Keeping a clean kitchen may seem like an impossible feat, especially when you have limited space. Fortunately, there are many kitchen organization tips and tricks you can use to keep clutter at bay and cooking essentials within reach. Whether the kitchen is the heart of your home or a space you spend very little time in, we hope that this list of tips and tricks will help you find smart and sneaky ways to turn your kitchen into a spotless space ready for culinary genius.
Kitchen Organization Tips and Tricks
1. Apples and oranges are best stored in baskets.
Whenever you return home from a trip to the grocery store with an armful of fresh fruit, you will appreciate having spare storage space by trying this vertical trick. Tiered wire hanging baskets offer a stylish solution for this storage problem, and you can use yours to keep apples, bananas, and oranges as well as garlic bulbs, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes from quickly cluttering the kitchen countertop. Fresh fruits and vegetables last longer when stored in a cool, dry place with plenty of ventilation, so a tiered wire hanging basket actually does two jobs at once.
2. Designate a drawer for all your “junk.”
Everyone has odds and ends that don’t necessarily have a home, but you can keep your collection of junk from getting out of control by designating a specific place for them all. You might want to buy or build a divider for your junk drawer, so you can group like items together and make them easier to spot when you’re in the middle of a recipe.
3. Find a functional fusion between kitchen and office.
It may come as no surprise that some of the office supplies you use for work can also be converted into clever kitchen storage solutions. Empty file folders are ideal for arranging aluminum foil, parchment paper, and other items. Magazine holders are perfect for storing cookbooks and cutting boards upright. Binder clips can be used to keep cereal, chips, and snacks securely closed. In a pinch, you can even use your mouse pad as a makeshift trivet for pots and kettles.
4. Keep odds and ends out of sight in the kitchen island.
If you have a spacious kitchen with room to spare, consider creating one central workspace that doubles as an ingenious storage solution. Depending on the design of your kitchen island, you already may have or be able to find extra storage room for recipe cards, holiday accessories, and even your wine collection.
5. Make lists and leave messages on a chalkboard.
Tired of forgetting to add a few staples to the grocery list? You will never forget an ingredient again by adding a black chalkboard to your kitchen. A chalkboard can add a personal touch to any kind of kitchen, but it also provides ample space for jotting down ideas, listing important dates, and writing notes to the family. You can find peel-and-stick chalkboard wall decals that will fit your cabinet doors or make a DIY chalkboard to decorate your kitchen counters.
6. Store pots and pans sideways to save on space.
Pots and pans have proven to be a challenge for all types of home cooks because they can quickly become messy and noisy without a plan of attack. Instead of nesting your ceramic pots and pans, stack them so you can remove one without having to remove them all. The Xtrema skillet and lid holder is made of beechwood and designed to store Xtrema pans and skillets in an orderly fashion. You can even turn a file organizer on its end and secure it to the cabinet wall using cable clips to prevent your cookware from toppling while making space for colanders, cooling racks, and other tools. Tidying on a tight budget? Put your dish rack to work by using it to organize lids.
7. Roll out storage drawers for pot lids and covers.
Don’t waste any more time rummaging through your kitchen cabinets. Make everything easy to see and easily accessible by installing a pull-out shelf in one of your kitchen cabinets. You can buy rolling shelves or build your own using drawer slides and particle board or plywood.
8. Tape most-used recipes on the insides of your cupboard doors.
Sometimes we all crave the comforts of home. If you waste too much time digging through drawers and flipping through the pages of cookbooks trying to find old family recipes, we have a solution for you. Tape your most frequently used recipes inside each of the cupboard doors in your kitchen, so you can find them easily and whip up a delicious dish in no time at all. You can also frame your family recipe cards and use them to decorate with a touch of family history.
9. Use drawer dividers to accommodate utensils.
Unlike a standard cutlery tray, you can use drawer dividers to keep all types of utensils neat and tidy. We recommend looking for a tray that has adjustable inserts, so your drawers can adapt as your utensil collection evolves over time. Finally, your garlic press, can openers, wine stoppers, and whisks will all have a place to stay between uses.
10. Utilize your under-sink space for filing manuals.
Are the manuals or warranties for your appliances, kitchen equipment, and tools taking up too much space in the office or your junk drawer? Double-down on wasted space by using it to file all those manuals and warranties you usually never need. Slip each manual, warranty, and any other important piece of paperwork into a locking plastic bag. Install a small hook or two in the cabinet under your sink and hang the bags for later reference.
With these kitchen organization tips and tricks in mind, you can make and maintain the kitchen of your dreams. If you have any questions about this article or would like to learn more about our selection of ceramic cookware and cooking utensils, please contact Xtrema Pure Ceramic Cookware today.
