. The best new pantry installations utilise dead space, like an awkwardly shaped alcove or redundant doorway, providing a more streamlined kitchen in the process. You may also consider pinching space from an adjacent garage, hallway or utility.