Prep Genrl rotating food stocks

[nomifyle]

So DH and I are organizing my large pantry room.

When you have several cases of the same thing (generally stacked on top of each other) how in the world do you rotate the food.

I've been bad about just sticking the new stock on top and not rotating. Most of what I have has been purchased in the last 3 years or so, so I'm not really dealing with much stock that is older. I did have a shelf of use first but DH rearranged it and now its all over the place.

I guess my best bet will be to go through the cans after DH has it all organized and put the older cans on top. That may or may not happen depending on my energy level. The lions share of the older cans have dates on them.

I went out to the she shed to get a case of new jars and all the food that has been vacuumed sealed is all jumbled up together, another thing I need to sort through.

Bottom line is I'm so blessed that DH has taken an interest in getting things sorted out and put in jars or mylar. I'm not complaining really, just venting, cause I will not say a word to him.

 

[Marseydoats]

I know I don't have nearly as much as you do, but when I get the groceries hauled into the house, the new stuff gets set off to the side. On grocery day, it's all I can do just to get everything up the stairs. I date the new stuff with a sharpie, in big numbers. Then in the next few days, I will stack it in order. I also write the exp date on the cardboard flat on the outside. That makes it easier for me.
Some stuff is still going to fall thru the cracks. Largely because hubs continually rotates in the wrong direction to annoy me.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I buy everything almost either by the flat or case. I keep everything separated, like all green beans are together, all cream corn is together, all tomato sauce is together, and so on. Each flat or case is stacked. When I bring a new case or flat home, I move everything, and I place the new on the bottom, after dating it with a felt tip marker. That way, the oldest is always on the top, and I keep working my way down through the stack. Jars of salsa, bottles of sauces, mustard, mayo, pasta, etc. are kept in their own space, dated, too. That way, I can grab the oldest bottles and jars first. It's good to keep all your different items together in one place. Doing it this way lets me know what I have and how much of any one item at any given time. It does take a bit of time and effort on my part, but I like things organized.

 

[nomifyle]

For the most part I do keep all like things together. Although as of late, when things really got disorderly the flats were mixed. Dh has straightened that all out. Although as of late I'm only buying the number I've used and its not a flat, except for that chicken noodle soup I bought recently, I was completely out of that.

December 2012 my brother brought me 8 cases of green beans, they are all in the she shed, along with some other canned food he brought. I have another 8 or so cases in the pantry room.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

For the most part I do keep all like things together. Although as of late, when things really got disorderly the flats were mixed. Dh has straightened that all out. Although as of late I'm only buying the number I've used and its not a flat, except for that chicken noodle soup I bought recently, I was completely out of that.

December 2012 my brother brought me 8 cases of green beans, they are all in the she shed, along with some other canned food he brought. I have another 8 or so cases in the pantry room.

I wait, until I've used a flat or case before buying another, or my way of organizing would get in a mess. Others may have a different way of doing it, but I've done it this way for so long, I don't even think about it. I know where everything is and how much at any given time. Cary isn't allowed in my pantry, or he for sure would mess it all up, LOL. He does help in the pantry, but only when I'm with him. Also, everything in storage is kept on at least a 2 year rotation, unless I happen to miss something, like the jars of old mayo I found the other day.

 

[Raggedyman]

most time its canned goods and I will by in case lots or opened flats. write the date purchased on top of EACH can (1.23 - month & year) as well as the front of the flat. simply pull out the older cases/flats and put the new flat on the very bottom then replace older on top.

lets say its a case of progresso soup - could be different varieties in that flat - all similar grouped together - but its all soup with new dates in the rear/bottom of the flat and older being in the position to be pulled first - out front and on top.

some older pix below

​

 

[20Gauge]

So DH and I are organizing my large pantry room.

When you have several cases of the same thing (generally stacked on top of each other) how in the world do you rotate the food.

I've been bad about just sticking the new stock on top and not rotating. Most of what I have has been purchased in the last 3 years or so, so I'm not really dealing with much stock that is older. I did have a shelf of use first but DH rearranged it and now its all over the place.

I guess my best bet will be to go through the cans after DH has it all organized and put the older cans on top. That may or may not happen depending on my energy level. The lions share of the older cans have dates on them.

I went out to the she shed to get a case of new jars and all the food that has been vacuumed sealed is all jumbled up together, another thing I need to sort through.

Bottom line is I'm so blessed that DH has taken an interest in getting things sorted out and put in jars or mylar. I'm not complaining really, just venting, cause I will not say a word to him.

We do two piles old and new. Use old first.

or

We let it run out and they buy a bunch....

 

[nomifyle]

most time its canned goods and I will by in case lots or opened flats. write the date purchased on top of EACH can (1.23 - month & year) as well as the front of the flat. simply pull out the older cases/flats and put the new flat on the very bottom then replace older on top.

lets say its a case of progresso soup - could be different varieties in that flat - all similar grouped together - but its all soup with new dates in the rear/bottom of the flat and older being in the position to be pulled first - out front and on top.

some older pix below

View attachment 389613
View attachment 389614
​

I have those exact shelves, thanks to my brother. And I like the way have the boards to brace them.

I've stopped buying by the flat in an effort to keep my budget down. And with shortages whose to know if there will be a whole flat of something these days and in the future.

I don't want to feel like I "need" something, but just replace what I've used, even if its just one can of something.

 

[connie]

There are only 2 of us so I have to be careful not to overbuy. Right now we have a lot of canned veggies. I know we will use one jar of mayo per month. We don't eat canned soups normally but I keep a few on hand in case of illness.
Right now I am using up some freezer meats rather than any canned meats. It's a balancing act for sure.
I just don't have the motivation to try and keep a years worth of regular food and try to rotate through it all. It overwhelms me.

 

[Illini Warrior]

unless you can do the organizing commercial/industrial - plenty of heavy duty shelving - bar coding and a computer inventory >>> you need to put time & labor into it - little way around it

 

[SousJo]

First In, First Out was a job protocol for me, for many years. I use sharpies and gummed paper labels. Everything gets dated with both a sharpie and a paper label. (Well, I mean, nearly everything. I slap a label on the case, not every individual can.) If the marker gets rubbed off, the label will still be there, and if the label fails for whatever reason, there's still the sharpie.

Glass canning jars get a label on the side and sharpie on the lid.

Now, my biggest issue is that I've got stuff all over the house. Half gallon canning jars with dried veg over here, dried fruits over there, pints of home canned broth in one spot, flats of store-bought canned stuff stacked in the closet...

Don't much recommend that. It makes taking inventory a right pain.

 

[momma_soapmaker]

I use a Sharpie to write the date on the front of the can, plainly visible. It's very easy to get in the habit of sticking new cans in front and not rotating. Guilty as charged.

You have to practice consistently using older cans first. It saves a lot of grief later on.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

If I didn't keep all my storage food separated by variety and type as mentioned in my earlier post and all in one location, I would surely lose track of what I have. I have one large pantry room, and all food storage is in there. The new overflow goes into our bedroom and is transferred to the pantry room as needed. All non-food items are stored in my outdoor mini barn. To me, keeping an organized food storage plan is just as important as any other household chore, if not more so.

 

[connie]

I agree. I group like items together as well. The exception is dried/freeze dried vegetables are stored in a separate cabinet.
I am learning to use tomato powder and using more dried fruits.