Pantry storage for singles: simple, sustainable and delicious
Kira Zabe
September 16, 2024
Stockpiling or prepping is very much in vogue. Even the Federal Office of Civil Protection now recommends that people stock up for around 10 days. However, this can be a real challenge, especially for singles, as most pack sizes are designed for couples or families, which is not a bad thing for stockpiling - but it is for consumption. There is also the problem of space, as most singles will not have the storage facilities that a family with a house has, for example.
Nevertheless, keeping stocks is not impossible, even for single people. But how do you start? And what belongs in a single person's pantry that should be both practical and inspiring?
The storage cupboard: a small universe full of possibilities
The heart of any pantry, whether for singles, couples or families, is the larder. The following list is just a good starting point and not something you have to stick to slavishly. Your pantry should always reflect your individual preferences. There's no point in storing five packs of rice, for example, if you don't eat it at all. It will probably take some time to put together the perfect stock for you, but we're not aiming for perfection here. Always keep in mind: a little stockpile is always better than no stockpile at all. Feel free to experiment and adapt.
Staple foods:
Grains and pseudocereals: quinoa, rice, couscous, bulgur and of course pasta - choose whole grain varieties for an extra nutritional kick.
Pulses: Lentils, chickpeas and beans (dried or canned) are nutritious, versatile and have a long shelf life.
Nuts and seeds: Perfect as a quick snack between meals, as a topping or ingredient in many dishes.
-Spices and herbs: They are the magicians in your kitchen. A well-stocked spice rack can really make a difference. Also stocks, sauce cubes and the like.
Preserves and jars:
Tomato products: Strained tomatoes, tomato paste and whole peeled tomatoes can serve as a base for numerous dishes.
Pickled vegetables: Cucumbers, olives, artichokes and more offer quick flavor kicks and enrich salads and hot dishes. However, pickled vegetables are not for everyone. If you don't like them, it's no problem if they don't make it into your pantry.
Pickled fruit: For desserts, as a topping for breakfast porridge or simply as a snack between meals. Of course, the same applies here as for pickled vegetables, if you simply can't stand pickled fruit.
Miscellaneous:
Vinegar and oil - vinegar in particular has an eternal shelf life if left unopened
Sweeteners: honey, maple syrup or agave syrup. This also includes sugar and sweeteners such as erythritol. These should be stored in an airtight container if possible, as both can absorb water and then clump together.
Sometimes less is simply more: meaningful pantry management
It is, of course, extremely tempting to jump at every offer in order to replenish your stock as quickly as possible. This makes perfect sense when you're just starting to stock up. But it doesn't make sense if you have to throw the food away after a while because it starts to spoil. Of course, there is a solution to this too. The magic word (or rather the magic words) is “active stockpiling”. When you stock up, use up the food that is about to expire first. You can use the pantry app to monitor when this is the case. Then simply buy more of the product.
Practical tips for everyday life
- Plan your meals: This may sound like a lot of work and completely overwhelming at first, at least that's how it was for me. I then started to take a step-by-step approach and first planned my meals for two days in advance and then went shopping accordingly. I also got into the habit of always taking an extra packet of pasta or oatmeal, for example.
2. First in, first out: actually quite logical. Use up what you bought first. It is best to record the food in the pantry app immediately after shopping.
3. Preserving jars: I personally love preserving jars. I use them for multiple purposes. As drinking glasses, as pen storage and for storing dry food. I have also converted some of them into lanterns.
4. Creativity is required: I have to admit that I hate having to throw food away, which is why we make sure we only buy what we really like when we go shopping. If, contrary to expectations, there is food that urgently needs to be used up, we try to get creative with the recipes so that we can use up as much as possible before it has to go in the garbage can.
Finally, one more recipe
Quick lentil and tomato soup
1 cup of red lentils
1 tin of peeled tomatoes
1 onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
vegetable stock
spices: Cumin, paprika powder, salt, pepper
Optional: a dash of coconut milk for extra creaminess
Sauté the onion and garlic in a pan with a little oil. Add the lentils, tomatoes and stock. Season with spices and simmer for about 20 minutes. You can puree the soup for a smoother consistency. Done!
Download our Smantry.App now to optimise your storage even in a single household. This is your helper if you don't want to throw food away and if you want to keep an overview about everything you have in your pantry!
