A Chef's kitchen needs to be organized to be productive and efficient. Our chefs often give tips on how they keep their kitchens optimized in our cooking classes. Here are some quick tips to help you get your kitchen more functional.
1. KEEP YOUR GO-TO TOOLS HANDY
Quit fumbling around in your utensil drawer every time you need your wooden spoon. Place a utensil holder next to your stove for easy access to the tools you use on a daily basis. Maybe it's a large mason jar or a colourful vase - get creative with the holder itself and match your kitchen decor!
2. STORE MORNING BEVERAGES IN A PRIME LOCATION
Keep your coffee, tea and sugar in airtight containers next to your coffee maker and tea kettle to save a few extra steps in the morning.
3. USE YOUR WALLS FOR STORAGE
If you find drawer or countertop space an issue, an easy fix is to use your walls to help organize. Use curtain rods or tower racks to hang essentials like pots and pans to save drawer or cupboard space. You'll be able to grab what you need quick.
4. GET YOUR SPICES IN ORDER
We can't stress this tip enough. Spices are a daily essential and keeping them organized means quicker meals and better use of your spice budget. Enough of the mismatched spice cupboard! Transfer your spices into mason jars or any other air-tight jars that you're able to stack. Just make sure to label them!
5. MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CUPBOARDS
Spend the extra money on risers for your cupboards. They allow you to double or even triple your space. Once you add that space and functionality, you'll see it was money well spent.
6. CREATE A KITCHEN FLOW
When you're thinking of what to store in cupboards, consider the layout of your kitchen and how you flow through the space. Putting plates, bowls and glasses near the dishwasher helps better the flow of your kitchen and makes you more efficient between tasks. Storing spices in a cupboard near the stove make for quick access. You get the point. Be thoughtful with your layout to make the cooking experience more enjoyable.
7. CLEAR FREEZER CLUTTER
The freezer is your best friend. To make the most of it, get rid of all those half full boxes in your freezer. Transfer food into freezer bags, cut out the cooking instructions and place them in the bag with the food. Not only does it save space, it makes it easy to spot what you have on hand and what you're running low on. If you have a chest freezer, we recommend having a written list of what you have on-hand so you can quickly cross reference before heading to the market.
8. INVEST IN FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS
Investing in high quality food storage containers is an investment that will reward in dividends. While they can run you a pretty penny these days, they are worth the expense. Transfer leftovers from pot or plates into stackable Tupperware to maximize space in your fridge. Leftovers will keep longer when properly stored, too - meaning you're saving yourself money in the long run.
9. USE SEE THROUGH PANTRY STORAGE
Avoid buying duplicates. Use see through storage containers in your pantry that you can label like "walnuts" "penne pasta" or "jasmine rice" so at a quick glance you can see what you're running low on. This also makes it handy when you ask for help when making dinner ... no excuses that the rice can't be found!
10. ROLL AROUND
From being used for extra counter space to transporting dishes to and from the dining room, a versatile kitchen cart is a great addition to a kitchen.
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