Most prefer buying food supplies in bulk at once or at a lower cost and stashing them in their kitchen pantries and cabinets.
Non-perishables supplies like canned foods, cereal bars, granola bars, crackers, fruit cups, and beef jerky are great to keep in food pantries.
These manufactured home pantry cabinets are a must-have for various reasons including providing a place to store non-perishables for a long time.
Not only can a homeowner save a significant amount of money by purchasing non-perishable food supplies in bulk, but these supplies can also prove to be useful in unforetold disasters or emergencies.
Nine Manufactured Home Pantry Cabinet Shopping Factors
Of course you want to select nothing but only the best of pantry cabinets for your food storage needs.
To do so, you need to consider a few factors, like:
- Your Precise Measurements
- Size of The Pantry Cabinet
- Material of Construction
- Framed v/s Frameless Options
- Hardware Style & Finish (Knobs, Fastening Hinges, etc.)
- Quality
- Safety
- Type
- Cost v/s Budget
1. Your Precise Measurements
What’s the amount of free space in your kitchen?
The pantry cabinet will be installed somewhere in the kitchen, so must begin by knowing the size of that spot before heading to the store to select a product of your liking.
It’s always good to hire a professional to do the measurements rather than trying to do it yourself.
Remember you will encounter many impressive options at the store, but you will not know what width or length to choose if you don’t carry the precise figures with you.
2. Size of The Pantry Cabinet
The size of the product is the second logical factor you should consider after getting the precise measurements of the installation spot.
The size factor also turns out to be the most important of all because of the diverse ranges of heights and widths used in tall cabinets. Simply put, you need to be particular with what you want.
Typically, pantry cabinets extend from the floor to the ceiling.
Most of the products you will find in the store are 84″ – 96″ tall and comes with depths between 12″ – 24″.
Interior widths are normally somewhere between 12″ and 36″.
It is important to note that a product with a height of 96″ would touch your ceiling if your home has the standard 8′ ceiling, meaning that any cabinet with a small height will leave a space between the ceiling and its topmost part.
Those pantry cabinets with depths of 12″ are great for storing and also reaching cans and boxes of food.
Pull-outs or sliding drawers are commonly used with 24″ deep pantries to make it easy for the user to locate and reach supplies in the back.
A perfect standard width is in the region of 24″.
If you want an additional storage area on pull-outs or doors, I’d recommend you go for a product with a width of 36″.
Semi-custom manufacturers supply pantry cabinets widths ranging from 9″ to 36″ with 3″ width intervals in-between.
3. Material
The material of construction can be used to determine the durability of the pantry as well as the general looks of the pantry.
You will have more choices of material material with custom and semi-custom pantries more than any other type of pantry.
Shelves
Custom pantries may have their shelves made from one material and the rest of the body made from an entirely different material.
Shelves are normally made from man-made materials like Plywood.
Synthetic materials are more economical.
Furniture board or particleboard is an engineered product based on sawdust that has been bonded together with adhesive materials such as resin.
Plywood consists of thin layers or pieces of wood veneer that have been glued together. The woodgrain on each layer is made to run at an angle of 90-degrees to the grain on the layers that surround it, creating a stable and strong building material
MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) is made from wood fibers instead of sawdust. It is very similar to particle boards but stronger.
Both custom and semi-custom pantries offer options for solid wood shelves and bodies. Most homeowners tend to go for solid wood options for durability reasons.
Pantry Doors
Pantry cabinets are often made from MDF that has been coated with an easy-to-clean and durable coating.
A huge variety of colors and finishes are normally available, sometimes giving the product an appearance of painted wood.
Door fronts, doors, and face frames are sometimes made from different species of wood (hardwood, mostly) including:
- Maple
- Birch
- Beech
- Oak
- Hickory
- Cherry
- Alder
Hickory and Maple are less prone to scratching and denting than other species of hardwood.
Cherry can also be a good option for durability and can provide a very complex grain.
Species like birch, oak, alder, and beech offer the beauty and warmth you want to see in a natural wood although there are better and more economical options available.
The appearance of the pantry cabinets as well as the finishes available for selection can vary by the specie of wood. As with any other material, custom and semi-custom pantry cabinets gives you a wide range of options to select the material of construction and finish that fits your vision.
