The holidays are coming, and you dream of filling your home with the aroma of baking cookies, simmering wassail and roasted goose. But 30 frustrating minutes of clattering pots later, with no sign of the roasting pan or cooling racks in sight, you’re already reaching for the catering menus.
Stop! Before you throw in the dish towel, seize this holiday opportunity to create an efficient kitchen that encourages cooking and makes clean-up a piece of cake. Invest a mere 6-8 hours organizing now, and you’ll reap the benefits all year long.
STEP 1-Organize by function
No matter how big, small, or awkward your layout, you can assemble any meal with the speed and grace of the Iron Chef, if you organize your kitchen by function. In other words, instead of stashing items wherever they fit, store them according to where they are used, by creating the following “Activity Zones”:
Daily Dishes Zone: Everyday dishes, glassware and flatware belong in the cabinets directly above and to the side of your sink and dishwasher for effortless cleanup.
Food Preparation Zone: Claim the longest counter between the stove and the fridge, or between the sink and stove. Fill the cabinets above and below it with the tools, bowls and appliances needed for chopping, mixing and seasoning before cooking.
Cooking Zone: Pots, pans, lids and potholders should live in the cabinets closest to your stove and oven. Nest pots and pans to save space, and store lids separately in a drawer or lid organizer.
Cleanup/recycling zone: Clean-up supplies (trash cans, cleanser, grocery bags, dishwashing detergent, sponges) are best housed in the cabinet below your sink, or a nearby utility closet.
STEP2-Expand Storage
Once you determine what lives where, use space savers to stretch storage capacity within each section.
- Wire shelf racks take advantage of wasted space between widely spaced shelves, while protecting dishes from getting chipped when stacked too high.
- Similarly, hooks can be installed on the underside of a shelf to conveniently hang mugs above the saucers, a cutting board above your countertop or dishtowels under the sink.
- Lazy Susans are fabulous for organizing glasses, canned goods and spices. Instead of awkwardly reaching deep into cabinets, you simply spin items from way in the back forward to you.
- Drawer dividers enable you to grab for just the utensil you need. Look for the adjustable style with sides that expand to fit the exact dimensions of your drawer.
- Pot racks mounted on the wall or ceiling above your cooktop compensate for limited cabinetry, and contemporary wall rails can house everything from cooking utensils and oils to paper towels.
Don’t overlook the inside of each cabinet door, which can be a goldmine of storage, too. Shallow wire shelves can be door mounted to hold pantry items, nuts and snack foods. Under the sink, door mounted contraptions such as a grocery bag recycler and a rack sack corral all those plastic bags and carrot shavings in one convenient place.
Clear the Counters
With your cabinets in order, banish surface clutter so your space feels clean and welcoming. Deport chotchkes to create room for food prep. Relocate cooking items normally stored on the countertop to a convenient, but hidden location. For example, spices and knives work well in a shallow drawer near your prep area, or tucked into an undershelf rack which cleverly folds away when not in use. Complete the decluttering process by removing the yellowed shopping lists, dated museum calendars, and twenty local pizzeria magnets from your refrigerator door. You’ll be surprised by how calm your room suddenly becomes.
OK, now it’s time to pull out your roasting pan, double boiler and flour sifter. Relax and pour yourself a glass of wine while you whip up a fabulous holiday meal. Invite some friends over. For once, it doesn’t have to be “pot luck”.
