Food Storage Tips For Pantry – Can Pantry Be Dark?

Can Pantry Be Dark? Yes, a pantry can be a dark, clean, dry, and cool pantry and cupboard, preferably away from heat-producing appliances. A chilly temperature range of 50°F to 70°F helps foods stay fresher for longer.

For dry and canned foods, a pantry’s temperature should be between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean, dark, dry, and cold pantries are ideal. 

Should I paint my pantry?

Using dark paint colors in a kitchen pantry, according to experts, is a terrible idea. While a dark hue may be effective in concealing spills and stains, it will also hide insects and mildew. 

Furthermore, because light or bright colors reflect light, they brighten the surrounding environment and make it easier for you to locate stored goods quickly and effortlessly.

Is it necessary for me to repaint my pantry?

When you open your walk-in or closet-style pantry, is it up to your personality? If you give your pantry some personality, you might find yourself opening the door in a completely different frame of mind.

Even the best-designed pantry might be a wasted design opportunity if your pantry is entirely white. While white provides a transparent background, it may often become monotonous. 

Here are some ideas for integrating color and mirrored wooden pieces to generate an inspired pantry a more joyful experience.

Use a different color on the walls than on the shelves.

The brilliantly blue walls behind a typical shelf system give this pantry a fun appearance. The hue, Interior Paint and Primer In One, is surprising, and it gives the impression that nothing unpleasant could arise from the chemicals kept here.

Choose a wall color that conjures the atmosphere you want to be in when you arrive home from work and enter the pantry. 

Paint walls and shelves the same color.

The pantry’s cohesion keeps everything feeling orderly. Green is a lovely hue that highlights the white dinnerware so that white shelves would not. Furthermore, the shade complements the remainder of the old home’s palette. 

Go for a tone-on-tone effect.

Your pantry may be just as lovely as any living room if you utilize various tones of the same color family. For example, the medium grey paint contrasts with the lighter paint and attracts the user to its tranquil surroundings. 

Add a feature wall.

Consider adding an accent wall if you’re not interested in painting the entire pantry a single color. The eye is drawn here to an orderly desk by an energizing orange. When the remainder of the shelves aren’t in good condition, this kind of distracting effect comes in handy. 

Cover the ceiling with paint.

Perhaps you’re happy with your white walls, but you still want something extra in your pantry. You’ll receive the mood-enhancing effects of your chosen hue while putting in less effort than if you painted all four walls.

Add color to your bookshelf.

Another color variation is leaving the walls white but adding color to the shelves. Choose a system that already comes in your desired color, or prime and paint bare wooden shelves. Allow the shelves to dry before hanging them or filling them with food thoroughly.

Make use of mirrors.

In a pantry, mirrors are helpful in ways that painted walls aren’t. They provide radiance and give the appearance of a greater room. Mirrors were used as a backsplash on cabinets painted in this color scheme.

Apply wallpaper on the wall.

Who says you can only use wallpaper in informal living rooms? A preferred design may benefit a pantry just as much. A smaller and simpler print will work nicely in a tiny pantry. 

Make a stencil of it.

Stenciling a pantry wall is an alternative to wallpaper. But, then, every time you open the door, you’ll be glad you did. 

Make the most of what you’ve got.

Occasionally, pantries are constructed from cleverly repurposed areas. Instead of original hiding characteristics, such as ancient brick, embrace them by leaving them natural or painting them in a color you’ll like for a long time. 

Tips for storing food in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer

You probably don’t think twice about putting food in your cupboard, refrigerator, or freezer. Surprisingly, many people refrigerate food that can be stored at room temperature or leave food out on the counter that must be kept cold.

Conditions in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer

The way you keep food has an impact on how long it lasts. For best food storage, maintain the temperatures of pantries, refrigerators, and freezers. To keep an eye on temperatures, it’s a good idea to put a thermometer in both the fridge and the freezer.

Pantry

For dry and canned foods, a pantry’s temperature should be between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean, dark, dry, and cold pantries are ideal. Rotate dry and canned foods in your cupboard using the first-in, first-out strategy to reduce waste. Examine cans for symptoms of spoilage, such as cracks, bulges, or leaks, frequently.

Refrigerator

Between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal temperature for your refrigerator is to keep your food fresh and safe. Unfortunately, there is no assurance that a refrigerated item will be kept for an extended period.

Instead of using open containers for storage, you should store items in airtight containers or foil, plastic wrap, and bags. Food deteriorates due to spoilage microbes, enzymes, and oxidation, even when the refrigerator temperature is kept below 40 degrees.

Freezer

Set the temperature of your freezer to zero degrees Fahrenheit or below. Foods kept in freezers will lose color, texture, taste, and nutritional value but not cause food poisoning.

Pantry storage suggestions

The following pantry storage suggestions list ten home basics most people keep on hand.

Onions

Onions may be stored in the pantry for the first week following purchase. After that, they should be kept in the fridge for three to five days. However, keep them away from potatoes since the moisture and fumes emitted by potatoes may cause onions to rot.

Potatoes 

You may store white and sweet potatoes at room temperature for a week or at 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a month. However, temperatures below 40 degrees lead starches in potatoes to convert to sugars, changing their texture and taste.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes may be stored at room temperature and out of direct sunlight for three to five days during ripening. Then, when the tomatoes are entirely ripe, put them in the fridge.

Apples

Before refrigerating, apples may be left out to mature for several days at room temperature. They may then be kept for a month in the refrigerator.

Eggs

Whether you bought them at the grocery store, at your local farmer’s market, or gathered them from your backyard flock,. It is highly suggested to keep eggs in the coldest area of the refrigerator, contrary to popular perception.

Coffee

You may store opened coffee in the pantry for two or four weeks, and it can also be stored in the fridge for two months after that. If kept at room temperature, instant coffee can last for a month. However, once opened, coffee should be kept refrigerated and firmly wrapped.

Flour

Flour is a semi-perishable food. White flour may be stored for a year in the pantry, while whole or wheat flour should be refrigerated for six to eight months. You may freeze whole grain or whole wheat flour for up to a year.

Bread

Bread will keep fresh in cold, dry pantries. If you keep bread refrigerated, it will become stale faster, inhibiting mold development. You may freeze bread for a period of two to three months.

Bread’s shelf life is determined by its components. For example, store-bought bread includes preservatives that help it last longer, but handmade loaves mildew easily.

Peanut butter 

The peanut butter will last longer if refrigerated, although it may be kept in the cupboard for two to three months once opened.

Condiments

Although both ketchup and yellow mustard should be refrigerated to extend their shelf life, they may both be stored in the pantry for a limited time. 

Opened ketchup can only be stored in the cupboard for one month, but opened yellow mustard may be maintained for six to eight months. Unopened ketchup will last a year on the shelf, while unopened yellow mustard will last two years in the cupboard.