How to Organize the Kitchen

Over the past year, we have gone from having busy lifestyles, eating out, meeting up with friends and family, going to kids after school activities to spending more time at home.

And one place where people always seem to congregate is the kitchen; it’s the center of the home. The kitchen is where we tend to sit and chat, drink coffee, eat meals, pay bills, and help the kids with homework.

Before all this staying home, there were so many people that never took the time to really organize their kitchens. No time, no need, it flowed fine but now when more meals are actually eaten in the home, maybe you have noticed it’s a bit disorganized?

Using Your Kitchen Space Efficiently

Everything in the kitchen should be placed where it’s the most convenient. Your kitchen set-up doesn’t have to stay the same because it’s always been that way, or because that’s how your mother had her kitchen.

Pots and Pans and Appliances

For the person that cooks the most, depending on your dominant hand, place the most used cookware in a cabinet to the left or right of the stove. Put the cookware that is used most closet to the stove.

Only keep the most used appliances out on the counter to keep it from looking too cluttered and unorganized. For instance, if you make a smoothie everyday and toast for the kids, it’s convenient to have the blender and toaster out on the counter.

If you have other things like a rice cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker etc., these can be kept in a cabinet. I have actually found the air fryer has gotten a lot more use so it now has a place of honor on the counter as well.

Another appliance I’m sure is used daily is the coffee pot, we keep this on the counter near the cups. I also use decorative containers to keep coffee and tea in and keep those on the counter next to the coffee maker.

Cooking Utensils, Cooking Spices and Oils

Just like placement of pots and pans, depending on your dominant hand, place the most used cooking utensils in a drawer to the left or right of the stove. If there is no drawer, use a utensil holder. Place all other cooking utensils in another drawer. If you only have one drawer near the stove, keep the most used items out on the counter.

Same thing applies to spices and cooking oils. Keep these where they are easily accessible on the same side of the stove as your dominant hand.

You may find when making a meal, you’re not walking all over the kitchen to get what you need.

Dishes, Drinking Glasses and Silverware

We keep all our dishes, glasses and silverware close together. The dishes are in a cabinet right above the drawer with the silverware. We also keep glasses next to the dishes but some may prefer to have glasses close to the refrigerator. It’s up to you and what flows the best.

Storage Containers and Pantry Items

I have one small cabinet space that is dedicated to storage containers and I keep lids on all of them so I don’t have to dig around looking for the right lid. I keep them in order of size. Keeping the larger ones together, then medium sized ones and then for the smallest containers, I keep those in a plastic container as they can get easily knocked over.

In the pantry, I find it easiest to keep like items together. Cereals, pasta, canned foods, etc. I again use plastic containers for things like rice and pastas. If you have an extra drawer for storage bags like lunch baggies and the like, I do that. If not, keep those in the pantry as well.

If you don’t have a good place for cookbooks, they can tuck neatly away in the pantry also.

Refrigerator and Freezer

Most refrigerators nowadays have quite a few storage shelves on the doors. This space is great for condiments, peanut butter and jelly, refrigerated cooking items like garlic and cooking sauces and salad dressings. You might even want to keep the coffee creamer and any liquid vitamins in these spaces as well.

Drinks like milk and juices can go on the top shelf. Eggs, yogurt and other food stuff can go on a middle shelf and I keep leftovers on the bottom shelf. Lunch meat, hot dogs and cheeses can go in a drawer. Vegetables and fruit can go in the crisper drawers.

Because items that typically go in the freezer, come in different sized boxes and bags, it may be a little harder to organize but I put like items together as best I can. Breakfast foods, frozen lunches, dinners and desserts I keep as close together as I can.

If we freeze leftovers, I try and keep these stacked together as well. A good tip to remember is – don’t over stuff the freezer, you don’t want to forget about items that in the end, end up freezer burned and unusable.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies, trash bags, dish washing liquid, hand soaps, sponges and other things can be left under the sink. If you have small children in the house, put a safety lock on the door so they can’t get in.

More Kitchen Storage Ideas

Here are some more great tips to help you get your kitchen organized.

• Use kitchen magnets if necessary to help you to keep your family on track, your grocery list, and to help you to keep your menu for the week organized.
• Add more shelving, if possible, to the pantry for extra storage space. If you don’t have enough cabinets for pots and pans or things like the air fryer, the pantry is a good place for these.
• Door hangers/shelves are additionally helpful. You can mount to your pantry door for grocery bags, lunch baggies, paper plates and even hang the apron (if you use one). Use them to help you organize any type of item that you need some extra help with.
• If you don’t have cabinet space for spices, use a hanging spice rack to store them.

By taking some time now to organize the kitchen you will quickly see the benefits of it. You should find that it’s easier to clean up, easier to find things and creates a stress free environment.