Pantry Safety Stock
I can't help but approach my pantry and freezer space in the same way I would our industry warehouses and supply chain! It's all about finding the most optimal safety stock levels to save on costs, drive up customer satisfaction, and afford flexibility. Sorry - occupational hazard.
It's no secret - in most cases, you'll find bulk packaging to be less expensive per unit. However, it's always a best practice to compare the per unit pricing listed on the grocery store price tags just to be sure! While it's tempting to buy the most monstrous of packages to save on cost, don't bother unless you have the available storage space and will be able to consume prior to the expiration date.
One Sunday I was so delighted to find an amazing deal on 3lb packages of lean ground turkey meat. I figured meat is easy enough to portion into plastic bags and freeze; plus I cook with ground turkey nearly every week. So I left the store with a few of these giant packages in hand! Feeling accomplished, I marched on into my kitchen, opened my freezer door, and then immediately felt deflated. My freezer was packed to the brim with other meats, breads, fruits, and vegetables! A mighty misstep on my part.
Each week before journeying out to the grocery store, I like to rid my fridge, freezer, and pantry of any items that might have expired. Creates room on the shelves, but also affords me the opportunity to take an inventory of the ingredients I have on hand. This activity often inspires my meal plan for the week - why let an ingredient go to waste if I can finish it up in my next meal?
Here are a few items I like to keep on hand and buy in bulk when possible:
While tempting, I'd avoid purchasing the following in bulk:
It's no secret - in most cases, you'll find bulk packaging to be less expensive per unit. However, it's always a best practice to compare the per unit pricing listed on the grocery store price tags just to be sure! While it's tempting to buy the most monstrous of packages to save on cost, don't bother unless you have the available storage space and will be able to consume prior to the expiration date.
One Sunday I was so delighted to find an amazing deal on 3lb packages of lean ground turkey meat. I figured meat is easy enough to portion into plastic bags and freeze; plus I cook with ground turkey nearly every week. So I left the store with a few of these giant packages in hand! Feeling accomplished, I marched on into my kitchen, opened my freezer door, and then immediately felt deflated. My freezer was packed to the brim with other meats, breads, fruits, and vegetables! A mighty misstep on my part.
Each week before journeying out to the grocery store, I like to rid my fridge, freezer, and pantry of any items that might have expired. Creates room on the shelves, but also affords me the opportunity to take an inventory of the ingredients I have on hand. This activity often inspires my meal plan for the week - why let an ingredient go to waste if I can finish it up in my next meal?
- Paper products
- Ground turkey, chicken breasts
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Frozen peas, carrots, corn, edamame
- Assortment of nuts
- Assortment of pasta
- Brown rice
- Cereals
- Olive oil
- Baking goods
While tempting, I'd avoid purchasing the following in bulk:
- Dried spices - these tend to lose their flavor faster than can be consumed
- Fresh produce and herbs - my husband and I simply can't consume a 5lb bag of potatoes!
- Milk - unless you're an avid milk drinker, reach for the smaller containers
Adjust to the tastes of your family, of course. But again, don't bother to purchase and store unless you plan to cook and eat!
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