Pans storage ideas
14 Pots and Pans Storage Ideas
By
Maria Sabella
Maria Sabella
Maria Sabella is a freelance writer at The Spruce and an E-Design consultant and decorator passionate about inspiring and empowering others to create their dream home. She has spent the last six years working in the interior design and staging industries, as well as writing digital content focused on home-related topics.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Published on 08/11/22
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Whether you have a spacious kitchen with a large island or a tiny kitchen that has very limited cabinet space, storing cooking pots and pans can be a challenge. They can be bulky and take up a lot of room, long handles can be hard to fit inside small cabinets and lids can turn into a messy pile before you know it. Read on for 14 creative storage solutions and ideas.
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01 of 14
Install a Pot Rail Above Your Stove
@milkandhoneylife / Instagram
For smaller pots and pans and kitchen tools that you use on a daily basis, install a pot rail above your stove.
Rails come in different sizes, from small ones that can hold a couple pieces to much longer rails. They use hooks to hold pots, pans, colanders, strainers and other kitchen items and are not just a practical organizational tool but a beautiful decorative feature. They come in various finishes, from antique brass to polished chrome, so you can easily find one to complement your kitchen style and decor.
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02 of 14
Hang a Pot Rack On the Ceiling
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If space permits, hang a pot rack on the ceiling. They are available in various sizes and price points, and are an excellent storage solution that utilizes an otherwise unused area in your kitchen. It keeps your pots and pans easily accessible and also adds a traditional decorative feature, especially if you add a couple copper pots into the mix. A pot rack hanging above a large kitchen island is a classic and timeless look you can't go wrong with.
The 10 Best Pot Racks of 2022
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03 of 14
Hang Them Above the Countertops
@marieflaniganinteriors / Instagram
For a simple and traditional look reminiscent of an English country kitchen, hang pots above your countertops.
Not only are they easy to grab when you need them, but they also provide a nice decorative accent, especially if you use a coordinating collection of pots such as these copper pots. -
04 of 14
Use a Lazy Susan Inside a Cabinet
Cees Schaap / EyeEm / Getty Images
if you have a built-in lazy Susan inside your kitchen cabinets, or are planning on installing one during an upcoming kitchen remodel, it provides the perfect spot for storing pots and pans of various sizes. The main benefit is that you can easily access them without having to rummage through packed cabinets or removing pots that are in the front to get to those in the back.
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05 of 14
Use a Peg Board
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Perhaps the image of pots and pans hanging on a peg board reminds you of Julia Child's famous custom designed kitchen. A peg board is a great way to use vertical space that would otherwise go unused, especially if there isn't enough room for a shelf or cabinet.
It also allows you to fully customize the storage layout — simply hang it on the wall and place hooks exactly where you need them to accommodate your pots and pans as well as other kitchen items. -
06 of 14
Utilize Floating Shelves
@afreshspace / Instagram
Floating shelves provide extra storage as well as a place to display decorative kitchenware. Store smaller, less heavy pots and pans that you use daily or on a regular basis on floating shelves so they're always on hand.
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07 of 14
Store Them In a Drawer
@nycneat_louisa / Instagram
More and more kitchens feature drawers in the lower cabinets rather than shelves, and for good reason. It is much easier to reach for and find items such as pots and pans in slide-out drawers, without having to strain your back or having to remove countless items to get to the one stockpot that's hiding in the back.
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08 of 14
Add a Freestanding Shelf
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If you're short on cabinet storage, consider adding open shelving.
When working with a tight space, think vertically and use a piece such as a ladder shelf. It'll give your kitchen a utilitarian vibe and provides both much needed storage for pots and pans as well as a spot to display your favorite cookbooks and mug collection. -
09 of 14
Use a Pan Organizer
Joanna Organize
Instead of baking pans piling up and being hard to find, use a handy organizer such as this one to store them neatly. Each one will have a designated spot, they won't get scratched and it'll be easy to locate the pan you're looking for.
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10 of 14
Install a Pot Rail On the Range Hood
Joe Schmelzer / Getty Images
Some range hoods come with a built-in pot rail on the front and sometimes on the sides as well. It is not just for decorative purposes and while it may not necessarily be the best way to store larger pots, it works well for smaller saucepans.
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11 of 14
Add a Cabinet Door Shelf
DimitarOmi / Getty Images
Maximize every inch of your kitchen cabinets with mechanical shelves such as this one.
They can be added to existing cabinets and are a great way to store pots and pans and utilize negative space that would otherwise be empty. -
12 of 14
Store Them In the Pantry
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Store larger, heavier or less frequently used pots and pans in a pantry if you have one. This way they don't take up valuable space in your cabinets and make room for more regularly used cookware.
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13 of 14
Keep It On the Stove
Andrew Standaert / EyeEm / Getty Images
If you have a beautiful Dutch oven, display it on your stovetop! It'll add a sophisticated yet homey touch, plus you won't have to lift it out of the cabinet every time you need to use it.
