Prep the Kitchen for Thanksgiving

We're rapidly approaching the season of giving, which starts with thankfulness and gratitude. Soon we'll see requests for food drives that, this year especially, will need our support. 

In the spirit of giving, I encourage you to go through your pantry now before the madness of the holiday season ensues. Instead of simply discarding all of your canned goods, take time to get your kitchen and pantry organized. Not only will it result in donations, but it'll give you peace of mind as you head into a season where the kitchen gets a lot of use. If you're already rummaging around in there, you might as well leave it better than you found it. 

Start by focusing on what's already out on your counters, and pare down. Are there appliances you've gotten so used to looking at over the years sitting out that don't get much use? Are your cookbooks bursting from shelves? Is the school calendar from August still tacked up on the pantry door? Donate and toss. 

Next, comb through the drawers of supplies and utensils. Is there anything in here taking up space that you're not using? How about something you do use, but that needs replacing (yes, I'm talking about your mismatched Tupperware)? Donate, toss, and replace as needed. 

Now focus on the food in your cabinets and pantry. Pull out anything expired and toss it before focusing on items that are non-perishable and can be donated.

Don't keep items to donate in the kitchen -bag them up and put them in the trunk of your car right away with a note on the calendar to deliver to a local food bank this week. Yes, it's an errand. But it'll be one less thing to do later. 

We highly recommend segueing into organizing your cabinets and pantry. Proper organization creates a system that doesn't get disrupted, which means your overall process is aided by a more streamlined kitchen. Gone will be the days of floating through the grocery store trying to drum up a mental inventory of your pantry. By creating a visual system, you'll always know what needs replacing and where it belongs. As we approach Thanksgiving, this is a stress-free way to breeze through some of those recipes because you won't need to dig around in your cabinets for those seldom-used herbs or cans that have been shoved in the back. 

If you're interested in giving your kitchen a little TLC, contact us! We're offering affordable virtual organization services that'll keep you and your family safe.