How to spring-clean your store cupboard

A well-stocked store cupboard goes hand in hand with great home cooking. If your staples stay clean and organised, meals can happen more efficiently.

As much as I try to stay on top of everything in my kitchen throughout the year, there are always a couple of cupboard doors that are hiding a disaster zone. This is why I dedicate a few hours every spring (and fall) to reign in the mess and set myself up for success in the kitchen.

Getting elbow-deep into your pantry for a semi-annual clean up can make a huge difference, and it helps to know exactly how to go about it. Here are my best tips for spring-cleaning the store cupboard.

Out with the old

Wipe down

Once everything is out of the cupboard, scrub it down and wipe it dry. Wipe down jars and large containers with a clean damp cloth. Pay particular attention to condiments like oils, syrups and vinegars, which tend to have drips down the sides.

Manage “cupboard sprawl”

Organize ingredients

Think about how you cook and place your most-used items (cooking oils, vinegars, etc) within close reach. Put rarely used items up high, or at the back of a cupboard.A few foods should be kept in the freezer to extend storage life, such as flours, nuts, ground spices, and seeds and grains like wheat germ and ground flax.Make a shopping list as you organise – this will make restocking much easier.

Restock in

Mason jarsTransfer new dry goods to as many clean, dry mason jars as you have available. Plastic bags or cardboard boxes are not effective for pantry storage and can invite unwanted critters, moisture or odors. Glass jars keep ingredients airtight and also showcase foods clearly so you can find what you need at a glance.

Maximize space

Any space in a kitchen is usable space, even the most unlikely areas. Maybe you have room under the sink or on top of the cupboards for an airtight bin. Dividers in the deep space above the oven or refrigerator are an efficient way to store your platters, cookie sheets, cutting boards or bakeware.

Grow something

Label where necessary

I don’t label my items because I know them all by sight. If you stock a vegan or a gluten-free pantry with lots of powders and unique flours, however, you may want to label jars. Simple masking tape and a Sharpie will do.I do put a piece of masking tape on the underside of the jar with the expiry date of the item – this is very handy for keeping on top of things.

In with the new

If your goal is to maintain a diet of nourishing foods, one of the best things you can do is stock your pantry with quality ingredients. You’ll be inspired to try new recipes (and have the resources to follow through with them), and more inclined to steer clear of prepackaged and processed foods.

Be sure to sterilise your jars when you're switching out old ingredients for new ones, here's Jamie's Food Team to show how it's done:

I challenge you to try one new-to-you ingredient a month, such as an ancient grain, a unique variety of rice, or a bright, interesting vinegar.

Happy cleaning – and cooking!