To decant, or not to decant....?

Hazel - The Home Reset
Mar 30
2 min read

Decanting food, a divisive topic to say the least.

When I reset a kitchen and specifically food pantry presses, I discuss with my client whether or not they want to decant food. It will only work successfully if you have the time and inclination to continue to decant food. Some clients want the aesthetic of perfectly decanted food in beautiful jars with labels. That is fine if it is something you plan on maintaining.

The pros of decanting are:

· Freshness – air tight containers keep food fresher for longer

· Aesthetic – I love the look of a gorgeously arranged pantry with decanted food in beautiful jars all consistently labelled

· Accessibility – some containers are stackable and so allow for utilisation of the vertical space within a pantry therefore you can see exactly what you have

· Reduces clutter – removing excess packaging and minimises the mess that boxes and packets cause

· Reduces food waste – by having your food visible and accessible you will be more inclined to use what you have

There are times when decanting isn’t recommended:

If it requires extra effort – it should be a quick process. In our house we decant pasta (1 type), spaghetti and cereals. We have 4 types of cereal decanted any more and I think it would be unmanageable. These items are used very regularly so I don’t have to worry about passing sell by dates. If by decanting you lose the instructions or have to label the expiry date it may not make sense. I wouldn’t recommend decanting individually wrapped items.

Cost is a factor too. If you want to implement a fully decanted pantry press think about the cost involved and maybe slowly add the jars and containers. If this is your approach ensure you select to purchase items that the retailer always has in stock. So, IKEA for example usually has the same stock.

Decanting will work for you if you value the organisation and look of a tidy pantry. If you prefer convenience then maybe leaving in the original packaging but containing in basket to maintain a zone for the items may work better for you.

Below are some of my favourite jars and containers. Before you purchase anything, I would recommend measuring to ensure the items will fit. Most kitchens have adjustable height shelves so don’t be afraid of this either.

Amazon links are affiliate which means while it doesn’t impact the price for you I do get a tiny commission.