How to organize your pots and pans
16 Creative Ways to Organize Pots and Pans in Any Kitchen
By
Grace Gallagher
Grace Gallagher
Grace Gallagher is a lifestyle expert and writer with five years of experience covering home furnishings, storage, and organization. She has also written for Greatist, Veracity Selfcare, Brit + Co, and others. Grace also taught creative writing workshops in Portland, Oregon.
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Published on 08/03/22
@nycneat_louisa
Pots and pans are an essential part of every kitchen, but they're notoriously hard to store. Most pots and pans are too large for an average kitchen drawer, and you may not be excited about the idea of devoting precious counter space to pots (which aren't always the prettiest). Because pots and pans come in so many shapes and sizes, and you'll probably want them at least somewhat close to the stove, it can feel like a puzzle trying to get them all stored away in a way that makes sense. These pots and pans storage ideas will get your kitchen more organized and leave it uncluttered.
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01 of 16
Store in a Designated Cabinet
@theneatsquad
If you're going to use a cabinet for pots and pans, the organization is key for making sure you can see everything and no smaller pot gets lost in the back. Here pots are stacked in size order and a cookware rack acts as a divider to keep pans organized without scratching each other.
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02 of 16
Install a Hanging Rack
@bbdesigncontractors
These pans are collectibles rather than everyday staples, so they get a moment to shine in the dining room area. An oval pot rack can showcase a lot of pots since the ceiling-mounted solution is strong and sturdy. However, be sure to always check the weight limit and make sure your ceilings can handle the weight. If your ceilings are particularly high, you may want to lengthen the chain on the rack so you can reach them more easily.
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03 of 16
Use a Tiered System
@themollybeffect
A simple tiered holder is perfect for storing pans vertically. They won't get scratched this way, and you'll use space that would otherwise be empty. You can find storage racks like this online or at most organizations or home goods stores.
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04 of 16
Bring in Some Greenery
@lana_rose_interiors_stafford
A pot rack is a gorgeous and efficient solution, especially in smaller kitchens. It frees up a cabinet and makes for a lovely focal point in the room if decorated. The greenery strung on the rack adds interest and warmth, making the rack a part of the decor.
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05 of 16
Utilize Pantry Space for Large Pots
@afreshspace
It usually makes sense to keep your favorite pots and pans near the range. However, larger soup pots and other more special-occasion items can be stored neatly in a pantry (if you're lucky enough to have one this big) alongside other more specialty appliances that you don't use regularly. It'll also be easily accessible if you have a walk-in pantry closet like the one shown above.
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06 of 16
Hang Pots and Pans Right Above the Stove
@nycneat_louisa
Here, a gorgeous brushed pot rack hangs above a range. You can find a hanging rack to match your hardware and style of your kitchen. This way, the pots and pans become part of the decor. Hanging racks are also great for storing spatulas and other kitchen tools you'll want just an arm's length away.
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07 of 16
Create a Wall
Laura Cattano
For a chic industrial kitchen look that's super practical, install hanging pot racks against a bare wall. The vertical space would otherwise go unused, and this keeps pots and pans in sight but out of the way. A great trick is to tuck the lids behind the bars.
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08 of 16
Save the Deep Drawers for Pots
@nycneat_louisa
Deep drawers are a godsend when it comes to storing pots. These drawers are deep enough that the pans can be stored with their lids on. If you're renovating a kitchen, installing some bigger drawers is always a good idea, and a more narrow one works well for pans.
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09 of 16
Divide by Shelves
@nycneat_louisa
If you're struggling to find a place to store your pots and pans, the first thing you may want to do is edit your collection and pare it down to just the favorites. Here Le Creuset pots get their own stage (er, shelf), stainless steel pots are stacked in size order, and a pan divider keeps pans separate.
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10 of 16
Place Cabinet Dividers
@afreshspace
A divided kitchen cabinet is so helpful for storing awkwardly shaped items that have a tendency to get lost (like baking sheets and smaller pans). You can always add dividers into your drawer, but if your kitchen has dividers built-in, or you're designing a kitchen from scratch, built-ins are a great way to go.
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11 of 16
Store Large Pots in the Pantry
@afreshspace
It's nearly impossible to find a good place to store a stock pot... unless you have pantry space to spare. It's hard not to love a stocked and organized pantry, especially when it has room for pots and other appliances you bought with best intentions but may not use all that much in reality.
