Saveur Tips and Tricks from Chefs for Your Kitchen

From: Saveur - Saturday Jun 23, 2018 12:05 pm

Saveur

06/23/2018

How to Get Organized in Your Kitchen Right Now

Summer is here, but that doesn't mean we're not still thinking about all the spring cleaning we could have done last month. It's a huge undertaking, but getting your kitchen organized is a great way to make your favorite meals faster and keep ingredients fresh longer (not to mention the accompanying blissful, everything-is-so-organized mindset).

With the help of Calphalon, we came up with a couple of ways to get your kitchen organized. Here are just a few of our best tips, both from chefs we know and respect and from years of work in our very own test kitchen

Invest in sleeves of quart- and pint-sized containers (often called “deli-style” containers) with interchangeable lids, instead of mismatched plastic storage containers. They’re economical, stackable, and reusable, and the best part? The lids will fit any of the containers. Really.
When it comes to cookware, keep pots and pans stacked neatly by size and store their lids nearby. The right cookware helps. Calphalon makes high-quality, quick-stacking pans that maximize cabinet space.
Avoid overcrowding of frequently used areas, like produce drawers. If possible, try to buy groceries for just a few days at a time, rather than doing a massive shopping trip every week or two.
Oversized spatulas, serving spoons, and other bulbous utensils stored in kitchen drawers can make opening and closing them a nightmare. Keep frequently used tools like spatulas, whisks, and wooden spoons out on the counter in stoneware crocks so you can access them quickly and easily.
A knife block can take up a surprising amount of precious counter or drawer space. For clear view and easy reach of your knives, go vertical. Mount a wall magnet in the kitchen that can fit all of your blades. Use this vertical storage trick for other kitchen items, too—hang frequently used cooking tools such as strainers, ladles, or tongs on hooks by the stove or on the inside of cabinet doors for some serious space-saving.