Moving to Austin? When and How to Pack Your Pantry

Packing Your Pantry for a MoveIn most homes, the kitchen is the most complicated area to pack. Many spaces, it's easy enough to bring in a collection of boxes and put everything into them until the room is empty. The natural flow of the room makes it easy to sort the box contents. The kitchen, however, calls for a different technique for every sort of item. Regardless if you have moved lots of times and have become a practiced pro at swaddling glassware and placing paper between platters and serving bowls, there is always that one pressing question: What should you do with the food still in your pantry and fridge?

It would be reckless to pitch, it's many times hard to determine the best method to manage these pantry leftovers.

When to Pack Your Pantry

Moving your pantry is only a sound idea part of the time. The most important factors to think about are the length of the move, the safety of the food items, and the expiration dates. If you are just moving a rather short distance, you might want to move anything that will go nicely because there is very little time that will lapse or risk of spoilage. For cross-country moves, however, check out the expiration dates and only pack things with more than six months left. Non-glass spice jars and new items can be packed but open packages and bags should be put aside. You might also want to consider the cost of packing low-priced canned goods when added to a cross-country move.

Packing a No-Spills Pantry Box

After you have sorted out the items from your pantry that you are going to move, start getting your boxes ready. Plastic boxes with sealing lids are best for food storage because cans can become too heavy for cardboard and plastic will inhibit insect infestation. Keep your pantry box as orderly and snuggly packed as possible to avoid unearthing a mess when you unpack in Austin.

Stack the items that weigh the most on the bottom and line up any squared-off or boxed items snuggly against each other. Use Zip-lock bags and Tupperware to seal open containers of food or ingredients. You can even use dividers made of plastic or a cut-up cardboard box to keep everything upright and secure. Label the box as delicate so there is no confusion with your movers when they put it in the truck. As long as only nonperishable food items are in your pantry box and it is all sealed, it should be allowable to transport with the rest of the boxes, but it is definitely a smart idea to double check with your moving company concerning what can and cannot be put on the moving truck.

What About the Fridge?

The first point to think about is that things in the refrigerator can and will spoil if they are not dealt with properly. Usually, refrigerator items are only packed for a move if the move involves less than two hours of driving. That said, it is logical to not want to trash your collection of freezer resources and any residual edibles on moving day, but you'll need to plan on moving them in your own vehicle. Moving companies don’t manage perishables.

To move your icebox items, first, make sure the fridge and freezer at the new home are on and cooling properly. Then, it will be okay to pack up your cold food items into a large cooler that is about half-filled with ice. Drive the items over to the new home, load in the fridge, and enjoy not having to grocery shop on moving day.

Donating Your Pantry Goods

Move for Hunger LogoLastly, there’s the issue of how to manage the foodstuffs you can't or don't choose to move with you. There are numerous food banks that will be joyous to take the extra food off your hands and get it passed out to those who need it. Food donation is a critical variety of local charity, so no matter if you have a few boxes of dry pasta or an entire pantry full of non-perishables, ponder donating what you do not want or cannot transport to your new house. A-1 Freeman Moving Group proudly takes part in Move for Hunger, a non-profit organization that works with moving companies to collect non-perishable food items, and deliver them to food banks across North America. Click here or on the picture above to find out more!

Nearly everyone moving from house to house has food leftover in their pantry, even if you did your best to use up leftovers. Understanding when to pack, what food can be packed, and when to donate is a crucial component of the moving process. With the right tactics, you can get to your new residence in Austin with the maximum number of safely packed non-perishable food items and a peaceful feeling having donated the extra to those who can benefit most from it.