When moving, the kitchen is one of the most complex areas to pack. Unlike rooms, where everything can go in a box, packing up the pantry requires a special technique for every type of item.
Apart from tableware and glassware that you can wrap in bubble wrap, it’s daunting to deal with food items, including those still in the fridge or the freezer. While it feels like a waste to throw them out, it’s often difficult for homeowners to determine the best way to deal with the food items on top of appliances, kitchen containers, cooking utensils, and fragile decorations.
In this blog, we’ll discuss common challenges you might encounter when packing your kitchen and provide a complete, step-by-step guide to packing pantry items for moving.
Common Challenges While Packing Pantry Items
Here is a brief overview of some common challenges homeowners face while packing pantry items.
Handling Perishable Items
Handling perishable items is one of the biggest challenges during a move. Perishable food items or frozen foods should be thrown out unless you are moving a short distance. If you are crossing state lines, keep in mind that most states have strict guidelines about what can be transported over the state lines. To avoid any hassle, get rid of all perishable items before moving.
Spill and Leak Prevention
Another challenge during a move is preventing spills and leaks. The key to preventing a mess is to move as few liquids as possible. Moving companies also have clear rules about what liquids they cannot transport, including chemicals, lighter fluids, and fuel. Any liquids you are not moving should be disposed of properly. The liquids you are moving should be transported in containers that seal securely. Line the bins or boxes holding liquids with garbage bags, towels, and tape to add another layer of protection.
Packing Fragile Items
It’s vital to pack fragile items carefully so they don’t break during your move. Use smaller boxes for fragile items without leaving any extra spaces in between the items. The sturdier the box, the better. Secure the bottom of the box with layers of tape and place the heaviest item on the bottom. For glasses and stemware, use boxes with dividers, but make sure to wrap each item separately before you place them in the box. Use paper towels and bubble wrap to provide cushioning when packing fragile items. Make sure to label the boxes as “fragile” before loading them.
Minimizing Food Waste
If you have a lot of perishable items, such as prepared food, frozen food, fruits, and vegetables on hand before moving, there are a few ways you can minimize food waste. You may be able to donate your perishable food or give it away. Even some non-perishable food, such as flour, rice, or sauces, can spill during a move and go to waste. In general, the less food you pack, the less mess and hassle you’ll have to deal with while you unpack.
Handling Bulk Items Efficiently
Bulk kitchen items include appliances, large crockery items, and large sacks or bins of ingredients. Any appliance that can be disassembled, such as a food processor, juicer, coffee maker, or steamer, should be carefully packed and labeled. Put ingredients into sturdy, sealed containers to avoid spills or split bags. Anything made of glass should be wrapped and packed as a fragile item, and baskets and dish holders should be emptied and packed separately in boxes.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Packing a Pantry
A systematic, step-by-step approach can help you pack your kitchen items in order so that unpacking and setting up your new kitchen is easy.
Pre-Packing Steps
Before you begin packing, here are some pre-packing steps to help you start the process.
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Sort Items
Sort all kitchen items into categories, such as dry goods, canned goods, sauces and oils, spices, and perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and other items.
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Declutter
Only pack the essentials and get rid of expired and spoiled items. Discard or donate perishable items, such as frozen food, fruits, vegetables, and other items that may spoil during the move.
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Plan Meals
To minimize waste, plan meals that use up most of your perishable items so that you don’t have to throw anything away before the move. Make sure you have enough food to last you until the day of the move.
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Gather Supplies
Gather packing supplies and materials, including boxes of different sizes, divider boxes for glasses, bubble wrap, plastic bags, packing tape, fragile stickers, and markers. Make sure you have enough supplies to pack your whole kitchen.
Organizing Pantry Items
Once you’ve prepped your kitchen, here are a few tips for staying organized as you pack.
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Pack Similar Items Together
Try to pack similar items together, for example, sauces in one box and grains in another, to help keep track of the packed items. Organize sets of boxes for glassware, tableware, cutlery, utensils, food items, jars, and other pantry items.
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Seal Properly
Whatever you pack, make sure you pack it tightly, leaving no space in the boxes and sealing containers properly to prevent breakage and spillage.
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Pack Non-Perishable Items First
Canned goods: Pack canned food in small boxes to make them easier to lift. Canned goods can become heavy quickly.
Dry goods: Seal all dry and open boxes of food using tape and ziplock bags. After sealing each item individually, put it in a cardboard box and seal it, too. This will help prevent leaks and spills.
Spices: If your spices are in containers, ensure the caps are tightly screwed on. If they are in bags, wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Put all your spices in ziplock bags to prevent spills.
Liquids: Secure the opening of the liquid container by cutting a square of plastic wrap, placing it over the opening, and putting the lid back on the container with a little bit of extra plastic wrap sticking out. Wrap the container and place it in a ziplock bag before putting it in a properly lined and sealed box.
Glass containers and bottles: Wrap glass containers and bottles in waterproof ziplock bags and bubble wrap to ensure the food in them is kept secure during the move.
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Pack Perishable Items
Perishable items should always be packed last so that they stay fresh. Place the containers or bags in a large foam box or cooler with thick insulated walls and fill it with ice or cold packs. This may keep perishable items fresh if they are not out of the fridge or freezer for too long.
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Hire a Professional Moving Company
Sorting, decluttering, organizing, and packing your pantry is time-consuming, detailed work. Consider hiring professional moving services to pack your pantry. Professional movers have the experience and knowledge to carefully organize and pack your pantry. They can provide secure packing, minimize waste, and prevent unpacking from being messy or complicated.
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Unpacking at Your New Home
After arriving at your new home, unpack perishable items first, followed by fragile items and non-perishable items. Before unpacking, make sure that your fridge and freezer are working and that you have a clean, safe space for storage in your new pantry.
Do’s and Don’ts for Packing Your Pantry
To make your move easy and convenient, keep in mind the following dos and don’ts when packing up your pantry.
Do’s
- Proper Packing Techniques: Follow proper packing techniques. YouTube is your friend! If you’re not sure what to do, hire professionals.
- Label Boxes Clearly: Make sure you use proper labels on your boxes like “fragile” and “perishable.”
- Pack Liquids Carefully: Pack liquids with extra care, following the techniques discussed above.
- Pack Perishable Items Last: Pack perishable items last to reduce waste.
Don’ts
- Pack Expired Items: Expired items should be properly disposed of before you start packing.
- Mix Non-Perishables with Perishables: Perishables can spoil and rot if they are not packed properly. Proper organization and labeling is crucial.
- Overpack Boxes: Make sure the boxes are full enough so that items don’t slide around, but don’t overfill them. Overfilling boxes can make them too heavy and cause them to break.
Need Help Packing Pantry Items?
Want to make packing and unpacking your kitchen fast and easy? Contact Serenity Moving Services. Our experts will pack your pantry as efficiently and securely as possible.
