Kitchen Storage and Organization Essentials That Make Us Better Cooks

Many of our suggestions take inspiration from restaurant kitchens.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

We've written at length about how to stock a kitchen, from equipment recommendations to pantry essentials and ingredient guides. And we've addressed particular storage issues, like the best way to organize your spices or set up your fridge. But we realized that we've never broken down our preferred organizational tools and storage equipment for our readers, like the containers, shelving units, and utensil crocks that keep our test kitchen organized.

Happily, most of the solutions we use for our office kitchen are equally appropriate for a home kitchen. And because many of these items are designed for, or take inspiration from, restaurant kitchens, you might just be surprised by how efficient and affordable they are. Here's a look at the essentials.

The Best Kitchen Storage and Organization EssentialsPantry ShelvingWhitmor 4-Tier Chrome Shelving

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

IKEA Stainless Steel Rail

IKEA

Buy at Ikea.com

Command Wall and Cabinet Organizer

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Homedepot.com

If you're lucky enough to have a real pantry in your home and are looking for storage ideas, you're likely going to need to set up some shelving. There are plenty of fancy built-in storage solutions out there, but many sacrifice utility for looks while landing you with a hefty bill. Metro shelves, on the other hand, will run you under $60. A Serious Eats favorite, these are affordable, easy to clean, and tall enough to fit larger appliances. What's more, if you get some S-hooks, you'll be able to hang all of your utensils, strainers, mandolines, and even pots and pans right from the unit. If you are looking to have something built in, try this simple steel rail from IKEA. With a few of these and a lot of S-hooks, you'll be able to clear the clutter in no time.

Of course, not all of us are lucky enough to have a true pantry at home and therefore use a lot of tools for small kitchens and need to be economical with space. If that's you, try some of these under-cabinet storage sets. They'll help you make the best use of the space you do have.

Storage ContainersRubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Airtight Food Storage Containers, 8-Piece Set

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

YW Plastic Lidded Pint Containers (48-Count)

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

YW Lidded Quart Containers (50-Count)

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

rezip 5-Piece Lay-Flat Reusable Storage Bag Kit

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Greater Goods Reusable Storage Bags

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

The Rubbermaid containers are our favorite for dry goods storage after testing. They're lightweight and airtight, and easy to open latches. For something a little less expensive, Daniel recommends using glass storage containers like these. They're a little heavier but they nest well and are great if you're looking to transport any of your ingredients (they came out on top during testing, too).

Taking a cue from those in the office who have worked in professional kitchens, we rely pretty heavily on pint and quart deli containers to store veggies or dry goods. They can be filled with stocks or soups and stored in the freezer (it helps that they're stackable); the quart containers are perfect for storing leafy herbs like cilantro and parsley; you can even use them for drinking cups in a pinch or for your collection of desiccant packets. Unused, they nest and take up very little space. Plus, they are way cheaper than your average food storage container, so you won't feel guilty if you accidentally leave one filled with leftovers in your fridge for a bit too long. To keep their deli containers even more organized in restaurant kitchens, chefs label each container with some tape and a sharpie (date and what the ingredient is—they take this very seriously, as Sohla can attest). If you want to get fancy with it, you can get this awesome label maker which will make your pantry look even more professional.

While single-use plastic bags are admittedly useful for stowing away leftover greens and snacks, you may choose to invest in longer-lasting reusable storage bags. When we tested them, this set from rezip was a top performer—it stands up on its own, which is ideal for in-fridge storage. For an even thicker, more durable option, these containers from Greater Goods will do the trick.

Read More: I Tested 48 Dry Food Storage Containers and Found Seven Sets That’ll Keep Pantry Goods Fresh

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

Hotel PansWinco Deep Sixth Pan

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Katom.com

Update International Shallow Ninth Pan

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Staples.com

Another vital container used in restaurant kitchens is the hotel pan. You'll find all sorts of sizes (all of which nest into a full-sized hotel pan) and we find the shallow sixth, the deep sixth, and the shallow ninth to be the MVPs. Daniel uses his collection to hold stews and braises, cooked beans in their water, blanched and drained vegetables, and cooked grains. All of these can be simply covered in plastic wrap and secured with a plastic band. Like pint and quart deli containers, these hotel pans nest well when not in use, plus they're durable and non-reactive (and not plastic, in case that worries you).

