Stanley Tucci's Go-To Pantry Storage Items Are So Sustainable

Many of the picture-perfect pantries seen on social media have one thing in common — a distinct lack of original packaging. It has become increasingly popular to decant dry goods in your pantry such as sugar, rice, pasta, cereal, and other snacks into clear storage containers that are then elegantly labeled and refilled as necessary.

However, the reality is that while it may not seem that expensive to buy one or two storage containers or jars, if you're looking to transform your entire pantry, you'll likely need a significant amount of your chosen vessels. This can quickly become quite costly.

Don't fear, though — everyone's favorite foodie actor, Stanley Tucci, gave his fans a glimpse into his pantry when whipping something up to share on TikTok, and his sustainable storage solution caught many people's eyes. Interspersed amidst the ingredients arranged on the shelves of his galley-style pantry were various sizes of glass jars with different ingredients stored within. However, he didn't buy sets of the same size or even style of jar. Instead he had a mix, including one repurposed jam jar as well as a series of larger jars with label maker-created labels on the side naming the contents.

So, the next time you're tempted to spend far too much money on endless sets of organizing containers, take a page from Tucci's book and see whether you can repurpose something you already have for a more budget-friendly and sustainable solution. Additionally, there are some tips that may help the process along.

If you're envisioning a pantry revamp, start putting aside glass jars from products you're already buying and using up. Before you know it you'll have a sizable collection to work with. If you value uniformity, keep an eye on items you use frequently, such as your favorite brand of jam or pasta sauce — you'll likely collect multiple of the exact same size and shape, which can give your sustainable pantry a more tidy aesthetic.

Before you put any dry goods in your jars, though, you want to prep them. Soaking them in water helps make those stubborn labels easier to remove, as can scrubbing with an abrasive tool like steel wool. And, while you don't necessarily need to sterilize the jars, if you'd feel more comfortable doing so, you can use the same process as for preparing jars for canning — submerge your clean jars in boiling water for about 10 minutes and they'll be sterilized and ready to use, as per the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

While Stanley Tucci uses his jars to store dry goods such as tea bags, the sky's the limit. For example, smaller jars might be useful in storing spices purchased from a bulk store. Or, if you're looking to craft some gourmet additions to your kitchen, you might use them as a vessel for infusing oils with fresh herbs. If you have an excess, they can even be moved from pantry to fridge to freezer to store leftovers.