Is it difficult for you to organize your small kitchen? Staying organized in a tiny kitchen may be difficult when storage space is limited. Without the conveniences of a walk-in pantry or a floor-to-ceiling storage system, kitchen clutter can rapidly accumulate and as anybody who has unloaded a bag of groceries in a kitchen with little counter space will attest, keeping order in a tiny area is tough to say the least. Fortunately, you will be able to organize your small kitchen after reading this informative article. Keep reading this article to know how to organize a small kitchen.
How to Organize a Small Kitchen
Inexpensive Tools Essential in the Kitchen
A well-stocked kitchen does not have to cost a lot of money. My most often used tools are really inexpensive:
Cast Iron Skillet. It took me a long time to comprehend the excitement around a cast iron skillet, but I now use it more than any other pan I own. They’re pretty cheap. This $15 version (or a little bigger version) can be used in both the oven and the stove. I used to be terrified by the idea that you needed to “season” cast iron cookware, but all that means is that it must be well dried and brushed with oil after each use (any type will work).
Nonstick Pan. While you can cook practically anything in a cast iron skillet, I like to use my nonstick pans for eggs and fish. I just feel that working with these delicate items is simpler on a nonstick surface. One nice nonstick pan is all you need, and I don’t think a more expensive one works any better than a less costly one.
Mason Jars. When people ask me what my favorite culinary gadget is, I always say mason jars. They’re practically unbreakable, dishwasher and microwave safe, and quite affordable. I pack leftovers in these and send them home. I keep spices in them and use them to create sauces and vinaigrettes. You’ll find a plethora of mason jars in my fridge at any given moment.
Silicon Spatulas. I use two types of silicone spatulas: normal and flexible. These can withstand intense heat and may be used to stir and sauté food items.
A decent knife. Forget about the knife block. Purchase a high-quality knife for each adult cook in your home. It just takes 5 seconds to wipe it off and re-use it, which is something I do all day with my beloved global knife. My local shop fixes it in a couple of hours for $4 for each knife. A sharp knife is safer to use and makes cooking more enjoyable.
Dutch Oven. Advertisements selling these claim that they will be passed down from generation to generation. I’m convinced. It’s ideal for preparing soups, braising meats, cooking rice, preparing stir-fry in the absence of a wok.
Instant Read Thermometer. Never again overcook or undercook meat. Many inexpensive “instant read” thermometers are unreliable and do not provide a reading quickly enough if your palm is hovering over a hot grill or pan. Spend a little more; you won’t be sorry. This gadget is fantastic.
Step 1: Prioritize Most Used Kitchen Tools
Prioritizing the kitchen tools you use the most is the most crucial step in arranging a tiny kitchen. I begin by emptying all cupboards and drawers and being brutally honest with myself about what I truly require.
Everything that hasn’t been utilized in the last week or two should be saved. I physically transfer those less-used objects down to the basement, where they are easily accessible but not in my primary workplace. I do this with serving plates, specialty baking dishes, and pretty much anything else that we don’t use on a daily basis. Consider the containers you use to keep leftovers. They appear to grow and may lurk in cupboards for a long time if they don’t have lids that fit on them.
Scaling down pots and pans is very crucial and difficult. Because these take up so much room, I make sure that each pot or pan I keep serves a specific purpose. If I have duplicates, I make sure they are of different sizes so that they may snuggle within one another.
We tend to leave pots and pans in our primary workplace because they are big and heavy to transport, but this is precisely why we should get rid of the ones that are rarely used. Nothing is more inconvenient than having to search through heavy pots and lids when all you want to do is fry an egg.
I’ll occasionally remember that something I’ve brought out is actually something I need quick access to, and I’ll put it back in its proper place in the kitchen. However, if the room is limited, most of the less-frequently used kitchen stuff are better placed outside the kitchen.
Step 2: Store the Items in a Place Where They Will be Used
Assign the primary purpose to each counter and put all of the tools you’ll need for that right where you can get them. I used to walk across the kitchen to retrieve a marker to identify my prep containers until I discovered I could just place the marker beneath the counter where I make meals. All of my spoons, spatulas, and other similarly shaped culinary implements are kept in a carafe right next to the stove. It would probably be easier to reach if it were on the countertop, but I try to keep my surfaces as clear as possible, so it’s up on a shelf.
The counter displayed below is the one I use the most. It’s where I prepare meals, store leftovers, and pack lunches for my kids. All of the drawers under it help with such chores.
Step 3: Invest in Useful Storage
Containers meant to organize drawers and cabinets have a place in compact kitchens, but it’s vital to provide plenty of area for adjustments as you go. Both the knife storage and the little container for all of my measuring cups and spoons (seen below) have been fantastic. I appreciate having a place to store all of those measuring spoons (I have three sets because I frequently test many foods at once), but I also enjoy that we just toss everything in there after unloading the dishwasher.
The greatest storage item for the majority of my other drawers is simply textured drawer liners. These prevent objects from sliding around in the drawers while being completely flexible. I prefer this version since it does not attach to the drawer and is held in place by the objects on top of it. When they become filthy, I just take them out, wipe them down with a warm cloth, and hang them to dry.
Step 4: Be Flexible
The key to building functional kitchen areas is flexibility. It’s all too easy to move into a new kitchen, put things away, and never look back. Based on our stage of life, I am always inspecting our kitchen cabinets. It irritates many, but when kitchen space is limited, the most handy drawers must be for the most necessary items.
This evolves throughout time. For a long time, one of our kitchen’s enormous drawers housed sippy cups and bottles. It is now used for containers for packing children’s lunches.
Tips to Organize a Small Kitchen
Use any Available Wall Space
You can almost always conjure extra pantry storage space out of thin air, no matter how small your small kitchen is in real square footage. Just look to your walls. Blank walls may be transformed into a helpful area by mounting an extra shelf (even a narrow shelf may contain specialty ingredients or glasses), installing a rail for hanging pots, or attaching a modular pegboard for storing equipment. Even if you don’t utilize the newly formed storage space on your wall as a pantry, it can be used to free up a cabinet or two, which can then be used to store supplies.
Fix a Magnetic Spice Rack to Your Refrigerator
The outside of your refrigerator may store much more than souvenir magnets and lovely images of your nephews. A few magnetic spice tins can transform the side of your fridge into a spice cabinet. If you don’t want to decant your spices, acquire a magnetic spice rack and use it to arrange the spice jars you already have.
Add Baskets to Cabinet Shelf
When bags and boxes are just thrown onto shelves (yes, even pantry shelves! ), they may rapidly become a confused mess. However, if you add a few baskets to your kitchen shelves or cupboards, they will help you keep your items neat and tidy. You may also use the baskets to organize similar ingredients (cookie baking supplies in one basket, ingredients for Indian cooking in another). Then, simply pull out any basket you choose, and everything will be within arm’s reach.
Final Thoughts
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