4. Framed v/s Frameless Options
Pantry cabinets, just like other cabinets, either come with frames or without them.
The terms – framed or frameless – have turned from just referring to the style of construction of the cabinets’ doors to be used to describe the looks.
Framed Pantry
Face Frame or Framed pantry cabinets feature a face that covers all edges of the box.
The frame can extend about 2″ or slightly more over the opening of the cabinet.
The reason why you may want to go for a framed product is the added strength the frame brings on the solid construction of the unit.
Also, frames can create a mounting surface for doors. Framed pantries are more popular than frameless options.
Frameless Pantry
Frameless options have no face covering the interior of the cabinet, meaning you unrestricted access to the entire storage area.
This style of pantry construction is also referred to as Euro-style or European construction, giving you more storage area though not large enough to give it an advantage over the framed variety.
5. Hardware Style & Finish (Knobs, Fastening Hinges, etc.)
Style is one of the most commonly considered characteristics when shopping for pantry cabinets.
You will want to choose an aesthetically pleasing style and one that works perfectly with the rest of the kitchen’s décor.
Here are some of the most common styles you are more likely to find in the store:
Traditional
Traditional hardware often assumes a more classic and ornate look. It may range anywhere from rustic to farmhouse. The traditional style features more detail and comes with more embellishments.
Transitional
Combining modern and traditional cabinet hardware, transitional style permits you to mix many different elements of the styles to create a more personalized look.
Contemporary
With clean elaborate lines and often sharp, minimalistic appearance, contemporary (or modern) pantry cabinet hardware is simplistic and understated. Pantry hardware with contemporary style goes well with a stainless steel finish.
Eclectic
If you are looking for pantry hardware that is fun and more informal in looks, it would be prudent for you to go for Eclectic style.
The Eclectic style permits a great deal of personalization.
Once you have found your shape and style, you can select a finish.
When choosing a finish, bear in mind that you will want the surface of the hardware to synch with the rest of the room, so consider other pieces of furniture and appliances.
Most of the pantry hardware you will find feature these finishes:
- Copper, gold, brass, nickel, or bronze
- Distressed
- Stainless steel
- Chrome
- Brown, blue, white, or other colors
- Black
When choosing a hardware finish, think about the style that will look best on your walls.
If you choose a traditional style, for example, then brushed finishes, pewter, polished brass, or nickel will be a better compliment.
If you choose to go with contemporary décor, then finishes with high-gloss-metal shines or enameled options would be perfect.
If you wish to add extra flair, consider selecting hardware made with wood, ceramic, acrylic, glass, etc.
6. Quality
Though production pantry cabinets may not come close enough to rival the quality and workmanship of handmade pantries, they do offer the much-needed consistency.
Many of the stock pantry cabinets are produced with demanding tolerances for quality reasons.
In fact, owing to the intricate equipment used to manufacture pantries nowadays, the quality of production may be superior compared to what most smaller cabinet shops can provide.
One of the benefits of buying stock pantry cabinets is that the maker will allow you to inspect them and confirm their quality before buying.
If you shop in several stores, you will discover that some shops are more of “shlock” than stock.
Look out – those heavily discounted pantry cabinets offered via lumber yards are suspect. Beware of paper-thin laminates, photo-manipulated wood grain, mismatched or straight low-quality wood, and haphazard joinery.
Shelves
When inspecting the product for quality, the first part to look at should be the shelves.
Study how they are made, the state of the joinery, quality of inner surfaces, the rigidity of shelves, the fit of all the pieces, etc.
Exterior
Also, take time to inspect the exterior of the pantry to determine the quality of the finish as well as the state of the hardware (for example, test the knobs and handles for rigidity).
Doors
Then check the doors for ease of action and proper fit. Check the edge banding (if any) around the perimeter line for workmanship.
Also, note whether your hinges are fully adjustable and the distance the door will swing out open.
Inspect Carefully
It is just standard to pay upfront when buying stock pantry cabinets and that’s exactly why a comprehensive inspection is important.
Once you get the product home and installed, you will have little to do if you discover problems in the item or it becomes apparent that the quality is below your expectations.
