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Ways to organize 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, as well as health, fitness, and beauty. She has also written for Greatist, Veracity Selfcare, Brit + Co, and Healthline. 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.

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.

11 Genius Ways To Organize Pots & Pans

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Organizing Pots and Pans can be a real headache if you don’t have the right tools. Stacking them isn’t always the best option because they are hard to get in and out, and makes for a very unorganized cabinet. So today we have rounded up 11 Genius Ways To Organize Pots and Pans.

These ideas will help you get your pots and pans organized and stay organized!

11 Genius Ways To Organize Pots and Pans

This is my own pots and pans cabinet and I must say that it is my favorite cabinet in our kitchen! I love it. It stays organized pretty much all of the time and it is so easy to get pots and pans in and out of. I only keep pots and pans in my cabinet that we regularly use to cut down on clutter and then I organize them with a pot organizer and lid organizer!

Read The Full Post Here!

Use Pan Organizers

Need to organize your pots, pans, and baking dishes in one cabinet? Use wire pot organizers to stack all of your cooking ware. This is a great idea when you don’t have a lot of cookware or space to work with!

Image Credit: The Kitchen

Use Tension Rods

This idea from Better Homes and Gardens is a cheap and brilliant hack. Stand up your pots, pans, or cookie sheets and separate them with small tension rods. This will keep your pans from toppling over and keep you organized! Plus its a super cheap way to stay organized!

Image Credit: Good House Keeping 

DIY Drawer Dividers

Have a deep drawer in your kitchen? Store you pots and pans in it with these DIY Drawer dividers! See exactly how to make them here! 

Image Credit: Seeded At The Table 

Use A Towel Rod

This is a brilliant way to organize pots and lids if you don’t have the cabinet space. These people used an industrial towel bar and S hooks to hang their pots and pans and hold their pot lids!

Image Credit: Pinterest

Use an Adjustable Pots & Pans Organizer

When you want to organize your pots and pans on the same rack, you need an adjustable pots and pans organizer! These are so handy to keep all of your pots and pans together and you only have to use one organizer! Grab this one for less than $25. 

Image Credit: Organizing Home Life

Use A Spare Pantry

Emily from Simple Life Of A Fire Wife is lucky enough to have two pantries to organize her pots and pans! (I’m so jealous) So if you have two pantries, you could organize your pots and pans just like Emily! I love how she used a pot organizer and lid organizer as well!

Image Credit: Simple Life Of A Fire Wife 

Hang Pots and Pans

Hanging your pots and pans is a great way to keep them organized and save space! You can easily hang your pots and pans by attaching hooks to the top of a cabinet. I love this idea because then you still have the base of your cabinet to store your lids or more pots and pans!

Image Credit: Tara Dennis

Pull Out Organizer

Bending over to pull out pots and pans can be difficult for some. If you have trouble accessing your pots and pans, this pull out cabinet organizer for pots and pans is exactly what you need! It takes up very little space and makes it super easy to access all of your pots and pans! Grab yours here! 

 

Pots and Pans Cabinet Organizer

This pots and pans organizer is what dream kitchens are made of! This organizer installs directly into your kitchen cabinet and makes it so easy to keep all your pots and pans organized. It’s a little pricey but if you are in the market for the perfect way to organize pots and pans, this is it! Check it out here! 

 

Need more ways to organize your pots and pans? We love these!

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Storage of pots, pans and lids

An inquisitive mind is about us! Today, the Everything in Place team decided to deal with the storage of pots, pans and lids for them. The idea for the article came about when one of the participants raised the issue of storing these kitchen utensils in our closed WhatsApp chat, and many supported her.

Pots and pans take up a lot of space. Their number in different families can reach a dozen, or even more. And covers are generally violators of order in many kitchens. You can’t put them in a neat pile: they are of different sizes, convex, and even the handles stick out ...

Well, let's see how others are and what ideas the browser search has thrown up.

Assessing the enemy

If you are thinking about how to clean up your kitchen utensils, then before reading the article further, do the calculations. The first action when putting things in order is to throw out the unnecessary. The second is to evaluate the rest.

We throw out the unnecessary.

I strongly advise you to collect all the supplies of pots and pans in one place and assess the condition of each. Surely among them there are those that do not look very good: non-washable soot, dents, exfoliating steel bottom, chips on the enamel, Teflon coating with “tatters”. Do you like them? Are they fun to cook in? It is better to leave two or three neat pots and cook in them with pleasure!

Afraid you won't have enough cooking utensils? Simply transfer cooked food to reusable containers with lids before putting them in the refrigerator. With containers, by the way, it is more convenient to organize its contents. Round pots with domed lids take up a lot of space, you can't see what they contain, and transparent rectangular containers can be stacked one on top of the other.

Calculate the rest.

Even if you do not dare to throw something away, the "general meeting" of pots and pans will not hurt. You will be able to estimate the number of dishes and lids for them. And knowing the number, you can choose options for organizing.

