Food is the one category that spoils on its own schedule. A pantry full of half-open bags is also the most likely source of ants and spills on the way. The goal is to arrive with a short list of well-sealed staples, not a crate of everything.
Eat down the freezer and fridge
Two weeks out, plan meals around what is in the freezer and the refrigerator. FoodSafety.gov publishes a chart showing how long common foods stay safe in the refrigerator and the freezer, which helps you decide what to eat first.
Anything frozen or chilled at the start of a long move is a risk, and a warm truck is not a refrigerator. Plan to carry a small cooler with you for essential items.
Sort the pantry by type
Pull everything out and sort into four piles: unopened and shelf-stable, opened, expired and donate. Unopened cans and boxes are good candidates for a food bank, and local pantries often accept them.
Throw away expired foods and anything with a broken seal. Ready.gov explains safe handling for stored food, including checking cans for dents and bulges.
Pack what is moving
Use small cartons for cans and jars, since they are heavy. Place heavy cans on the bottom, and tape the box well. Put dry goods such as flour, rice and pasta in zip bags or sealed jars, so a tear in the bag will not make a mess.
Wrap glass jars and bottles in paper. Spices go together in a small box, upright, with the lids taped.
- Stand bottles upright with their lids taped.
- Keep opened bags of flour and sugar in sealed containers.
- Label the carton pantry and the heaviest contents.
What movers cannot carry
Perishable food, open containers and anything that could spoil, spill or attract pests is often left off the truck. Aerosol cooking spray and cooking fuel may also be on the list; check what movers will not move.
Ask your estimator at the in-home estimate about food, plants and anything else that falls on the borderline.
The first-day groceries
Pack a small box of items for the first day, such as coffee, tea, snacks, salt and pepper, and a few staples. It rides in your car. The kitchen is covered in how to pack a kitchen, and the first-night box is a good companion.