Smantry: Not perfect – but made with a lot of heart
Many of our users write to us that theyhave been looking for exactly this kind of app for a long time. At the same time, we also read reviews that say:“Good idea, but …”
And that’s exactly what we want to talk about openly today.
An app for everyday life – not for perfection
Smantry is designed to make everyday life easier: manage groceries, stay on top of things, waste less.
Your feedback shows us that this is already working well for many of you:
- Inputs are quick and straightforward
- The scanner reliably detects most products
- Editing and making changes is easy
- Our support is perceived as fast, friendly, and solution-oriented
We’re really glad to hear that – because that’s exactly what we’re building Smantry for.
Why some things are (still) not perfect
What you often don’t see from the outside: Smantry is developed by a very small team.
Right now we are 5 people, and none of us works full-time on the app. We do this alongside other projects, jobs, and commitments – with a lot of passion, but limited resources.
That doesn’t explain everything, but it provides context:
- Some functions take longer
- Technical issues (e.g. with premium activations) unfortunately happen sometimes
- Not every idea can be implemented right away
Frequently asked questions from your reviews
Why a subscription?
The subscription allows us to cover server costs, ongoing development, updates, and support in the first place. Without continuous revenue, Smantry would not be able to exist in the long term.
"Why isn’t the bug I reported being fixed?"
Sometimes there are several bugs at the same time and we have to prioritize the ones that affect core functions. That can mean that a different bug gets fixed first. We always try to resolve everything quickly – but unfortunately we can only do it step by step.
Why doesn’t Premium sometimes work right away?
Subscriptions are managed through the app stores. In rare cases, synchronization issues can occur. That’s annoying, but not intentional – our support team will always help you with this personally.
Where we want to go
Smantry is meant to get better – not just on paper, but in real everyday life.
This includes:
- more features from the web app
- better stability
- more flexibility with categories
- clearer communication
Your feedback plays a central role in this.
In conclusion
We’re not a corporation.
We’re a small team that believes in a good idea and is putting it into practice step by step.
If Smantry is helping you – even if everything isn’t perfect yet – we really appreciate your trust, your feedback, and of course a fair rating in the App Store 💛
Thank you for being part of this development.
Power outage in Berlin: Why preparation and prepping are more important today than ever
An unexpected power outage in Berlin has recently shown how quickly our daily life can become unbalanced. Traffic lights went out, card payments stopped working, and many households were suddenly without light, internet, or cooking facilities. Such events highlight: emergency preparedness and prepping are not about spreading panic, but rather a sensible and responsible preparation for real risks.
Power Outage – A Real Risk for Major Cities
Whether it's technical malfunctions, construction work, or extreme weather conditions: A Blackout or regional power outage can occur at any time. Especially in large cities like Berlin, the effects are immediately noticeable. Without electricity, many basic systems no longer function – from supermarkets to ATMs to communication.
The most important question is:
Am I prepared for this?
Prepping: Preparedness instead of fear
Prepping does not mean preparing for apocalyptic scenarios. Rather, it's about everyday readiness:
- remain capable of acting
- be able to provide for the family
- Reduce stress and uncertainty
- not be immediately dependent on external help
The power outage in Berlin demonstrates: Just a few hours without electricity can cause major problems.
Stockpiling food as a key to emergency preparedness
A well-thought-out food supply is the foundation of any emergency preparedness. Experts recommend having supplies for at least 7 to 14 days. These include:
- non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, canned goods
- Drinking water
- long shelf-life snacks
- Baby food or special diet
- off-grid cooking options (e.g., gas stoves)
Yet many households quickly lose track: What's available? What's missing? What's about to expire?
Digital preparation with the Smantry App
Here comes the Smantry App into play – your digital companion for prepping, preparation, and stockpiling. The app helps you to plan your supplies in a structured way and to keep track at all times.
With the Smantry App you can:
- Easily capture food supplies digitally
- Define minimum quantities for emergencies
- Monitor expiration dates and prevent food waste
- prepare specifically for power outages, blackouts, and crises
- Integrating prepping step by step into daily life
This makes emergency preparedness simple, transparent, and efficient.
Prepare now instead of improvising later:
👉 Download the Smantry App and start your digital emergency preparedness today.
Power outage in Berlin as a wake-up call
The power outage in Berlin was an eye-opener for many people. It demonstrates how quickly familiar structures can collapse – and how important it is to be prepared. Those who take precautions in time remain calm, safe, and independent.