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14 of 14
Hang Pot Rails On the Wall
Laura Cattano
If you have an unused wall in your kitchen that feels like wasted space because it's not large enough for a cabinet or shelves, consider hanging pot rails one above the other directly on the wall.
You'll save cabinet space and utilize an otherwise wasted wall.
12 Creative Solutions For Storing Pots and Pans — The Family Handyman
They’re large, bulky and take up a lot of precious storage space. When it comes to storing your pots, pans and lids, sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. Here are 12 creative ways to store your kitchen pots and pans.
1 / 12
biancardi/Shutterstock
Overhead Pots and Pans Organizer
Hanging pots and pans is a great way to save cabinet space while also keeping everyday items within reach. Hang a pots and pans organizer over the kitchen island. You can make one yourself with lengths of copper pipe and S-hooks.
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via ikea.com
Hang Under the Island
If you don’t have the cupboard space and don’t want to hang your pots and pans overhead, the island is a good solution.
You may give up some sitting space, but you will have your pots and pans organizer within easy reach. Anchor some S-hooks under your island counter and hang away.
3 / 12
Family Handyman
Magnetic Knife Strip
This is a good solution for small kitchens with too many kitchen utensils and pot lids. You can DIY a magnetic knife strip or buy one online. Leave some space on the end for smaller pot lids.
Discover how a magnetic knife strip can help organize your office supplies with these home organization tips.
4 / 12
Build Your Own Hanging Rack
You can build this rustic, custom-sized wood-and-rope hanging pots and pans organizer with these easy instructions.
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united photo studio/Shutterstock
Open Cabinet Shelves
If you don’t mind having your cookware visible, try some open cabinet shelves.
Open shelves can be sized to fit your kitchen and will allow you to stack your pots and pans.
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Lisa Romerein/Getty Images
Hang Pots and Pans Under a Shelf or Cupboard
If you have a shelf or cupboard with room underneath, try adding some hooks to hang your pots and pans organizer. They’ll be easy to reach!
There are several easy shelving ideas to help you stay organized.
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Margoe Edwards/Shutterstock
Deep Drawers
Deep drawers work great for storing cookware, just be sure to have enough space to set your pots and pans in one layer so they’ll be easier to pull out. Roll-out cabinet drawers make it easy to retrieve large pots and pans and will work with a cabinet organizer for pots and pans.
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Raisa Suprun/Shutterstock
Corner Cabinets
If they’re large enough, corner cabinets can be a great storage space for pots and pans.
To make a cabinet organizer for pots and pans just insert a wire-wrack or lazy Susan and you’ll be able to find what you need quickly.
9 / 12
Pantry Pegboard
Your pantry may be the best spot for your pots and pans organizer. Just hang a basic pegboard on the inside of the pantry door and add some pegs. You can hang your pots and pans, and other kitchen gear as well.
10 / 12
Berezhneva Tamara/Shutterstock
Hang on the Wall
If you have wall space that isn’t occupied by cupboards, try hanging your pots and pans on the wall.
Attach a board or metal railing to the wall and add some hooks. Choose hooks that allow the pots and pans to rest flat against the wall. Make sure your board is level with these tips.
11 / 12
Steve Cukrov/Shutterstock
Hang Inside Cabinets or Cupboards
Do you have enough space to hang pots in a kitchen cabinet or cupboard? You may have to remove shelves, but it can be worth it.
Attach some hooks to the top of the cabinet and let the pans hang.
As for the lids, hang them inside the cabinet or cupboard door. You just need some plastic adhesive hooks that are spaced to fit each lid for a pots and pans rack cabinet.
12 / 12
DIY Pot and Pan Pullout
This pot and pan pullout makes your pans easy to access and organize and—depending on your cookware—may even give you a place to stash your lids. It only takes a couple of hours, a couple of boards and a couple of drawer slides.
Originally Published: February 08, 2021
Rachel Brougham
Writer and editor with a background in news writing, editorial and column writing and content marketing.
How to store pots in the kitchen to be convenient: 6 smart solutions
Don't have time to read the article? Watch the video!
1 On rails
If there is not enough space in cabinets and drawers, you can use this storage option - hang small pots and ladles on the rail above the work surface.
The convenience is that you can remove the desired item even with one hand, you do not have to get the entire stack of pots out of the cabinet.
IKEA
nine0006 The only drawback of this storage idea is the impossibility of making the kitchen space minimalist. Even small buckets on the railing still attract attention. And, if aesthetics are important to you, you should pay more attention to the choice of dishes.2 In pull-out baskets
Storing pots in stacks saves a lot of space, and if there is not enough space in the kitchen, this is perhaps the only way to fit all the dishes. In this option, there is a drawback - it will no longer be possible to get the desired pan from below in one second. And if they are in a swing cabinet on a shelf and pushed further away, you will have to spend a little more time searching. This is not very convenient. nine0007
Instagram @ya_katyafi
For a swing wardrobe, you can choose sliding metal baskets instead of conventional shelves.