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12 of 16
Separate Lids
@neatbymeg
This storage solution is somewhere between a pantry and a cabinet. The wire tiers add additional layers and space for pans while the dividers for pot lids assure you'll never have to go searching for the one lid you need. What makes this extra creative are the Command hooks behind the door that are used for storing pot holders and oven mitts.
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13 of 16
Install Built-in's
@kimhalfkept
Built-in drawer dividers are great for storing pots and pans, just make sure you have enough depth that the handle can fit and the drawer still closes. Lids, steamer baskets, and other kitchen accessories also fit. If your drawers don't already have installed built-in's, DIY your own.
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14 of 16
Consider Open Shelving
@iknownothingaboutinteriors
Open floating shelves are great for storing anything from dry goods to pot lids when they're this organized. A hanging rack for smaller pots looks like a seamless extension of the shelves; it frees up space and also gives the kitchen a farmhouse feel.
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15 of 16
Double the Pot Racks
Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens
Double wire racks keep the area directly overhead clear while cooking (so tall people don't bump into any pots). Even the top of the pot rack is used for storing lids and other non-essentials (you just may need a kitchen stool to get them down).
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16 of 16
Make It a Part of the Theme
@burcharddesignco
A vintage-looking pot rack completes a farmhouse-style kitchen. Whether you use it for storing the pots and pans you use regularly, or it's for showing pans you collect, this simple style wooden dowel with hooks could be bought or recreated with a DIY.
Regardless of your thoughts on cooking, every kitchen needs pots and pans; it can just be less than palatable thinking of ways to store them all. These pot and pan storage ideas will inspire you to find clever ways of organizing your pots and pans, so you can find what you're looking for.
10 Awesome Tips for Organizing Pots and Pans- A Cultivated Nest
Clever Pot and Pan Organization Solutions.
Well… we are house hunting again and the house we’re most interested in has a very small old galley style kitchen. So I’m trying to think of ways to make it work (the whole house is much smaller than anything we’ve ever lived in before). I’ve been looking at kitchen organizing ideas on Pinterest and thought I’d share a few ideas with you. Today I have 10 Tips for Organizing Pots and Pans!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and/or Etsy, which means that I may earn a small commission from some of the links in this post. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.
Does your pots and pans cabinet drive you crazy? Hopefully these ideas will inspire you to organize it!
10 Awesome Tips for Organizing Pots and PansWe all know how much pots and pans can take over our kitchen cabinets. Because of their sheer size, they can take up a lot of space rather quickly. But, I am thankful that there are actually of plenty of ways you can make adjustments so they fit better. Take a look at these tips so you can have your kitchen in perfect order in no time.
- Get creative. You don’t have to strictly stick pots and pans in one cabinet. You could hang them, use an island or baker’s rack, put them in your pantry, or transform a drawer into the perfect spot to house them. Be creative and think outside the box a little bit to come up with ideas for your space.
- Donate or throw out items you don’t use. If you have a bunch of pots and pans that you haven’t used for years, are they really worth keeping around? It’s not worth it spending time organizing pots and pans you won’t use. If you don’t want to get rid of them, you could at least box them up and put them in a room where they are out of the way. Then your cabinet will be full of pans you use on a regular basis.
- Keep it organized. If you just toss the pans in and don’t keep any type of organization the cabinets are going to fill up quickly. This will cause a lot of frustration when you are trying to grab something you need while cooking. Save your sanity and keep it organized all the time.
1. Kitchen Cabinet Organization System.
Organizing Home Life took an expensive organizational product found on Amazon and made her own version for far less!
2. Cookware Organization
This is a beautiful way to organize your pots and pans if you have the space! Simple Life of A Fire Wife show you how she did it.
3. Cookie Sheet Organization
Organize your cookie sheets and muffin tins like Two Twenty One did and you’ll be so glad you did.
4. Pots And Pans Drawer
If your kitchen has drawers for your pots and pan then this is a great way to keep them organized. Seeded At The Table shows you how to make these dividers.
5. Kitchen Organization Challenge
Here’s another really easy idea for organizing those lids from The Hamman Family Blog.
6. Kitchen Cabinet Organization Idea
Organizing pots and pans is easy if you have a well-utilized space! Kevin and Amanda installed this amazing kitchen cabinet organizer into their existing cabinets. Isn’t it wonderful. It pulls out like a dishwasher and you can get it at Lowe’s (I’m sure Home Depot sells something similar as well). You can also find a similar organizer on Amazon here.
7. DIY Pot Rack
Take a look at this incredible DIY Pot Rack made by Old House Crazy. It’s a lovely way to add organization while adding character too.
