8 Things In Your Pantry To Throw Out ASAP, According To Professional Organizers

A packed, disorganized pantry can make it difficult to see what you actually have in there, and what's on the verge of expiring

Our pantries accumulate a lot of stuff. They have essential items you keep around for easy one-pot meals, like homemade chili or cheesy broccoli rice. The boxes of pasta you use to make anything from spaghetti to penne alla vodka. And then there are the half-eaten snacks, spoiled condiments you bought for one meal and never cooked with again, and expired oils and canned goods lingering in the back.

A packed, disorganized pantry can make it difficult to see what you actually have in there, and what's on the verge of expiring. And just like the rest of your kitchen, there are a lot of things hiding in your pantry that probably need to be tossed.

Nicole Gabai, professional organizer, founder of B. Organized, and author of The Art of Organizing: An Artful Guide to an Organized Life,recommends going through every item in your pantry two times a year. As you start to clean, make sure to check the below items off your list, as they are some of the most common pantry items that our organizing experts find past their prime.

Start With Expired Food

While it's true that many shelf-stable foods like canned goods are still safe to eat past their expiration date, you'll still want to check for signs of spoilage. "You can tell canned goods have spoiled if they are rusted, or if you see the cans bulge or dent," said Gabai.

Learn more about product dating from the USDA, and be sure to check out our guides on food expiration dates and how long canned goods last.

Spices & Herbs

Spices and herbs add a lot of flavor to dishes, but if they're too old, they won't pack the punch you're expecting. Old spices also take up a lot of space in your pantry. In addition to checking expiration dates, Gabai recommends using your smell to determine whether they need to be tossed. "If it smells flat or just not aromatic, then it needs to be replaced since it will add very little, if any, flavor to what you're cooking," she said. She added that ground spices usually last one to two years, while dried herbs will last one to three years.

Baking Ingredients

"Baking ingredients like flour, baking powder, and baking soda can lose their effectiveness over time," said Meaghan Kessman, founder of Meaghan Kessman Home Organization.

Eventually flour will go bad, but how long it takes get rancid depends on how its stored and the type of flour. We have a guide to the lifespan of different types of flour, but in general, Gabai says it will last at room temperature for six to eight months, but she recommends storing it in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

"Check for expiration dates and any signs of spoilage, such as clumping or an off smell," said Kessman. "If you’re unsure, test baking powder by adding a teaspoon to hot water—if it bubbles, it’s still good to use."

Cooking Oils & Fats

We often buy cooking oils in bulk, but keep in mind that they eventually go bad. "Oils and fats, such as olive oil, vegetable oil, and shortening, can become rancid if stored for too long. Rancid oils have a sour or off smell," said Kessman. "Always check the expiration date and store oils in a cool, dark place to keep them fresh longer."

But make sure you don't pour oil or grease down the drain. Rather than pouring the rancid oil down the sink, since it can be damaging to your plumbing or septic tank, try putting the oil in zip lock bags and putting them in the freezer, once frozen it's easy to empty the bag and drop it in the trash," said Gabai.

Nuts & Seeds

You'll also want to check any packages of nuts and seeds you might have hiding in the pantry. Due to their oil content, nuts and seeds will eventually go rancid. "They can last about 6 months at room temperature, but if you freeze them they can last a year or more," said Gabai.

Opened Boxes of Snacks & Cereals

"Snacks and cereals can go stale quickly once opened," said Kessman. She recommends checking expiration dates and signs of staleness like an unusual smell or texture.

Grains & Rice

According to Gabai, grains, rice, and beans can last about one to two years, but brown rice and other whole grains won't last quite as long due to their higher oil content.

Condiments

"Condiments like ketchup, mustard, and salad dressings often get pushed to the back of the pantry and forgotten. Check for expiration dates and any signs of separation, discoloration, or off smells," said Kessman.

Out of all the condiments that are lurking back there, honey is the one item that probably isn'tspoiled. The National Honey Board says that honey has a shelf life of about two years, although if stored correctly in a sealed container, it can last much longer.

"Honey is one of those miracle products that can last forever due to their inherent natural preservative content," said Gabai. "Honey was found in the tombs of kings and royalty as far back as 3,000 years in Egypt—and it was still edible!"

If honey crystallizes while sitting in your pantry, Gabai recommends gently heating the container of honey in a pot of water.

Signs Of Spoilage To Look Out For

Keep an eye out for any signs of spoilage and toss items that meet the criteria. These are some of the signs you should look out for, according to Kessman:

• An off smell
• Discoloration
• Texture changes
• Mold
• Bloated or leaking packages and canned goods