Articles
& Advice:
Kitchen Organizing
Merriam-Webster defines the word "organize" as follows: To form into a coherent unity or functioning whole; to arrange by systematic planning and united effort.
When you organize any room, you want to consider the tasks that you will perform within it. Oftentimes, there will be 2-5 different things that you do or wish to do in each room. Within the kitchen you will have: Prep, Cook, Cleanup and Storage.
There will also be subsections of each area or zone. Within the cook area you might have baking, stove top cooking, microwave and a coffee station.
Your kitchen layout might have the stove on the opposite side of the island from the oven. If so, consider where the necessary tools will be stored to be conveniently on hand.
Assess the storage space available in and surrounding each area. The ideal kitchen will have enough cabinets and counter space to house the tools required for each task.
Position the spices, oils, pots, pans, and other cooking accessories like spatulas hotpads within the Cook Zone.
Spices and oils can be stored on LazySusans to optimize your corner cabinets if they are within easy reach of the stove. There are two level units built specifically for spice bottles. Another spice and oils option is to use small stepped shelves, sized specifically for small spice and condiment bottles.
Lids for pots and pans are most easily accessed when they have a dedicated drawer or a mounted wall rack to contain the collection. If you do not have a drawer within that zone, you can create a mock drawer with a large deep plastic bin that can slide in and out of a bottom cabinet.
I currently use two of these for my Tupperware, one for containers and the other for lids. Keeping lids separate from bins makes storage a snap. I look first for the size bin I need and then pull out the second bin to find the lid. Plastic storage bins either has to be stored with the lid affixed to each piece, which takes up a great deal of space, or with the lids in a separate zone from the bottoms.
The Prep Zone, ideally located by the sink, should contain cutting boards, knives, vegetable scrubbers/ peelers, spatulas, spoons and mixing bowls. If counter space is an issue in this zone, donate your knife block and install a large magnet strip on the backboard above the cutting board.
The Cleanup Zone is fairly self-explanatory. It encompasses the sink and dishwasher as well as the garbage container. The Prep and Clean Zones are generally adjacent to each other and share the use of the sink and garbage.
If you have the option, your main Prep Zone should be on the side of the sink closest to your stove and oven with your Clean Zone on the side of the sink area that is directly above the dishwasher and away from the Cook Zone.
Dishes should be housed above the Clean Zone. Serving platters and bowls can be housed above the Prep Zone.
If possible, also create a breakfast area in your kitchen that contains the toaster, coffee/tea pots and mugs, honey, jams, fruit basket and assorted cereals.
The ultimate pantry will be located by or near the kitchen entrance. Your pantry can also be organized into different zones. Separate snacks, meals, beverages, condiments, paper goods, etc into their own spaces.
Stacked/tiered shelves work well for storing canned goods and extra condiments. Plastic or rubber covered wire shelves can now be found in almost every superstore.
When purchasing storage containers always buy square or rectangular shapes. They typically hold more volume and take up less space than their round counterparts. They stack neatly and store flush against each other.
Store extra tea bags, spice mixes, and baking packets in their own baskets or boxes without lids. Your packets will be neatly contained and easily accessed.
Consider the vertical space available between each shelf, in every cabinet. Typically, there is a major amount of unused space within each cabinet. Riser racks will double your square footage. Top shelves and coffee cup shelves usually benefit greatly with these riser shelves.
If you are lucky enough to have deep drawers in your kitchen, you have a marvelous space to store your plastic containers. Your containers will stay neat in a deep drawer and won’t fall out when you try to access them. Consider it serendipitous if this drawer also happens to be located in your Prep Zone!
If you have a second deep drawer, consider placing your pots, pans and lids in this one. If you are using a hanging rack for your cookware, store your lids in a drawer by the stove.
You have a clean slate, so enjoy your new creative ideas and have fun getting settled.
Kathi is a Professional Organizer, image Consultant based in San Diego
California.
Please
submit your questions to:
advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
San Diego Professional Organizer
