If your kitchen is stocked with gochujang, doenjang, dashima, and a dozen other staples of Korean cooking, you know this already:
Most pantry labels weren’t made for your pantry.
At Neatly Rooted, we design label kits that reflect real kitchens — not just generic spice racks. And if you're looking to organize a Korean pantry that feels both tidy and true to you, you're in the right place.
What Goes Into a Korean Pantry?
A modern Korean pantry is full of flavorful essentials that span dried goods, fermented pastes, seaweeds, and seasonings. Here’s a foundational list you’ll want to group and label:
Fermented & Paste Ingredients
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Gochujang (고추장): Red chili paste
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Doenjang (된장): Fermented soybean paste
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Ssamjang (쌈장): Dipping sauce for wraps
Dried Staples
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Dashima (다시마): Dried kelp for broth
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Myulchi (멸치): Dried anchovies
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Glass noodles (당면): For japchae
Grains & Flours
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Short-grain rice (찹쌀 or 백미)
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Sweet rice flour (찹쌀가루)
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Mung bean starch (녹두가루)
Sauces & Condiments
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Soy sauce (간장)
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Sesame oil (참기름)
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Vinegar (식초)
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Fish sauce (액젓)
Snacks & Add-ons
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Seaweed (gim) (김)
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Pickled radish (단무지)
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Kimchi (김치, usually in the fridge)
Tips for Organizing a Korean Pantry
1. Use Clear Containers with Uniform Sizes
This maximizes visual order, especially with dry goods.
Choose airtight jars for dried anchovies, flours, and noodles.
2. Group by Category or Use
Keep fermented pastes in one section.
Place cooking essentials near the stove.
Store broth ingredients like dashima and anchovies together.
3. Label in Korean and English
This helps bilingual households and preserves cultural naming.
Example: 고추장 / Gochujang
4. Keep a Refill Bin
Store overflow items (bulk dashima, extra soy sauce) in a separate basket or bin to prevent clutter in your day-to-day pantry zone.
Why Labels Matter in a Cultural Pantry
Most store-bought label sets say “sugar,” “salt,” and “rice.”
But when you cook with tradition, you need something more nuanced — something that recognizes the beauty in ssamjang, not just “dipping sauce.”
That’s why we created the Korean Pantry Label Kit at Neatly Rooted.
It includes over 50 beautifully designed labels — in English, Korean, or both — to help you organize without compromise.
Ready to Tidy Up?
Shop the Korean Pantry Label Kit
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