9 Pantry Items You Should Toss Right Away, Say Organizers

Professional organizers share the items you likely want to discard from your pantry immediately.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Cleaning out your pantry can help refresh your kitchen and take stock of the ingredients you have on hand. We spoke with Southern professional organizers who shared nine items you should toss out right away, including stale snacks, one-off ingredients you'll never use, expired oils and nuts, old spices, and baking supplies past their prime.

Why it matters

Maintaining an organized and well-stocked pantry can make cooking and baking easier and more enjoyable. Clearing out expired, stale, or unused items frees up space for the ingredients you actually need and use regularly.

The details

According to the organizers, some key pantry items to discard include: stale snacks and baked goods, one-off ingredients you bought but never used, expired oils and nuts, old spices that have lost their flavor, and baking powder and yeast that are over a year old. They also recommend replacing plastic containers that may have altered the taste of dry goods over time. The goal is to have a simplified pantry that reflects the types of meals you actually cook on a regular basis.

  • Spices should be replaced every 1-3 years for ground spices and 3-4 years for whole spices.
  • Baking powder and yeast should be replaced if they are over a year old.

The players

Stephanie Worinkeng

The founder of A Time to Organize in Greenville, South Carolina.

Caroline Van Natta

The founder of Tidyish in Richmond, Virginia.

Libby Huffines

The founder of Libby and Labels in Dallas, Texas.

Eryn Donaldson

The founder of The Model Home in Washington, D.C.

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What they’re saying

“More than likely, it's stale or not even enough food to give a serving. Let it go and make room for newly bought items.”

— Stephanie Worinkeng, Founder, A Time to Organize

“We've all bought that one-off sauce, exotic spice, or trendy ingredient, but if it's been sitting there for six months, untouched, it's not inspiring—it's just clutter.”

— Caroline Van Natta, Founder, Tidyish

“If your oils smell bitter or your nuts taste stale, they're past their prime. Rancid oils not only taste bad but can mess with digestion.”

— Caroline Van Natta, Founder, Tidyish

The takeaway

Maintaining an organized and well-stocked pantry can make cooking and baking easier and more enjoyable. Clearing out expired, stale, or unused items frees up space for the ingredients you actually need and use regularly, helping you streamline your kitchen and focus on the meals you enjoy making most.