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Home > Why I'm Not Getting a Walk-in Pantry

Why I'm Not Getting a Walk-in Pantry

August 8th, 2011 at 02:55 pm

Everytime I watch Barefoot Contessa I drool.

I am not drooling over the food, although my dh always comments how she invites all her friends over, but never has once invited us.

I am not drooling over her kitchen...I don't have room for a professional range and I certainly don't need a range and a cook top together.

I am not drooling over all her gadgets...I'm running out of room for the stuff I already have.

Which brings me to the reason I drool...her walk in pantry. I'd love a large pantry where I could store food stuffs in an organized manner and have dishes sitting in convenient spots. I'm short, and believe me, getting things from the top shelf of the cabinets can be dangerous!

When we first married and bought our first house, the kitchen was very small. Not tiny, but small. I asked the previous owner where she kept her canned goods and she said in the garage. We bought a cheap kitchen cabinet to put in the kitchen and that's where I kept canned goods. There were some cabinets and since I didn't have a lot of dishes or pots and pans, it was adequate.

Eight years later we bought a different house. The kitchen was larger and it has a pantry. Not a walk-in, but a real pantry. And with all truths, you grow into the space you have. And goodness, my kitchen stuff has grown.

Yesterday I organized the pantry. I could probably do this 4 times a year. I straightened it up and am happy to report that I didn't throw much away. I did put items in different things, but I'm happy to report I'm getting better at keeping on top of expiration dates.

I had organized the area of my spices earlier this week. I did throw out a few things because they were old. I am frustrated with the spice companies, though. So many of them sell larger bottles of things that I don't use that much of and I think it is wasteful. One of the stores I frequent is handling an off brand and the bottles are about 1/4 the size or regular spice bottles. I feel better about buying this instead of wasting so much. There are certain spices I use a lot of, but others...

I figure organizing my pantry and spices saves me money because I'm not buying things I already have, and hopefully not wasting what I do have. I need to be satisfied with what I have which is a serviceable pantry...far better than what I had at the other house. And, although a walk-in pantry is want, it isn't a need. So, we aren't spending the money.

DH says I'm not getting a walk-in pantry...We aren't building on the house and I can't see taking a bathroom or closet to get it. So, I guess I'll just have to drool over Ina's. At least it means that is one less "room" I have to clean!

4 Responses to “Why I'm Not Getting a Walk-in Pantry”

  1. Ima saver Says:
    1312814350

    I have a walk in pantry and I love it. I don't have to keep things, like a toaster, on my kitchen countertops. The pantry has a set of cabinets that I store lots of stuff in, plus shelves on the other walls for food and can goods. It is also where my dogs sleep at night, their "room" We put a window on it, so they can look at the window. (low to the ground) Of course, my husband is a builder so we designed the house for us.

  2. CB in the City Says:
    1312816320

    My cousin and I had a walk-in pantry in NC, and it was wonderful. However, since I've moved back to the Midwest, I've downsized considerably. I have a pantry, but it is closet-sized. It doesn't store nearly as much, but I don't need so much either. It is easier to organize, being small. I don't really miss the big one.

    Looking back, I think we stored WAY too much food in the big pantry. I'm 30 pounds lighter now, and one reason is that there isn't so much #&$%*#^$ food around!

  3. retire@50 Says:
    1312833369

    I agree with you on the spices. World Market has a section of spices where you can buy a small bag for a lot less. I sometimes do that. And at King Soopers in the bulk section they have spices you can buy in little baggies, however much you need. Good way to try out a new spice without spending $3 - $5 for a big bottle.

  4. whitestripe Says:
    1312865741

    I am the opposite - I get frustrated that spices are not sold in larger quantities as I go through them so quickly! (The ones I usually go through a lot are aesofetida, ground coriander, ground cumin, ceyenne pepper and turmeric).

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