Thus, it will not be necessary to get everything that is on the shelf in order to climb into the far corner.
3 With divider in drawer
Not the most compact storage option, but convenient and allows you to keep your cooking utensils in order. You can make an organizer with your own hands, for example, from wooden slats, or buy it in a store. nine0007
Instagram @yourpersonalorganizer
Life hack: if you decide to buy such an organizer (or make it yourself), consider rearranging the dividers and pay attention to this when choosing finished products. It will be convenient to adjust the width of the divisions as desired, because sooner or later you can update the dishes.
4 On a rack
Look at this storage option - all the pots and ladles are displayed on the counter top. The option is definitely not for lovers of an empty work surface and not for a small kitchen, but owners of spacious rooms and lovers of convenience should definitely pay attention to this method.
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Instagram @cosrack
It is very easy to get the desired item from such a shelf, and to make it look more aesthetic, put pans of the same color or from the same material, carefully monitor their cleanliness.
5 On drawers
When designing a kitchen, think about what and where you will store in advance. If you have a lot of pots, pay attention to such a mechanism - retractable modules, on which cooking utensils are stored in a suspended state. nine0007
Instagram @thespruceng
It is probably also possible to integrate such modules into a finished kitchen, but it will take more effort. And if you are just doing a kitchen project, be sure to take note.
6 On a pegboard
Perforated boards - or pegboards - are versatile. They are used in children's rooms, offices, bathrooms, hallways, closets and garages. And in the kitchen, they will also find a use - you can store pots and cooking utensils in this way.
nine0007
Instagram @loribethstudios
If you are not confused by the visual component of this method, then go for it. To harmonize the interior, try different options for the arrangement of dishes and try to choose pans of the same color.
Prepared by
Anastasia Dubrovina
How to store pots and pans in the kitchen?
How and where to store pots and pans in the kitchen? This question occupies the minds of many housewives. It is quite difficult to imagine a kitchen without such necessary things as pots and pans. And, as a rule, every housewife in the kitchen has more than one copy of these items necessary for cooking. Indeed, in one pan we cook soup, another is needed for a side dish, a third for hot, etc. nine0007
The problem is that they take up quite a lot of space. If you are faced with the problem of storing a large number of pots and pans in the kitchen, we will give you some tips and show you examples of how you can store pots compactly in a small kitchen.
In order to avoid many inconveniences in the future, it is advisable to carefully consider the choice of pots even in the process of purchasing them. Choose dishes that fold compactly into one another. And this applies not only to pots, but also to other dishes - plates, bowls, glasses, etc. Leading cookware manufacturers make sure that your kitchen has as much free space as possible and offer ultra-modern and ultra-compact pot sets. nine0007
Great find - pots and pans with removable handles.
In addition to compact storage, the advantage of such dishes is that they can also be used for cooking in the oven. Thus, you can save not only space, but also money.
This also includes cast iron cookware with cast iron handles that can also be used both for cooking on the stove and for baking in the oven. nine0007
So, as you can see, choosing the right dishes is already half the battle! In addition, you should reconsider the total number of dishes in your kitchen.
Surely there are dishes that you use very rarely, or even never. It is worth getting rid of extra pots and pans to make room for things you really need.
The classic storage option for pots and pans is the shelf or drawer . In terms of convenience, a drawer is preferable, since it is easy to get any pan in it, even the one that is stored in the farthest corner of the drawer. Lids can be stored in the same place, separating them from the main compartment with a partition. nine0007
There are also special drawer systems for storing pots and lids. However, such storage systems are more suitable for spacious kitchens, since they themselves take up quite a lot of space and although it is convenient to store pots in them, this option for storing dishes is not the most compact.
Shallow pots and pans can be stored in narrow drawers. nine0007
Another storage option for pots and pans is wall mounted .
In a small kitchen, wall storage of bulky dishes is not the best solution, as pots and pans hung on the walls overload the interior and visually make a small kitchen even smaller. But, in some cases, this storage option can even be advantageous. If you skillfully pick up the dishes and beat them correctly, hung pots and pans can be made a decor item and a highlight of the kitchen interior. nine0007
Pots and pans can be stored on the wall in different ways. With hooks on the wall, with railing or perforated board. The choice depends mainly on the design of your kitchen and your personal preferences.
Another way to store pots on the wall is a small shelf. This method is suitable for you if you have a small amount of dishes. Pans and pots with long handles can be hung on hooks under the shelf, and pans with short handles and other utensils can be stored on the shelf. nine0007
For ease of use, do not place the shelf too high.
