The Best Costco Trip Tip!
I’m off to Costco today, so let’s talk about a floor plan idea that doubles as a time saving tip.
Years ago, I decided that the best trick to running an efficient household would be to add a door from the garage to the pantry where food is stored. The door pictured in this photo opens to the garage. The door next to the sink, from where the photo was taken, leads to a hallway that opens to a large pantry and the kitchen.
Many homes have an extra freezer in the garage. This is obviously convenient. However, whenever possible, I like to suggest a large second refrigerator and freezer located in an indoor pantry. The extra storage is a fantastic addition for anyone who shops at Costco, and it is always more convenient (and warmer!) to walk into a pantry than to squeeze alongside the cars and bikes and Christmas decor in a garage.
Another pantry storage item that I like to recommend is a food storage shelf that automatically rotates canned goods. The brand that I have personally used is called Shelf Reliance. Their patented food storage rotation system is quite impressive. They carry large, full-wall systems and smaller units that sit on a pantry shelf. Both are easy to use and assure that the cans you put in first are the first to be taken out, ensuring that you are always eating food at its peak.
An extra large, deep wash sink right off the garage is another feature that can greatly enhance any walk-in-pantry. Washing garden-fresh vegetables, stained clothes, paint brushes or dirty hands before they reach the kitchen sink contains the messiness of daily life. An industrial-grade, springed faucet with attached scrubbing brush is an added bonus for tackling the biggest issues.
Not all pantries will have space for a separate refrigerator/ freezer or a large wash sink, but if you are going to save all that extra food from Costco, you may as well save some extra time putting it away too!