8. Cabinet Shelving Ideas
I love how Neat House Sweet Home organized the cabinet space to give so much more room for pots and pans. Now it’s neat, orderly, and keeps it so you can see exactly what you have.
9. Utilize All Available Space
Over at One Good Thing, she shows you how to make the most out of your space and store all your pots and pans easily. Great ideas!
10. Wall Storage Solution
If you have extra wall space, why not use it to hang pots and pans so they are easily accessible like The Order Obsessed did? Such a fabulous solution!
How do you organize your pots and pans?
You might also be interested in: 20 Unique DIY Kitchen Storage Racks
5 Space Saving Tips - NEWJALUZI Blog
Pots and pans littered the kitchen shelves, and there never seems to be enough space in the drawers? If you're looking for efficient ways to organize your accessories and keep everything close at hand, here are 5 space-saving tips that will make your life easier.
If your kitchen drawers or shelves are chaotic, you need to organize your space. The convenience of having a neat box is priceless! In addition to the fact that everything will be at hand, you will save precious time searching for the items you need right during cooking.
Although every kitchen has a different model, there are space-saving solutions on the market today that work well with every type of shelf and drawer. If you want to know how to store pots and pans efficiently, follow our tips: here are 5 solutions to make your life easier!
- Prioritization for use
- 1. Drawer dividers
- 2. Stackable shelves
- 3. Pan hooks
- 4. Steel supports
- 5. Cover supports
- How to arrange pots and pans: photos and pictures
Prioritize Use
The first rule of thumb is to separate the pots you use daily from those you only use on special occasions. According to the space you have, you should prioritize usage and decide which items should always be at hand.
This way you can lighten the drawer and find the pots and pans you need without having to look for them at the bottom of the drawer.
Move high-value items to the least accessible part of the kitchen, such as upper cabinets or the back of shelves ; on the other hand, the most accessible drawers and shelves should be reserved for items that you use most often. After this preliminary operation, it's time to decide how to organize the elements.
1. Drawer dividers
If your kitchen has drawers for storing pots and pans, you can divide the space with practical plastic dividers. There are both those that use space horizontally and those that divide elements vertically on the market.
If you choose vertical dividers, make sure that the diameter of the pots is smaller than the length of the drawer, otherwise you may have problems closing it, and therefore the dividers will be completely useless.
Whether it's pots or pans, the key is to choose the most suitable solution for your needs, always taking into account the size of the drawer.
To optimize space in the pot drawer, you can create a stack by placing the largest pot on the bottom, into which you will insert the smaller diameter pots.
2. Stackable shelves
Stackable shelves are best for organizing cabinet space. If your kitchen has horizontal shelves with hinged doors, you can use their height by using modular shelves where you place items.
The shelves are really practical and stable and allow you to classify items according to function and frequency of use. In addition, shelves can be found in various sizes on the market, making it easy to adapt them to your furniture.
For efficient storage, use the shelves to store less frequently used items, and the space below them to store everyday pots and pans.
You can also find lids on the market for keeping pots and pans in order. These accessories have special slots that allow you to insert the lid vertically: an easy way to find what you need right away.
3. Frying pan hooks
Frying pans are one of the most indispensable items in the kitchen, but they are also difficult to store due to the bulky handle. We usually tend to arrange them horizontally, creating a stack in ascending order; but besides the fact that such an arrangement takes up more space than necessary, it is also not very functional.
In fact, every time you need a certain pan, you have to take them all to find the one you need. What if instead you make an alternative decision?
A practical and economical way to keep pots in order is to hang them on hooks that can be placed either under a pantry shelf or under the kitchen thanks to the pull-out rail system. Thus, you can immediately find the pan you need, saving time and effort.
4. Steel supports
Modern kitchens are usually equipped with steel supports that allow you to arrange pots and pans in an orderly manner. If not, they can be installed afterwards by selecting a customized and custom solution to suit your space requirements.
5. Cover support
When you don't know where to put your covers anymore. .. this space-saving idea will win you over in no time! This is a super cheap solution, perfect for lower kitchen cabinets.
The back of the doors is an unused space where appropriate hooks or vertical lid supports can be glued. Before choosing this solution, evaluate the diameter and volume of the covers you want to insert so that the door does not remain open.
How to arrange pots and pans: photos and pictures
Looking for ideas on how to arrange and keep pots and pans in order? Take a look at this photo gallery and find the solution that best suits your needs.
