Hopefully this month you’re getting your food storage pantry all organized and up to date.
How do you keep your foods organized?
Well, I’ve been looking for ideas. But I’m kind of hard to please. Here’s what I’m looking for: first, the storage needs to save space. Second, I want easy to use. Third, it has to be easy to clean. Fourth, it has to be affordable. There are some pretty amazing FIFO (First In, First Out, rolling-can-type) storage systems out there but they are soooooo expensive. Lastly, if it’s going to be a DIY project, it has to be some thing I can do.
So here are some projects that might fit the bill:
An old standby
Seriously. This version been around since I was a young girl. (That’s longer than you want to know.) My parents made shelves that were very similar to this. But it’s kind of big. Granted, it’s holding about all the cans you could ever want to buy, so for a big family this might be just the ticket. But it looks like a project that’s a little beyond my meager DIY skills. I like that it has coaster wheels, that makes it easy to move and clean around. Or you could put it on legs that are tall enough to allow you to store 5-gallon buckets or water storage underneath. The instructions for this project are very thorough, with lots of measurements and diagrams.
Modular models
Here are kits to make modular rotating can shelves. These are modular, so you can put several together to create a larger system and tailor it to fit your space. Price is not as low as I’d like (But keep in mind, I’m the one who does Christmas shopping at the thrift store.)
Here’s another modular-type version. The author says each unit costs about $5 to make, which is very affordable. They’ll fit on the shelves you already have in the kitchen or pantry or you can mount several together to create a larger unit. And it looks like it might be in my skill-range. That’s a plus. I would paint it with a good hard glossy paint to make it easier to clean. Really, the only drawback I can see with this one is that you can’t always see what cans are coming down the chute.
This is more like it
OK, now we’re getting to projects that are more my speed. I really like these next two. They are very compact, mounting right to your pantry or storage room wall. The biggest difference is the first one uses just regular 2X4’s at the front to hold the cans. I also like how they created shelves on the end. Lots of good diagrams and pictures in this blog.
This one on the right uses trim instead of 2X4s for the front ledges. That, along with a nice white paint job gives it a nice finished look. They include a how-to video, which is especially nice for handicapped DIY-ers like me.
The thing I like about both of these is that they are compact and easy to load, You can see all the cans (so you know what you’re pulling out,) And they both look like projects I could do by myself, with very few power tools required. (At least I think I can.)
Three in a row
Now this site did a great job. They give us three–yes, count them: three!–different designs all in one place. (From left below to right): The first is a horizontal feeder. No gravity, just push the cans from right to left. The second is another version of the modular units pictured above. And the third is a variation on the two two wall-mounted units just above. I like the lip sort of thing that catches the cans on the bottom.
Last but not least
I have to say this last one is one of my favorites. It’s pure genius, simple yet elegantly functional. The project is so easy I think even I could do it–without needing any chocolate. (And that’s saying a lot.) Basically she just installed ready-made lazy Susans in the corner of each shelf. It’s such a clever use of ready-made products and efficient use of space. What’s not to like?
So there you have it–a complete round up (or as complete as I can make it) of different shelving and can storage options. Hopefully one (or more) of these will be just the thing you need to manage your food storage and keep it organized.
Thank you for posting this!! This has been a big issue for me. I have shelving but it’s not FIFO and like you said the Can Rotater systems are so expensive. I’ve been making can rotaters out of pop boxes. They are simple to make and hold about 12 regular sized cans. I reinforce the boxes with corrugated and duct tape to make them last longer. And they are portable. The down sides are that they are made of cardboard so Not resistant to moisture. You have to drink lots of pop or know folks who do. They are not pretty and can’t be cleaned. And they don’t last long, only a couple of years. Mostly, I like that they are portable and very cheap!
I think I will try the white trimmed one you mentioned above. I think maybe I could build that, though I’m pretty sure chocolate will be required.
Thanks again for posting!!