Food cupboards a mess pic included.

[Getitdone247]

How do I organise my food cupboards they are in a real mess. I have included pictures because visual helps me explain better.

I can't reach the top shelves. And I can't reach the cupboard with the spices in. Well I can reach the front of it if I over stretch. So it's not great. As its in the corner above work top.

I feel like im not seeing food that can be used. I opend the cupboard and go blind

Is it worth me add some type of storage or something. For the crossants etc . I need them to be in sight thought . When I use a bread bin we forget anything in it and it gos moldy.

Can you get a step stool so you can reach the top shelves? (I appreciate this isn't an option for some with mobility issues, or very large people who may not find a stool that supports their weight). What about getting a lazy Susan type thing for storing spices etc on so you can swivel it to see what else is there?

I've moved lots of things like spices, tins and ceral into lower drawers, but appreciate you have to work with the kitchen you have!

Slight aside, but why do you need so many croissants/brioche rolls at once? It would be much tidier if you had less. If you go through them all in a week fair enough, but otherwise can you just buy less to begin with? What about getting a plastic box like the white one in your cupboard to store them in so they aren't just dumped on the counter top?

Also, if you emptied the rice and other packet stuff into tubs they would store tidier. I'm thinking mason jar type of things

Just put everything in alphabetical order in groups

Carousels for spices and smaller tins, labelled open plastic boxes to group things together - so one for pasta, decant into regular boxes for things like flour and sugar (I use lock and lock ones ). Get a swivel pull out thing fitted to the long corner cupboard. And a stool for high shelves as suggested.

I would use the shelves that are out of reach to store things that you aren't using right now.
So, the extra bread products and the 2 unopened boxes of oat bars ( if thats what they are ).

So, you only have one packet of croissants in the bread bin that is easily accessible and one box of oat bars on an accessible shelf at a time. You can use a stool or chair (or jump up on the worktop which is what I used to do) to get down a new packet or box to replace the finished one. So you have a rolling accessible shelf where you can reach for stuff easily and the more difficult areas are just storage for your bulk buys

I'll have another look. I love sorting out this sort of thing.

You could put all your spice jars in one of the plastic boxes and that can be brought down in one move when you are cooking and you can access all your spices.

Step stool, number one

Number two, this is rather anal but this is what I am going to do this weekend if up to it, I plan to start a monthly rolling inventory and stick it on the inside of the door, change it every month with what is now in the cupboard

I also have little pull out baskets, only from poundland or somewhere like that, plastic things, so that I can group things together and pull it out for easy sight and access

Ah yeah I should have said the lower cupboard is the one with the plastic box and sauce has in . There's also a slim lower cupboard that has breakfast cereal. My other lower cupboards have plates and dishes

I don't drive so I do a big shop tjat I get delivered thry are shared over 7/8 people including dd Lichfield and often breakfast.
I agree I need to store them better though .

Yeah that's an idea actually and I could probably see what i have better

And yes, as someone suggested you can get inserts for the bottom cupboard so you can access food at the back. They do tend to make up a lot of empty space but it doesn't look like you are short if space, just accessible space.
If funds don't allow for that then you can always use that back space for storage.

I would also take everything out and start again.

Think about your most used items and prioritise these into your most accessible spaces.

Group things together so they are found easily.

And only have one packet in use at a time with the bulk stock up in higher shelves.

You can always put things together in boxes to access in one go rather than having to pull lots of small things out to reach the back.

For me I just line things up or stack things up in order of usage. If I use them more than they’re generally at the front of the cupboard. I do use storage containers for dried goods also this helps to keep things or and less boxes thrown around. I have added some pictures for you to see what I mean. Also, I just put things back in the right place when I’m done. I’m just that way inclined hope this helps.☺️

Storage baskets and large storage jars are a godsend

Have you got time and space to take everything out, put like with like on a table or worktop (all the spices together etc.), dispose of anything that might be a food hygiene issue, give the insides of the cupboards a good clean, and think about ways of putting everything back so that the things you want to be able to see are on the reachable shelves and the shelves you can't reach are either left empty or used to store extras of things you use frequently and don't want to run out of? I think it'll be easier done as a single big tidy-up.

Baskets etc. can be very useful for keeping small jars and packets tidy.

(Edited to remove unattributable Marie Kondo reference.)

I can't climb up om the side them days are gone 🤣. Definitely a good idea though . I never even thought about that. Amd it would stop packets being open to soon. I will look for a step stall type thing .

I keep some of my spices in basket rack things that fit to the inside of the door. Also baskets that fit under the shelves.

I like my herbs and spices so bought one of those tall narrow Ikea CD storage units and they're all in there (pic of lower part attached). It doesn't take up much floor space but it certainly gives you a lot more room in your cupboards.

It looks like you could rearrange quite well - get all the stuff you don't use so much on to the top shelves, and frequently-used stuff at the bottom. Try to rearrange things of a similar height onto the same shelf then adjust the heights of other shelves to maximise your space and maybe get more things within reach. (Pic attached).

Try to always keep things in the same part of the cupboard so you always know roughly what's on each shelf.

I just drag a kitchen chair over to stand on if I need something from the back of the top shelf.

I was going to say the same about spice rack on door, or something like this, for spices or jars so you can see them.

www.amazon.co.uk/Basics-Non-Slip-Kitchen-Cupboard-Organiser/dp/B07DR34Q8C/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?crid=1LLJI0L0EADC1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._19VxnAVrFSe4oG5fjG2C2d4DrGjTFN_6uVMZqauFrW1g3_betGnDjtyXt0M9jfyfIWOxmv0H5I76K2pTA32yDpuzPOKaPIAVIuKfVnuIUBR-0-QtnImD6uWg0jFiDEn5z1aojAPi5VVdsDWBHS3yqnGILa1hqyq2RF4v9o7QKU5Zv4Vlslg4gN8sUukVe23ejlM3AS7HccbST9tBFufkg.jQSg_2ofRrA1Ls4a0rGGjDVFu-l9MUrShTWFDGq62CQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=cupboard+organiser&qid=1729074383&sprefix=cupbo%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-12

What do you mean by inserts ?

I have my spices & herbs in kilner bags in a pull out basket. Saves so much space

Just wee baskety things
Can find in a supermarket

Get a spice rack for spices

I have a step stool for high shelves