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Given the amount of crockery and appliances in the modern kitchen, it can be hard to figure out how to organize it all. Which storage system to choose - open or closed? What to place on the countertop, and what in the tables and drawers? How to properly arrange the dishes so that it is not only convenient, but also beautiful? Here are some ideas that will help each thing find its place, and you - get rid of the mess.
Where to start?
With inventory and sorting dishes. First, sort out the plates, cups, glasses, cutlery. Keep as many kits in your kitchen as you need for everyday use. The rest is carefully packed and put away in the pantry.
Next, sort pots and pans, kitchen accessories, baking sheets, baking dishes, other utensils into groups. Remove unnecessary items for long-term storage, and if you do not plan to use them, get rid of them. Also throw away broken and worn dishes.
When planning how to lay it all out in the kitchen, use the following rules:
– Store similar items together.
– Locate them in close proximity to where they are used most often.
– Place frequently used dishes at the bottom and on the middle shelves, less used dishes at the top.
– Use dividers and organizers to keep organized.
Storage methods and ideas
Plates and serving utensils
Everyday plates should be at arm's length. The most convenient places for this are a wire dryer above the sink, open or in a closet, and if you use a dishwasher, deep drawers next to it. Use dividers and coasters to keep your drawers organized.
Store festive porcelain together with serving utensils (salad bowls, gravy bowls, soup bowls) separately from everyday plates, for example, in a wall-mounted or free-standing display case with transparent doors. If there is not enough space in the kitchen, it can be installed in the dining room, living room. Also, stacks of plates and beautiful dishes look great on open shelves as decoration.
Cups and glasses
Keep the cups you use daily near your coffee/tea maker. To do this, put them in a wall cabinet, and if there is not enough space, hang them on hooks by attaching a horizontal railing. Everyday cups can also be stored in a special wire mug organizer or in a dish drainer by placing them above or below the plates.
Use beautiful cups and saucers to decorate open shelves and racks. This is especially appropriate in kitchens in Provence and country styles.
Goblets and other glass look great in a wine cabinet or on a bar cart. In small kitchens, it is convenient to store glasses in hanging holders attached to the bottom of the cabinet.
Cutlery
For sets of spoons, forks, knives, purchase trays with dividers that are installed in the top drawer of the kitchen floor module. That way you keep it in order. In addition to cutlery, it is convenient to store small kitchen utensils in such organizers (openers, corkscrews, wooden spatulas, pastry brushes, etc.).
Another option is to store cutlery in a decorative basket on the countertop. But with this method, make sure that water does not accumulate in the container, otherwise the handles of the spoons and forks will darken.
Pots and pans
These are the bulkiest and heaviest items in the kitchen, organized by the lower cabinet shelves and deep drawers next to the stove. They can be folded into each other or use dividers in the form of shelves. Consider installing a drawer organizer. It will help to use the most inaccessible places in the kitchen and significantly save space.
Pots with handles, stewpans, frying pans can be stored suspended on rails right next to the stove. This method is especially good for Teflon and ceramic dishes, as they are afraid of scratches.
Pot and pan lids
This is probably the most problematic type of dishes, for which it is difficult to find a place for it. Difficult, but possible. The most compact option is wall racks. Due to the vertical arrangement, they take up a minimum of space and place 5-6 lids at the same time. If you don't want to ruin your walls, use a table stand. It is convenient to store not only lids, but also cutting boards, flat dishes in it.
Another good place to store lids vertically is in the deep drawers of your floor cabinets. Separate a narrow compartment in them in front, and the problem will be solved. The only condition is that the boxes must be at least 60 cm wide.
Trays, ovenware
If you have enough shelf height in floor cabinets, you can easily organize vertical storage of baking sheets in them, and with them other flat-dimensional items: trays, cutting boards, dishes, lids. It is enough to install and fix the wire separator.
Under ceramic pots, baking dishes, mortar, take the lower shelf or drawer of the floor cabinet. You can also place nested mixing bowls here. Don't forget the drawer under the oven - it will perfectly fit metal or glass baking dishes.
Kitchenware
This category consists of a large number of accessories, and so that they do not "scatter" around the kitchen, organize them into groups.
- Keep spatulas, tongs, skimmers, colander, ladles, kitchen hammers in the cooking area - in a basket or hanging on a durable metal rail specially designed for this purpose.
– Knives can be stored in several ways: in a cutlery drawer, in a special knife holder on the countertop, on a magnetic strip hanging next to the cooking area.