How to Store Everything in the Kitchen

With the amount of kitchen gadgets and appliances there are, it can be difficult trying to figure out how to keep it all organized. Should you put your serving spoons in a jar on the counter? How do you tuck away your mixer and your bread maker? Check out this soup-to-nuts guide on how to store everything in your kitchen to make your everyday life just a little bit easier.

Appliances

• Like most items, deciding how to store kitchen appliances is a decision made based on their size and shape, but also how often you use them. Our advice:
  • Store appliances you use daily on the counter
  • Store appliances you use weekly in bottom cabinets
  • Store appliances you rarely use in a storage space, like a pantry.

Baking Sheets

•  There are two options for storing baking sheets.
  1. If you have enough height in your lower kitchen cabinets, store them upright. This means storing them on their side to maximize space in your cabinet or pantry. A few options:​
     1. Tray Divider​
     2. Maple Rack
  2. You can also store them on top of each other in the pantry, which will make them harder to retrieve, but easier to put away and keep out of sight.

Canned Goods

• It’s not essential to do anything beyond simply stacking your canned goods, but arranging them properly can really make your pantry and fridge look well organized. This also saves a tiny bit of space.
  • Beverage can dispenser
  • Canned good dispenser

Casserole Dishes

• The best way to store these heavy items is in the lower kitchen cabinets. You can either nest them together with the pot lids removed, or you can store them with the lids on lined up next to each other.The third option is to use roll-out storage. This makes it easier to grab an individual dish because you can visualize the entire cabinet drawer.
  • Bamboo Roll-Out Drawer
  • Wide Pull-Out Cabinet

Cookbooks

• Sort your cookbooks into two piles: frequently used and rarely used. Store the frequently used cookbooks on a kitchen shelf or in a cabinet so you can easily retrieve them. The others can go on a bookcase outside of the kitchen. Just make sure you know where they are, meaning, keep cookbooks together so you’re not hunting and pecking for them when it’s time to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Cooking Tools and Utensils

• StocksySpatulas, tongs, slotted spoons—these should be stored very close to the stove in an upright, topless container. Here are some options:Tip: Consider getting a dishwasher-safe container so you can throw it in the dishwasher once a week.
  • Divided Utensil Holder
  • Bamboo Utensil Holder

Coupons

• Two things to look for in a coupon organizer: one, make sure it’s functional enough to use in the kitchen (i.e. when you’re clipping coupons, it’s easy to slip the coupons into and has a pockets for built-in organization). And two, it’s light enough to travel with, as you’ll be using coupons outside of your home.

Cutting Boards

• Store cutting boards vertically. I’ve seen people use a bakeware holder, a file folder rack, and a dish rack, but the best and simplest method is to just prop it against the cabinet wall for easy retrieval.

Food Storage Containers (See Also: Tupperware)

• There are so many options for storing food, and this is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are the products we recommend because they are square, therefore maximizing space, and the right size.
  • Tellfresh Oblong Food Storage Containers
  • Large Food Keepers

Glasses

• These may be the easiest thing to store in the kitchen. Simply line them up on a shelf. If you have open shelving, it looks best if they match or are intentionally mismatched. You can also fit more glasses into a smaller space by installing an extra shelf

Knives

• The first thing you should do before storing knives is to wipe them completely dry. If you start putting them away while wet, the water can damage the material.How to store knives:
  • In a drawer, try a knife dock
  • In a knife block on the counter
  • On the wall, try a magnetic knife strip that is hung on the wall closest to your prep area

Measuring Cups

• Measuring cups are usually designed to nest together. If that’s the case with yours, then place them in a drawer directly under where you do your prep work. Some people like to hang them on the wall, which works just fine, too. If hanging, it’s best to place them above the counter you use to do your prep work.

Mixing Bowls

• The best way to store mixing bowls is to place them together, nested, in the cabinet closest to where you do your prep work.

Mugs

• There is a surprisingly wide array of options for storing mugs. You could line them up or stack them in a cabinet near your coffee maker/teapot. You could also use one of the following:
  • Adhesive hooks under the cabinet
  • Undershelf basket

Napkins

• Store everyday napkins directly on your kitchen table in a tray or napkin holder. You can get a little creative here by making your napkin holder part of your kitchen decor. Formal napkins should be stored in a drawer.

Pans

• You can stack pans, or you can store them vertically. Here are some tools:
  • Bakeware holder
  • Pan dividersYou could also hang the pans you use most along the wall on hooks right near your stove.

Placemats

• Store placemats either folded in a drawer, or in the center of the kitchen table when not in use.

Plates and Dishes

• Plates and dishes may seem like a no-brainer—cabinets are built to hold them—but, you can squeeze in more room. By using cabinet shelves, you can double the stacking space in each cabinet. 

Pot Lids

• you store pot lids separately from their counterparts, here are some options for organizing and storing lids:
  • Lid organizer
  • Pull-out lid organizer

Pots

• You can always store pots on a pot rack. If you don’t want to display them on a rack, one of the best options is to store them in a low cabinet in your deepest drawer.
  • A pull-out cabinet organizer may make it easier to reach your pots

Recipes

• It’s easy to throw recipe cards haphazardly into a box, which makes them become quickly disorganized. Using a recipe box or book can help prevent this. You can also read our guide on the best way to organize your recipes.

Roasting Pans

• You can either store your roasting pans in lower kitchen cabinets​ or, if you are tight on space, in a storage space in your home. If you choose to store them in a cabinet, store them upright, similar to how we recommended storing baking sheets. Also be sure to remove the grid inside and store that separately.

Silverware

• You must have a drawer organizer for your silverware. It just doesn’t make sense to throw things into a drawer without a divider. Another option, which can be very chic, is to store silverware in a decorative cup.

Wine Glasses and Stemware

• We like to store wine glasses and stemware on trays atop a bar cart to use them as decor. Here are some other ways to store your wine glasses and stemware:
  -In a cabinet
  -Under the cabinet: Chrome stemware holder or Oak under cabinet holder
  -In storage: Glass storage kit