Pyramid

A friend sent me a photo of her drawer of kitchen utensils. She keeps pots and lids in sets: she flips pot lids upside down and puts them on top of the pot. You can put a smaller pan on the resulting flat area, an even smaller one on it, etc. Sort of a pyramid.

Pros :
• the method is suitable for deep and tall drawers (and there are many of these in our kitchens and it is always unclear how to organize them better),
• You take a pan and the lid is right there, no need to look for it in other places.
Cons :
• Not all pots allow you to treat yourself this way. For example, the lid on the steel pan at the very top of the stack in the photo is unstable (I have the same one) - you can’t put anything on it.

Saucepan + lid

A variation on the previous storage method - pots are stored together with lids without piling up on top of each other. For the happy owners of ample storage space in the kitchen. Note:

1. Drawers are great for this method.
2. You can make dividers in the drawer, guided by the size of your dishes, so that you can return them to their place without thinking and without choosing a place each time.
3. But even ordinary cabinets can be converted into pull-out shelves.

4. How do you use corner cabinets? If they are a perpetual mess, then think about the fact that pans on roll-out or spinning shelves would perfectly get along in corner cabinets. Search in your city, and you will surely find a company that re-equips ready-made kitchen sets.

5. By the way, is it necessary to use pots ? If you have a large collection of saucepans (pots with long handles), then you can hang them. If the handles of the lids allow, then even together. And Teflon and ceramic-coated pans will appreciate such gentle handling.

Thus,
Pluses :
• Convenient to take, easy to put back in place, dishes are immediately complete with a lid.
Cons :
• Requires roll-out drawers or special hangers, which are not available in every kitchen (but rails are not a very expensive option).

Roof rails

Speaking of roof rails! When storage space is scarce (like in my kitchen, for example), they can come in handy and provide an easy way to store pans and lids.

Pros :
• Roof rails are inexpensive and multifunctional (if you don't like how the covers stand, you can hang something else).
Cons :
• Dishes stored on rails should look, if not perfect, then very decent.

But the roof rails don't have to be visible. Attach them to the inside of the cabinet door, and the lids will be inseparable from the pots. At the same time, they are easy to take and return to their place.

Pay attention to an interesting life hack. The "hidden" storage shown above can be organized using Velcro hooks . The lids are not too heavy and the hooks hold them perfectly.

Matryoshka

But the most popular way, which is used by many participants in the discussion: put pots and pans one into the other, and store the lids separately. At the same time:

1. Covers can be placed side by side.

2. May be in an adjacent drawer (for example, in the lower deep pan, and above, in the "shallow", or in the additional section - the lid).

Pluses :
• Pots stacked together take up minimal space.
Cons :
• This method does not guarantee order in the rows of caps. Therefore:

3. Drawer dividers can be used.

4. Or dedicated holder organizers for both pans and pots and lids.

5. Speaking of lid holders. In a rare house there are no such devices. The problem is that there are usually a lot more caps. Please note that they can be placed not only on rails, but also inside cabinets, closer to the pans.

Concluding the article, I will also mention an interesting device that solves the problem with the lid, which right now lies on the pan with the food being prepared. Any food during the cooking process, we stir from time to time. To do this, the cover must be removed and put somewhere. On a table nearby? Then you need to wash the wet, or even greasy stain from the cover. Exit - a special stand. There are many variations of them - any materials and designs.

I invite you to visit the section of the new products and "Storage of small things" on our website: here you will find a lot of nice little things that will help you conveniently organize storage in the kitchen (and not only). Usually these items have to be fished out here and there in different stores.

arranging utensils to suit their availability in a small kitchen

A lucky few can boast that they have enough space in the kitchen to store pots and pans under lids. Most, hoping to save space and have the necessary kitchen utensils on hand every day, are looking for convenient ways to arrange these dishes and store pot lids separately in the kitchen. 9Ol000 two important things to consider: they must be at hand and at the same time not clutter up the space. As a rule, all zealous housewives quickly get rid of pots that have become unusable: with chipped enamel, burnt, with a damaged non-stick coating, a handle melted by negligence, inappropriate in volume, etc. Even the appearance of the pan matters for a modern kitchen. Only “workable” and beautiful ones remain, but quite a lot of them are also required. There are four most famous ways to store pots to save space:

  • Arrangement in the form of a pyramid on shelves of sufficient height - a set of "matryoshka".
  • Low shelves in lower kitchen cabinets to hold a row of pots.
  • Drawers for lower kitchen cabinets.
  • Hanging in various places in the kitchen (under the ceiling, above the window, on the wall).

Cooking at home buys pot sets to make it easier to store kitchen utensils. These sets are designed in such a way that one of the pans can easily be placed in another - according to the principle of nesting dolls. If the space of the cabinet and the height of the shelf allow, then each pan is placed one on top of the other along with a lid. The lid can be turned over and the next pot can be placed on the closed lower one. If space is limited, you can simply put the pans together - one inside the other, and store the lids separately. However, pots that do not fit into this pyramid may remain in the kitchen.

Storing a row of pots on large but not too high shelves is a habit for many people. Of course, it is not very convenient if the cabinet is deep, then the second row of pots requires additional effort to remove them. It is good when the kitchen is planned in such a way that there is a side cabinet that opens very wide. Its hinged (semicircular) door opens shelves with cooking utensils almost completely.

