Let’s face it, many people love to bulk-buy grocery items to save costs and time procuring goods. This leads to storing and collecting ingredients, food, and consumables. In this blog, Pantries Unpacked: Superior Solutions for Kitchen Storage, we’ll unpack various pantry designs and offer superior solutions for kitchen storage, helping you find the best options for your needs. Is there a perfect pantry? We don’t know for sure, but let’s explore together.

Tall Cabinet Pantries
Cabinet pantries offer numerous benefits, the most notable being that they can be installed anywhere and don’t require major construction changes like wall framing or drywall.

Tall pantry cabinets typically have 2 or 4 doors. You can have adjustable shelves inside and/or add rollout shelves for full access to your goods.

Rollout Shelves
Rollout shelves can be added to base cabinets and tall pantries. They are often adjustable in height, which is great for customization. Adding them to the planning stage is better than retrofitting them afterward.

What is better, rollout shelves or drawers?

One of the most common questions when planning a new kitchen is whether drawers or rollout shelves in a base cabinet are better. Here’s what the Professional Kitchen Design Experts at Superior Cabinets say:

• Drawers are easier, requiring only one motion (pull) to open, but are limited to the height of the drawer.
• Rollout shelves require two motions: open the doors, then pull out the shelf. The main advantage is the adjustable height for taller items and the customization as your needs change, where drawers are fixed in height.

If you can make room for both, do it.

Corner Pantry
A built-in corner pantry offers numerous advantages, including the ability to store tall items, ample storage, and the ability to walk inside. If you are renovating your kitchen, you will save money compared to filling the space with cabinets and countertops, and you will eliminate the need for corner cabinets. Read more on Is a Corner Pantry Right for You?

Pantry Rooms
Pantry rooms have gained popularity in new home designs as more homeowners want to store large quantities of bulk food and goods. They can serve various purposes, such as food storage, butler pantries, spice kitchens, or hidden rooms, offering endless possibilities.

Walk Through Pantries
In the past decade, walk through cabinet pantries have soared in popularity.

The walkthrough style allows easy access from the garage to the kitchen, with storage on one or both sides of the room and two entry/exit points. This user-friendly design can save extra walking. Read more on Is a Corner Pantry Right for You?

Spice Kitchen
If you’re interested in a dedicated space for cooking that keeps strong odours contained, check out our detailed blog on the concept of a Spice Kitchen.

These typically have a sink, a range or cooktop, a refrigerator, and more. Think of this as a smaller, contained kitchen for cooking out of sight.

Butler’s Pantry
The sky is the limit for the use of a butler’s pantry. While the most common use is for food storage, the Professional Kitchen Design Experts at Superior Cabinets have noticed an increased trend of small appliances being installed in them.

Hidden Room
Hidden rooms made it onto the 2024 Kitchen and Cabinet Trends List. These are secret or hidden rooms behind a set of cabinet pantry doors.

You might miss this secret access from the outside, but inside, you can have a hidden room for storage, a spice kitchen, a butler’s pantry, or whatever you desire. Speakeasy anyone?

Here is a great video showcasing a secret room behind pantry doors by Superior Cabinets.

Summary
No matter how you store your food, cans, and kitchen ingredients, always design with ergonomics in mind. Consider what will be easiest for you to access as you age in your home. Some storage solutions are for utility and functionality, while others are for aesthetics. Ultimately, the space often dictates what you can and cannot do. Always consult with a professional kitchen designer for expert advice.

If you want to chat about pantries and food storage for your home, please contact a Superior Cabinets Kitchen Designer in Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, or Winnipeg. If you are outside of those regions, reach out to a Superior Cabinets Authorized Dealer Partner in Canada or the USA.

LOOKING FOR MORE?

Here are some additional helpful articles to check out:
2024 Kitchen Trends
Custom Paint Colour Program – Colour Your Way with Superior Cabinets and Sherwin-Williams
The Kitchen Cabinet Buyer’s Guide
Introducing Rustic Knotty Alder Cabinets
Kitchen Designer Cheat Sheet
5 Lazy Susan Alternatives
Is a Corner Pantry Right for you?
Ways to Save Money on New Kitchen Cabinets
Planning A Kitchen Renovation During A Pandemic
Common Corner Cabinet Types and Ideas
Bar Support Selection Guide
Butcher Block in the Kitchen, What You Should Know
Farmhouse Sink Considerations
Common Mudroom Design Oversights
Choosing the Right Drawer System
The Slim Shaker Door… Is it just a trend… or is it here to stay?