Ina Garten's Pantry Organization Method Is So Smooth, We Wish We Thought Of It Ourselves

Whether she's inspired you to only use good olive oil (if you know, you know), or she's pushed you to elevate your dinner parties by prioritizing fresh, local, simple ingredients, Ina Garten is known for her elegance, delicious recipes, and relaxed attitude. Garten's commitment to organization in her home kitchen makes it easier to whip up delicious recipes on a whim, whether she's putting together dinner for her husband, Jeffrey — who only makes one thing in the kitchen — or throwing a fabulous dinner party for friends in the Hamptons.

Recently, Garten shared the ways she keeps her kitchen organized, and her utilitarian approach to knowing what's in her pantry is a good fit for any home chef. Garten's key to keeping things organized is simple: She stocks her pantry like the shelves at a grocery store, she shared with The Kitchn. Garten knows from experience — she used to own The Barefoot Contessa, a Hamptons specialty grocery store — that this is the best way to see what she already has and what needs replenishing. She ensures all labels in her pantry face forward and puts replacements directly behind their counterparts, making it simple to pull forward new items when an old one is used. 

We've all been there, rooting through the pantry mid-recipe to find out whether you have chicken broth, chocolate chips, or cream of tartar, wondering whether you'll actually be able to finish the recipe you started an hour ago. Keeping your pantry super-organized can help put a stop to mid-recipe freak-outs about unexpected missing ingredients. 

Maximizing your pantry space can be one of the first steps toward getting — and staying — organized. One of the worst mistakes many make with utilizing pantry space is using the wrong kinds of containers (it's right up there with damaging canned goods by stacking cans on top of one another as far as rookie pantry errors go). Rather than storing pantry items in the containers they're sold in, transferring them to air-tight square containers can help you make the most of the space you have. 

Another easy (and free) way to tame your chaotic kitchen pantry: create a basic spreadsheet that tracks your kitchen inventory. While it can take some time initially, knowing exactly what you have in your pantry makes it far easier to meal plan and grocery shop. Some find it especially helpful to create a spreadsheet that includes a column for items that you've almost used up. Once you know what you're going to need soon, keep an eye out at the grocery store for sales that allow you to save and stock up before you're fully out of an item.