7. Safety
When we talk safety, we don’t mean the unit will fall over and endanger the safety of the user.
The safety threat can be found right on the surface of the unit and depends on the kind of materials the manufacturer chose to use.
Formaldehyde
However, some finishes and materials used in the production of pantry cabinets may contain formaldehyde which can inflict harm on the family members in the long term.
If inhaled, formaldehyde can cause accelerated conditions that increase the individual’s sensitivity to other harmful chemicals, especially those that come with paints, cosmetics, and finishes.
Even tiny traces of formaldehyde can build up in the body over a long period to increase your vulnerability to lung-related cancers and risk of nose problems.
Stock pantry cabinets are mostly made from MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which is basically the waste obtained from lumber mills (shavings and sawdust) pressed together with such adhesives as the resin to form a solid material.
That resin adhesive, and finishes used to seal and stain the members, may come with formaldehyde.
PrimeBoard
You don’t need to risk your health. To avoid the adverse health effects and environmental impacts of formaldehyde, go for a pantry made of non-toxic materials like Masonite’s PrimeBoard or, better yet, solid wood.
Unlike MDF which almost always features a toxic additive, PrimeBoard is mainly made from wheat straws and non-formaldehyde resin.
And if you choose to go with solid wood, it would be great to buy a pantry with environmentally sustainable materials complementing it.
Green Cabinets
Non-toxic “green” pantry cabinets are rare, so you will have to shop around a little longer to find the right product.
They are also expensive to acquire because many manufacturers don’t find it economical to ditch the popular non-green materials for green options.
If you want to keep your budget with affordable margins, try searching for second-hand solid-wood pantry cabinets at your local salvage-supply stores.
However, you might be compelled to make some changes or upgrades so that the unit can come close to suiting your expectations.
8. Type
Kitchen pantry cabinets are very much like regular wall and base cabinets when it comes to types – there are always 3 types of construction:
- the stock type
- semi-custom variety
- custom type.
Stock
The stock type is mass-produced in large quantities.
Pantries of this type often come pre-assembled, ready for installation in a corner, or wherever you may want to put them.
Some may still require minimal assembly before they are fully functional.
Because they are mass-produced, stock pantry cabinets tend to be cheaper compared to the custom and semi-custom type.
Custom
Custom pantries are made to match your exact style and size specifications in the color, material, and even the finish on the surface.
They often include unique features only suggested by the user, such features as specialized racks for smaller packets of foods or beverage compartments.
They may also boast furniture-like touches such as leaded-glass doors or bun feet.
The attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into this type of pantry means a longer production period and the use of high-end materials.
For that reason, the price of custom pantries is normally higher than that of all other types.
Semi-Custom
Semi-custom pantries are very much like stock cabinets but with a few extra details that can help you personalize the storage capabilities and style.
9. Cost v/s Budget
Before buying the pantry cabinet that looks pleasing and passes your quality test, consider your intentions behind the purchase as well as the money you are willing to spend on the unit.
If the home will soon be on sale or converted into a rental unit, you might skimp the whole affair because, historically, kitchen remodeling does not bring a considerable return on investment.
Conversely, when you are establishing a dream kitchen that you plan to use for many coming years, you may want to invest in a high-end or mid-end cabinet that suits your needs. Still, it needs to be within your budget.
The cheapest pantry cabinets you will find in the store costs between $100 and $150. One of the brands to check out for affordable products is OS Home and Office Furniture.
An average mid-sized pantry costs between $200 and $250.
The Costliest options fall somewhere between mid- and high-end and can cost between $600 and $700. One of the brands to check for this class of pantries is CROSLEY FURNITURE.
Related: How Can You Protect Countertops and Cabinets from Dishwasher Steam?
Summary
The pantry is an important part of any kitchen – you want your food to be stored in a quality and safe storage area.
As such, you will want to settle on nothing but the best pantry you could ever lay your hands on.
To do so, you need to bear in mind a few factors, including
- the precise measurements of the area
- size of the unit
- material of construction
- whether it is framed or frameless
- hardware style & finish (knobs, fastening hinges, etc.)
- quality
- safety
- type
- and the cost of the unit relative to your budget.
