The kitchen is one of the busiest areas in any home. It is why it stands to reason that if your kitchen is more organized and easier to use, your life would feel more natural.
Here are ten simple steps to organize your kitchen, and make your family life flow more smoothly when it comes to meal preparation.
Clean Out the Refrigerator
Make it a point, at least once a month, to check and clean the inside of your refrigerator. Check what items need to go to the trash or the compost pit, and immediately dispose of it. That way, your fridge will now house only current food items and it will be less cluttered.
Reorganize your Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
Get everything out of each kitchen cabinet and drawer, and go through it. Discard or donate items not commonly used, duplicate and broken items or stuff you forgot you had. You can also take this opportunity to check your canned, packaged, and preserved foodstuffs. Check their expiration dates and discard any item that is way past its “Best Before” date. This is one of the most important tips from thinkmaids.com. Set up separate areas for each group. Adequate storage space a must in any kitchen, so the goal is only to have things you love and use.
Organize the Contents of your Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
Now that you have items grouped and laid out, it is time to determine where each item will go. Keep all cooking and baking pieces close to where you prepare food. Make a coffee or tea station. You can also add some shelving units to stack goods. Those are readily available in many stores. Additionally, group and place sugar, mugs, and filters, and place it near the water source, if possible. Doing it this way, you avoid going back and forth across your kitchen getting the stuff to make your morning beverage.
Group and Sort Similar Items Together
Next, you should consider an adequate way to group your kitchen stuff. Group everything according to their use and need. Moreover, group all the dishes you eat from, glassware, holiday or other seasonal items that only get used once or twice a year. Also, sort those special entertaining or serving pieces used occasionally. Place utensils in the drawer nearest to the prep area. Additionally, it is best to place them near the sink or refrigerator.
Use Clear Containers to Store Items
Use sleek space-saving containers to streamline the inside of your cabinets. Group items like packets of sauce mixes, hot cereal packs, and hot cocoa envelopes. Then, put them into small containers to prevent these stuff from scattering all over the cabinet. Use clear plastic bins to stock food that is in tiny packages such as gelatin or pudding mix.
Use Drawer Dividers
Using drawer dividers is an excellent idea especially in drawers where you store cooking utensils and other miscellaneous stuff. Drawer dividers will allow you to designate a small spot for each item, and you will be able to locate things when you require them.
Store Containers and Lids Together
Throw away containers without lids. Store the remaining containers with the covers on them. Alternatively, place their respective caps and lids in a different larger receptacle, so they all stay together. Do the same thing with the covers for your pans and pots. A sizeable transparent box will keep these items neatly together and on their sides. Another option is to put them on their sides in the cabinet using a wire rack designed for stacking lids.
Make use of Vertical Space
Doing the following will free up considerable cabinet space:
- Place hooks underneath your kitchen cabinets to keep mugs above the countertop.
- Hang a stemware rack in the very same spot for wine glasses. You could also attach adhesive hooks on the inside of cabinet doors to hold vital tools such as measuring cups, oven mitts and the like.
Alternatively, try utilizing wall space or ceiling racks to fasten pots and pans. You can also place cabinet door mounted kitchen wrap to put items like your Aluminum Foil, Wax Paper, Cling wrap, and the like. Remember, any space you can use to attach something will free up flat space in your kitchen cabinet.
Use Lazy Susans
Utilize rotating trays to keep stuff like oils, bottles of vinegar, other cooking ingredients, and spices. You can also use a few compact Lazy Susans in your refrigerator — one for beverages, so nothing ever lurks in the back to expires or spoils, and another for leftovers or small jars of pickles, preserves, and other little foodstuffs.
Your style of working in the kitchen will determine where and how you store and use the items in your kitchen. However, the goal is to get that your kitchen and its many contents in order to serve your needs as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. If in case you are unsure of how to proceed, do not worry! There are specialists that can assist you. If you put the time and enthusiasm into organizing and decluttering your kitchen, it will pay off in happiness for years to come.
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