Ah, the Aussie summer holidays—a whirlwind of end-of-year school activities, Christmas barbies, and long, lazy days trying to keep cool. It’s an exciting time, but it also comes with its fair share of chaos. One way to ease the madness? Start with your pantry.
Decluttering your pantry now, before the summer break and holiday entertaining kick in, is one of the simplest ways to save yourself time, money, and unnecessary stress. Let’s face it: no one wants to be frantically searching for tomato sauce or realising you’ve run out of your go-to snacks when guests are on their way!
Why Declutter Your Pantry?
1. Avoid Overbuying
If you’ve ever found three unopened jars of chutney tucked away in January, you know the pain. Taking stock of what you already have prevents overspending on duplicates, leaving you more cash for summer ice creams (or maybe a cheeky cocktail).
2. Free Up Space for Holiday Favourites
From seafood platters to pavlova toppings, the holiday season comes with special ingredients that need their place. Decluttering ensures you’ve got room for what matters—and that the essentials don’t get buried behind last year’s forgotten pantry staples.
3. Reduce Food Waste
The lead-up to Christmas is the perfect time to use up what you’ve already got. Stale crackers or expired spices? Toss them. Half a packet of pasta? Work it into a meal plan this week. Less waste equals less guilt.
4. Stress Less During Entertaining
Whether it’s a casual arvo barbecue or a full-on Christmas feast, you’ll feel calmer knowing exactly where everything is in your pantry. No more mid-cooking meltdowns when you can’t find the olive oil or icing sugar!
How to Declutter Your Pantry
Step 1: Empty It All Out
Yes, the whole lot. Spread everything across your kitchen bench so you can see what’s there. Warning: you may discover some long-lost treasures (or horrors).
Step 2: Check Expiry Dates
Expired items? Bin them. Unopened, non-perishable goods you won’t use? Donate them to a local food bank—this is a great time of year to give back.
Step 3: Group Similar Items Together
Sorting by category—like baking supplies, snacks, or sauces—makes it easier to see what you have and keeps things organised when you put everything back.
Step 4: Wipe Down Shelves
Give your pantry a fresh start by wiping down shelves and vacuuming any stray crumbs. Clean spaces = clear mind.
Step 5: Organise for the Season
Put everyday essentials (like kids’ snacks or breakfast spreads) at eye level and reserve top or back shelves for the occasional-use items, like Christmas pudding brandy or that big jar of pickled onions for festive platters.
Quick Tips for a Tidy Pantry
- Use what you have: Now is not the time to buy all new containers, what you have will work in most case.
- IF NEEDED – Use Clear Containers: These make it easy to see what you’ve got and keep everything fresh.
- Don’t go changin’ to try ‘n please me: If you always look for vegemite in the fridge, that’s where is belongs. You do you.
- Labels matter: Especially if you’re decanting items into jars—no one likes a salt-and-sugar mix-up!
- Keep a Running Shopping List: As you declutter, note anything you need to restock for summer entertaining or school holiday eats.
- FIFO (First In, First Out): Always use older items first to minimise waste.
Why It’s Worth the Effort
Decluttering your pantry might not be the most exciting summer activity, but it’s a game-changer. You’ll save money, reduce food waste, and make holiday meal prep a whole lot easier. Plus, it just feels good to have everything in order when the season gets hectic.
So, grab a bin, a notepad, and maybe crank up some Christmas carols (or beach tunes). Spend an hour or two sorting your pantry, and future you will thank you.
If you want more ideas for simplifying this time of year, be sure to check out The Simplicity Toolkit where you’ll find a meal planning e-book and templates, as well as my best-selling course “Planning for a Stress-Free Christmas”, and so much more for just AU$9/month.