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Organizing Your Kitchen with Vision Loss: What’s in the Pantry?

09/05/2025
Inside an organized cupboard, with jars of cooking ingredients and cans of soup, all labeled in large print

 

Keeping your dry goods organized saves time, reduces frustration, and helps you make the most of every mealtime—and every shopping trip. Whether you live alone or with others, a few smart habits can make a big difference.

6 Tips for Managing Your Pantry with Vision Loss

  1. Create zones. Keep similar foods grouped together—like canned soups on one shelf, and canned vegetables on another.
  2. Use bins or baskets. Containers help separate food categories and reduce clutter, making things easier to find. They’re especially helpful for items that don’t stack easily, like bags and packets.
  3. Try alphabetizing. Alphabetical order isn’t just for spices. It can help with other foods, too—especially cans. That makes it easier to find the chicken noodle or the minestrone; the carrots or the peas.
  4. Label your way. From braille to large print to audio labels, the right system depends on your needs. For foods you buy often, shortcuts can be helpful—like GB for green beans. Or go tactile: One rubber band on the vinegar and two on the oil. For more ideas on labeling, try these tutorials.
  5. Lean on technology. Apps like Seeing AI or Be My Eyes can help you identify pantry items or read expiration dates. They’re great when you’re labeling—or anytime a question comes up.
  6. Keep it neat—in small steps. Tidying up your pantry doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Handling one cupboard or shelf at a time keeps the task manageable.

Whether your cupboards are big or small, a little organization goes a long way—and it helps you create a kitchen that supports your independence.

Connect with others with vision loss

Join What’s Cooking, Hadley’s monthly discussion group where you can learn new kitchen tips and techniques—and share your own.

More practical help

Audio labels let you create reusable tags that store as little or as much information as you choose. WayAround Tags can be read with your smartphone. The PenFriend system uses a small handheld device.

For more tips, check out our workshop on Organizing Your Kitchen, part of the Organizing Your Home series.

Coping with Vision Loss

Chef Regina Mitchell talks about cooking—and organizing the cupboards—with confidence, in the Hadley Presents podcast episode Back in the Kitchen After Vision Loss.

What are your best strategies for organizing the pantry?