Decanting 101
You may recognize the word decant as something having to do with wine. Essentially, it’s when you pour the wine from its bottle to a separate container. Well, while we love us some wine, we’re here to give you some tips on our own form of decanting. In the organizing world, decanting can completely transform the look of a space and help you streamline your systems.
What to decant
At the end of the day, the ‘to decant or not to decant’ question comes down to personal preference. If you’d like to have a pantry full of clearly labeled containers, then do away with all the extra packaging. If you’d only like to have containers for your pasta but nothing else, make it happen. If you need some inspiration, here is what we normally decant:
Pasta
Crackers
Chips
Cereal
Dry lentils and grains
Nuts
Baking ingredients
Choosing a container
There are many kinds of containers that you can use for this process, but we love to use clear ones. When it comes to keeping food fresh, we suggest airtight containers like these OXO ones. For dry ingredients, glass containers work just as well and also come in airtight options. Mix and match or keep all of the containers the same, it’s about what sparks joy for you.
Create a system
Keep your containers full by implementing a back stock area. When you’re running low, remove older product first, fill it back up with new product and then put the product you set aside back in. To keep track of what you’re putting into each container, label it accordingly, including expiration date and any directions that you may be losing by throwing the packaging away. If the directions are more complex, cut out what you need and paste it to the side or the bottom of the container. Another option you can implement is creating an index or recipe binder to keep everything organized. We like using these paint pens to label each container.
Decanting the items found in your kitchen and pantry is the quickest way to get your space looking organized and cohesive. Not to mention, everything is a lot easier to navigate. Start small, work your way up and send us a picture when you do!