Conclusion: Take precautions now instead of reacting later
Power outages, supply shortages, and crises are part of the reality of our time. With a well-thought-out food stockpiling and digital tools like the Smantry App you can make your emergency preparedness simple and effective.
👉 Start your preparation now
Download the Smantry App and gradually build up your personal emergency preparedness – before the next power outage occurs.
Discover the app now and be prepared.
🍂 Cozy Autumn Leftover Cooking – Comfort dishes made from what's available
When the rain taps on the window and the tea cup becomes a permanent guest, the most beautiful kitchen time of the year begins: autumn. And what could be a better match than stylish leftover cooking – dishes that are not only sustainable but also truly exciting.
Autumn leftover cooking means: use instead of waste, but with a touch of sophistication. Here are some more unusual ideas to turn leftovers into small culinary highlights.
🧀 1. Pumpkin Gnocchi from leftover roasted vegetables
Do you have some leftover roasted pumpkin or sweet potato from the day before? Perfect!
Mash the vegetables, mix them with some flour, salt, and grated Parmesan, shape them into small gnocchi, and briefly cook them in salted water until they float to the surface. Then toss them in sage butter and top with chopped walnuts.
→ Tastes like Italy, looks like fine dining – and it's all made from leftovers!
🥖 2. Rustic bread salad with grapes and goat cheese
Tear stale bread into pieces, toast in olive oil until golden brown.
Add a few grapes (wrinkled ones are especially sweet), arugula or lamb's lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and roasted hazelnuts. Mix with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, honey, and mustard.
→ A fall twist on the classic Panzanella – sweet, salty, crunchy, perfect!
🧅 3. French onion tart with leftover vegetables and puff pastry
Got some leftover puff pastry in the fridge? Make a tart out of it!
Caramelize onions in butter, add some leftover vegetables (e.g., leeks, mushrooms, or spinach). Spread on the pastry, top with a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese, and bake until golden brown.
→ Wonderfully aromatic, especially with thyme or rosemary.
🍎 4. Apple Sourdough French Toast with Vanilla Rum Butter
A piece of stale sourdough bread is soaked in a mixture of milk, egg, vanilla, and a dash of rum, fried in a pan, and served with fried apple slices and a rum butter.
→ Luxurious, yet made entirely from leftovers – perfect for a Sunday breakfast in pajamas.
🥬 5. Risotto made from leftover vegetables with lemon and herb oil
Chop the vegetable scraps finely and cook with a handful of rice into a creamy risotto.
A dash of lemon juice and some leftover herbs (parsley, basil, arugula) blended with oil make a fresh herb oil as a topping.
→ The acidity of the lemon beautifully enhances the earthy autumnal notes.
☕️ Bonus Tip: Using leftovers in a dessert glass
A few spoons of leftover compote?
Some leftover cake or cookies?
Layer it all with yogurt or mascarpone in a glass – and you have an autumnal "trifle" that looks like it came straight from a café in Copenhagen.
🍁 Conclusion
Autumnal leftover cooking is not a last resort, but a playground for creativity. When you look at ingredients with open eyes – not as leftovers, but as opportunities – small, exquisite dishes full of soul and flavor emerge.
Why we never stop refining Smantry ✨
At Smantry, we don't believe in 'finished'.
An app that is meant to accompany people in their daily lives is never complete – it grows, changes, and evolves. Just like the people who use it. 💛
We regularly pay attention to every detail:
How does a click feel? Is the path to a function clear enough? Does the idea behind a new view come across intuitively?
Sometimes it's just tiny things that make the difference – a better-placed button, a simplified overview, or a sentence that suddenly becomes clearer.
What drives us is the idea that Smantry should feel easy, familiar, and meaningful.
We want you to open the app and feel: "Ah, this is exactly how it should work."
Of course, not everything always goes perfectly. But that's exactly the point: We take the time to listen, to observe, to reconsider. Every piece of feedback, every use case, every new idea helps us to understand a little better what really matters.
Smantry is not a rigid product for us – it's a living process. A collaborative project that grows step by step.
And every update, every small improvement is a sign that we are on the right track:
A path to an app that doesn't feel like technology, but like support.
Towards a daily life that becomes simpler. Towards clarity, structure – and maybe even a bit of ease. 🌿
We're staying on it.
Because we are convinced that good things take time – and that it's worth creating them with heart.
Your
Smantry-Team