#6 Things You Really Should Purge from Your Kitchen Pantry

If you are so lucky as to have an actual pantry, you’re already ahead of the game. You have the space to stock up on often-used ingredients, and have all the supplies for cooking meals right at your fingertips. Of course, the downside to having room is that things accumulate and don't get dealt with. So, in the spirit of the new year, here are five things to target in your pantry, to pare it down and leave yourself plenty of room for the essentials.

1. Stale or Expired Food. Just because it’s a dry good or non-refrigerated item doesn’t mean that it won’t go bad. Inspect any containers or packaging left open, and toss anything that is no longer fresh. Nuts and oils especially have a tendency to turn.

2. Duplicate Items. Take a second to consolidate all those diced tomatoes, and get rid of anything that you have excessive amounts of. Donate to a food bank, or swap with a neighbor for something you don’t already have, and free up a lot of space.