Heirloom Hint for the 21st Century Single Person

My grandmother was a saver. She made winter-foraging squirrels look wasteful. This shrewd, German woman lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and almost lived to see the dawn of a new century.

Down in her basement, as far back as my memory serves me, she kept what she called a pantry. Row after careful row of canned and jarred food lined the pantry shelves. Nothing was wasted even though some food could have been carbon-dated.

She lived by herself, and her ingenuity and clever system still works today.

Establishing a cupboard kitchen pantry on a small, contemporary scale is crucial for cooking for one person. A well stocked kitchen pantry and the single person go hand-in-hand, like peanut butter and jelly, like macaroni and cheese, or like white shirts and stains.

The Edible Toolbox

The kitchen pantry should contain staples, food items needed on a regular basis. Think of a cupboard like a toolbox. Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and so on all allow you to easily perform tasks to create a hardware project. Likewise, your cooking will not yield satisfying results without standard items like salt or spices.

The pantry cupboard also serves as your stash of reserves. It's nice to know you can home from work and not have to stop somewhere to get something to eat. It's reassuring to know that if the quick need arises for a snack or simple meal, you're covered.

Before you go out and fill up every nook and cranny with canned goods waiting for the next Y2K, there are a couple factors influence the make up of your cupboard. The amount of pantry storage space you have available is an important consideration when designing a cupboard pantry.

Keep your kitchen pantry in a dry place that is easily accessible by you. You don't want moisture from your sink's pipes ruining your food, nor do you want to stand on a chair to reach for a can of beans.

Depending on the layout of your kitchen (and whether you rent or own), you can alter your pantry storage space in the kitchen. There are many ways to do this. Inexpensive shelving units are great and come in a variety of sizes. Consider adding smaller shelving units in your pre-existing cupboards. This will eliminate the unused gap between the top of the food containers and the bottom of the next higher shelf. Look at small utility carts that double as an "island" countertop and shelving storage but can be wheeled off to a corner when done.

Another thing to consider is what food you use on a regular basis. If you rarely bake from scratch, do not go out to a big box store and buy a 20-pound bag of confectioner's sugar because you'll get around to baking a homemade cake "someday". Check out other tips in "Grocery Tips". Try to recall what you ate over the past week, and this will give you a glimpse as to what you may need to have on hand on a regular basis.

I'll be posting more information about what should go into a well stocked pantry very soon!