The Best Way To Clean A Microwave

Posted on August 13th, 2021

Kitchen storage adds functionality to your daily routine. Whether your storage is organized or not will impact just how functional it actually can be. The cupboards, countertops, and shelves all provide storage for your kitchen items, but sometimes you need extra space to keep things running smoothly. Enter the pantry. A pantry is like the closet of the kitchen that provides extra storage for dry foods, small appliances, large pots and dishware, cleaning supplies, and anything that helps the functionality of your kitchen. We provide tips on what to store in your kitchen versus what to store in your pantry (and how to keep it organized!).

Kitchen Organization
The kitchen is where you should store your most used items. Your upper cabinets are typically more shallow than lower cabinets and allow you to easily access items you use the most. This is a great place to use as a small pantry to keep daily meal staples you use every day, including cereals for breakfast, sliced bread for lunch sandwiches, dried rice and pastas for dinner, and of course granola bars and fruit gummies for snack time. It is also the place to store your most used dishware, including cups, plates, bowls, etc., as well as, special items you don’t want to be broken by large pots and pans or young children. You can make the most of your cabinets by expanding your vertical space with hooks, baskets, and shelves. Lower cabinets are deeper and provide more ample space for large pots and pans, vases, casserole dishes, and small appliances you use regularly. Be sure to provide ample space around each item to avoid smashing them into each other and keeping them accessible. While lower cabinets are typically deep and hard to reach, drawers bring your items to you so you can access every nook and cranny. We also recommend pull-out garbage drawers to avoid messes and lazy Susans for lower cabinet corners that are hard to access. We suggest keeping countertops as clear with as little of clutter as possible. This should be your workspace that should be easy to clean and sanitize while providing enough space for meal prep. Some ideas of items to store on your countertops would be a small coffee maker, a basket of fruit for an easy snack, and maybe some utensils near the oven.

Pantry Organization
Pantries offer extra storage space when your kitchen cannot hold any more items while maintaining functionality. Floor-to-ceiling shelves place items in front of you without the need to bend over to reach into deep cupboards, which is especially difficult with heavy items. A pantry’s main function is to store food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. This includes dried foods like quinoa, rice, and pasta, bread, unripe fruit, baking ingredients, cooking oils and fats, and canned goods. To keep foods easily accessible and accountable, keep similar items next to each other. Transfer bulk foods in airtight storage bins with a label and lid that makes it easy to access and store properly. Be sure you can visibly see each item from where you stand to avoid losing track of items that may expire soon. The pantry is also a great place to store small appliances you don’t use every day, such as mixers, juicers, slow cookers, yogurt makers, and so on. As a closet to the kitchen, the pantry can also be a great place to store your cleaning supplies such as cleaners, brooms, and even the vacuum cleaner. Just be sure to keep them away from your food products. Pantries also provide additional storage for your extra household consumables like paper towels, toilet paper, extra toothpaste, deodorants, etc.

Is your kitchen lacking space? Schedule a meeting with our kitchen design specialists to discover how you can add more functional storage to your kitchen today!