Under stairs pantry

[BlackAlys]

On the back of another pantry thread, I've suddenly realised that all isn't as straightforward as I originally thought.

My pantry will be designed for all tins and packets, bottles and cereals, condiments etc. My bigger bulkier ingredients will be in jars on open shelving, custom made.

I've suddenly realised that I haven't factored in my veg storage. Salad stuff etc will obviously go to fridge but I haven't thought of potatoes, carrots, other veg storage. I don't think my pantry will be ventilated enough (internal wall staircase), underfloor heating nearby (not under the staircase area though), but definitely not cool enough.

What do you all do with your root veg and spuds?!

Well they go in the fridge

Fridge for spuds? Ok - fair enough.
My only other option is in our shed - through dining area, a corridor, past utility room, out the back door round the side of the house and into the shed.

At least I'll raise my steps 🤦‍♀️

I keep fruit and veg in the garage - buy then I have internal access to the garage one room away from the kitchen.

Hmmm i realky didnt think this through

What flooring are you having in it? I know you said under floor heating near by but if you tiled the pantry floor you might be able to put wicker baskets directly on the floor (under a bottom shelf) for root veg that would stay cool enough

Or a wicker basket tower? Even if that’s in the kitchen?!

I have a pantry under the stairs (internal wall all the same) and can confirm it is too warm for potatoes/ carrots/ parsnips etc. As they shrivel/sprout really quick so mine have gone back in the fridge.

Ours (spuds and onions) hang in a couple of cloth tote bags on hooks on the back of the pantry door. It’s a tiled floor so although it’s internal it remains relatively temperature-stable.
I wouldn’t be without the pantry-even the wedge bit at the far end, which is probably a spider sanctuary or portal to another dimension behind the wine rack. I never intend to move the rack to find out.

@MimiSunshine

What flooring are you having in it? I know you said under floor heating near by but if you tiled the pantry floor you might be able to put wicker baskets directly on the floor (under a bottom shelf) for root veg that would stay cool enough

Trying my hardest to get limestone in there. DH amd his budget sheet are saying no.

Eother way, it'll be stone/tile of some sort. A basket on a shelf
Or floor would be an idea

@LookingOptimistic

I have a pantry under the stairs (internal wall all the same) and can confirm it is too warm for potatoes/ carrots/ parsnips etc. As they shrivel/sprout really quick so mine have gone back in the fridge.

Ok - tha ks - scrap that then. Thisnis all really helpful.

@MrsWooster

Ours (spuds and onions) hang in a couple of cloth tote bags on hooks on the back of the pantry door. It’s a tiled floor so although it’s internal it remains relatively temperature-stable. I wouldn’t be without the pantry-even the wedge bit at the far end, which is probably a spider sanctuary or portal to another dimension behind the wine rack. I never intend to move the rack to find out.

I love your description! Is your pantry under the stairs?

In fact, if any of you have ubder stairs pantry, is there any chance you can take some pics for me please?

Cheeky I know but Pinterest is a bit too perfect and I never know if they're American staircases which are massive by our average GB standards.

I have a pantry under the stairs and put my fruit and veg either in the fridge or one of those veg stands in the kitchen. Pantry is for dry food, bottles, tins and at the back/end I have a cheap shoe rack holding seldom used kitchen pots and pans. I used a shoe rack as it was easier and cheaper than trying to put shelves there, beyond the shoe rack is a bit of hardboard as the very narrow bit at end is separated off and has its own external door. This is used for even more seldom used kitchen stuff😁

There you go-I’d say excuse the mess, but I no longer care!

We have an understairs pantry. All food is kept in there except vegetables, salad and fruit and usual fridge stuff, obviously. It's just not cool enough to keep those for any length of time and they have to go in the fridge. I can keep onions in the larder if they are in a thick brown paper bag and I think potatoes may keep for a short time in a brown bag as well, but I haven't tested that theory yet.

@MrsWooster

There you go-I’d say excuse the mess, but I no longer care!

Thanks! Enough space for tins, paxkets etc. Is your light wired in?

It is wired in-the fuse box and electrics are all in there too. It’s an automatic motion-activated bulb and is a permanent pleasure. Can’t seem to find where to buy another (Wilko, originally) for the downstairs loo, which is sad.

If you buy big sacks of potatoes at a time, just keep a few in the fridge, and the rest store in shed if needed. That way you don’t have to go to shed every time you need some.

We keep bulk of potatoes in cellar here, but enough for a meal or so in fridge and all other root veg in fridge. Our house is kept around 19/20 degrees at least in winter and warmer in summer depending on weather, so we found veg was going off way too fast outside fridge.
In the past, houses were generally kept much colder ( I remember ice inside windows and 10 degrees on thermostat etc)

This is our under stairs pantry. It’s an outside wall in a way as it shares the wall with the garage. It always seems to stay the same temperature in there, reasonably cool...very good for the wine! We used to keep the veg. in there but have had a reshuffle around. Now it is mainly breakfast stuff, snacks, pastas and rice...and the wine. The back set of drawers is full of baking items.