Knife and Utensil StorageJonathan Alden Magnetic Wooden Knife Bar Holder Strip

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Etsy.com

360 Knife Block

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at 360knifeblock.com

Pipishell Bamboo Expandable Drawer Organizer

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

Williams Sonoma Pantry Porcelain Utensil Holder

Williams Sonoma

Buy at Williams-sonoma.com

Knife Dock In-Drawer Knife Storage

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Surlatable.com

Command Brushed Nickel Hooks (3-Pack)

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Fox Run Vertical Spoon Holder

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Magnetic knife strips are not only space-saving but they also look pretty badass hanging on your wall. They'll keep your knives from rubbing up against other utensils, which can make them dull (and can be dangerous, too). We tested a number of them and the one from Jonathan Alden our favorite. If you're short on wall space, we also have a countertop knife block pick that won't dull your knives—it swivels and has a very strong magnet.

But there are plenty of utensils that need to go in your drawers and for that, we like an adjustable drawer organizer, which should be able to fit your tallest forks and your smallest spoons. If you do prefer to keep your knives tucked away, this in-drawer knife dock is a great solution. With it, knives are out of sight but easy to grab without the chance of nicking yourself in the process.

For tools like spatulas and whisks, a good old utensil crock will do the trick. If you have a dirty utensil but still need it later on, don't set it down and make a mess of your counter, get one of these spoon rests instead.

To store utensils and make even more use of your walls, we love Command strip hooks, which come in a wide variety of sizes and finishes. They are quite durable and can stay on walls for years. (If you're a renter, they're a great way to store tools, towels, oven mitts, and more without poking too many holes in the walls.)

Read More: I Tested 13 Kitchen Drawer Organizers to Find the Best Ones for Storing Flatware, Utensils, and Knives

Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi

Spice OrganizationLynk Professional Expandable Spice Drawer Organizer

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Homedepot.com

The Container Store Acrylic 20-Bottle Spice Rack

Container Store

Buy at Containerstore.com

There's a lot to say about how to manage your spice collection. First and foremost, pay attention to freshness. If you can't remember when you bought that bottle of paprika, chances are it has transformed into sad red dust with zero flavor. For more info on how to keep your spices fresh, read our guide here—then invest in a spice rack for keeping things organized.

Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi

Everything You Need for CleanupO-Cedar Playtex Fresh Comfort Gloves

Home Depot

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Target.com

SunnyPoint NeverRust Kitchen Sink Suction Holder for Sponges

Amazon

Buy at Amazon.com

While organization is key when it comes to cooking, it's also helpful when you're organized and stocked for cleaning up. Cleaning can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you don't have a dishwasher. But with the right tools, you'll at least have a good system in place to keep clean-up time to a minimum. A pair of comfortable, moisture-wicking dishwashing gloves is essential, and a dish drying rack (like our favorite, after testing, from KitchenAid) helps dishes dry quickly and easily, and won't take up a ton of space on your already limited counters. Lid organizers also make great dish racks in a pinch; as you know, we love a good multitasker. We also recommend a good sponge holder, to keep that sponge from getting too grody. Commerce editor Grace Kelly likes this one from SunnyPoint (which, bonus, is only $10).

Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi

Why We're the ExpertsAriel Kanter was the former commerce director at Serious Eats. She worked for the site for many years.She's written a variety of pieces for Serious Eats, including essential knives.Serious Eats rigorously tests kitchen equipment and gear. We regularly revisit our reviews to ensure our recommendations still stand.

Read More: I Tested 13 Dish Racks—My Favorites Didn't Wobble When Piled High with Pots and Plates

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Source link