My kitchen cupboard’s finally tidy! And it cost me almost nothing…
18.2.2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Natalie Hemengül
I’ll buy them, store them somewhere then forget about them – then they end up in the bin. Wondering what I’m referring to? My nuts. They deserve better, so I’ve found a practical design to put an end to this vicious cycle.
I recently fished a three-year-old pack of hazelnuts out of the depths of my pantry. Unopened. What a shame. A total waste. The worst thing was, it wasn’t the first time this has happened.
As a repeat offender, I’ve let many nutrient-rich foods go bad instead of including them in my daily menu plan. And all because I can’t see them clearly. It’s pure anarchy in the white Ikea box my snack bags are piled up in.
I present to you (drum roll 🥁) – «Nut Tower»!
To put an end to our misery, my boyfriend and I came up with a solution. One that costs little to nothing, is practical to use and makes full use of our shelf height. This resulted in a design as simple as it is effective and one that brings a grin to my face every day.
This is all you need:
- a small bottle rack (second-hand is even better)
- large, washed tomato puree jars
- a waterproof pen
- nuts, seeds etc.
This is how it works
A bottle rack serves as your base. We bought a wine holder on a second-hand platform that can be set up horizontally or vertically. To seal the nuts airtight, we opted for large, empty passata jars. They come closest to the bottle shape and fit into the rack. You can collect the jars in advance. And, it’s quicker if you recruit friends and family.
Wash the jars and lids carefully. Labels and adhesive residues will come off easily after a hot water bath. Then, allow the jars to dry well and fill. To be on the safe side, I write the best-before date on the red lid with a waterproof pen. You can then simply slide the jars into the rack with the lid facing backwards. Of course, you can apply this to other foods. For example, cereals or muesli toppings.
Why it’s a genius idea
The longer we use the system, the clearer it becomes – it solves problems I wasn’t even aware of before. Here’s a lovely long list of plus points:
- You can refill your glass containers at a zero packaging store
- The nuts stay fresh for longer because the jars can be sealed more securely than the nut packaging. The latter require you to fumble around, only to be opened again in the cupboard as if by magic.
- You recycle packaging material that would’ve ended up in the glass collection bin.
- You can exchange or replace used containers and lids for new ones at any time.
- You can simply pull out the jars. Unlike stackable containers, you don’t have to play Tetris to access them.
- It’s particularly easy to get the right portion of nuts from the slim jars.
- Thanks to the glass, you can see at a glance what and how much you have in stock.
- Food that’s not forgotten in the chaos ends up in your stomach, not in the compost. So you avoid food waste.
- Food moths have virtually no chance as they can’t eat through the glass.
- Ideally, you can implement the system yourself for near to no pennies.
I’m now thinking about adding another rack to the system, because our dried fruit also needs a home. But one thing at a time. First I have to find a few more jars, because our tower isn’t yet complete.
Got tips or systems for keeping your kitchen tidy? Share them in the comments!
Header image: Natalie Hemengül
Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
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