The best storage option is a deep drawer designed for the tallest pot. The whole set of pans is immediately visible on it. If there is no sliding shelf, you can buy (or make yourself) an additional system that will slide out of the cabinet. It is very convenient to store pots in the kitchen where they are in maximum access, on the lower pull-out shelves, not far from the hob.

Frying pans on the wall or in a cupboard

The hole at the end of the handle, which almost every pan has, is a hint for the owner - the pan must be hooked. Where to store pans in the kitchen, that is, how these hooks for household utensils will be located, is up to the owner.

It is important to understand how many hooks are required and how much space will be allotted for pans. After all, someone prefers a microwave or a double boiler, and for someone, large and small pans are indispensable helpers in the culinary arts. There are six common ways to store pans:

  • Fixed hooks.
  • Roof rails with hooks.
  • Hanging boards for hooks.
  • Shelves specially equipped with organizers.
  • Stands for frying pans.
  • Placement in the oven.

Too many or too few pans, it doesn't matter. In any case, ordinary permanently fixed hooks on the wall will help.

In the practice of many households, the organization of the kitchen space with the help of rails with hanging hooks has become entrenched: they have justified themselves well when placing various kitchen tools, including frying pans and saucepans. Sometimes it becomes necessary to change the place of the hook - when changing the number of pans or their size. Such an opportunity is always available when placed on the railing.

But not only railing, but also a metal grate or a board with holes fixed to the kitchen wall can provide the necessary variability.

Rigid hooks, bars, boards or railings are usually placed on the wall or on the side of the kitchen cabinet.

However, the open hook or rail option is not for everyone. After all, you can hang a pan on the wall as a decoration only when it has been cleaned to a shine, and all deeply ingrained dirt has been dealt with. And this is a hard task.

To hide unsightly crockery, a railing on the inside of the cabinet door or a cabinet with a pull-out bar will do. All pots and pans with a handle can be hung on these "hidden" hooks.

Those who want to simply place the pans, and not hang them, should be reminded that manufacturers do not recommend stacking one into another: this is how pans with non-stick coating deteriorate.

A specially equipped cabinet for storing frying pans in the kitchen comes to the rescue, with relatively small shelves designed for each of them separately. Or a special stand located in the cabinet, on which each pan will take its own place. There are different types of coasters: some provide for horizontal placement, while others are made according to the principle of drying dishes, and the pan is placed sideways in them.

In a rationally organized kitchen, frying pans that are used in different ways are located close to the stove or sink. Even better - between them. If the pans are not hanging on the wall, then they tend to occupy the lower kitchen cabinets, and sometimes take root in the oven.

Placement of lids

The simplest arrangement is to place all the lids next to the plates in the hanging dish rack. If this shelf is long enough, then there are no problems: the lids are washed, they are not far from the plates, everything is well systematized. All items are immediately in front of your eyes, they are easily accessible. But the cells for plates can be too narrow, which means they are not suitable for volumetric lids. It is highly likely that they will fall on the plates: it is so easy to break more fragile dishes.

Special lid racks are organized according to the principle of normal drying. They can be inside a drawer or stand alone on a kitchen work surface. There are several good ways to place the lids:

  • Special supports on the work surface.
  • Separate sliding shallow shelf in the cabinet.
  • Roof rails into which covers can be inserted.
  • Angled hooks.
  • Narrow compartment inside drawer with pots.
  • Decorative narrow shelf.
  • Hanging stand for lids of different diameters.
  • Specially shaped lid handle for hanging on a hook or pan handle.

Sometimes a separate shallow drawer is loaded with lids. If you remember exactly which pan each of them belongs to, then this is a completely tolerable option, although when the box moves, chips on the enameled lids are possible. It is somewhat better when the drawer for storing pots has a narrow compartment on the side for free-standing lids.

A good option - all the same roof rails: they will accommodate covers, without any additional devices. Replacing the rails - two stationary hooks attached at an angle to the left and right in such a way that the cover is inserted into them as if into grooves. Another good storage method is a narrow hanging decorative shelf, the lids will stand in it as an addition to the kitchen design.

An ideal option for storing pot lids in the kitchen is a special hinged stand, which has compartments for lids of different diameters. Such a stand can be placed anywhere - on the wall or on the inside of the cabinet door, on the side panel or on the railing. You can provide for the placement of a hinged stand when drawing up a layout for a new kitchen. But even in a habitable space, there will always be a suitable place for her.

New purchases

When buying a new set of frying pans or saucepans, pay attention to their lids. There is an interesting option when they can be placed on the handle of the pan during storage. This is provided for by the very shape of the lid handle - it is a “bridge”: a pan handle can be easily placed under it, which, in turn, will be located on a hook.

A useful thing in the household is a special stand under the lid for the time when the cooking process itself is in progress. Usually, while stirring with one hand, hold the lid in the other. But it is much easier to put it on a plate of a suitable size or a special stand in which the hot lid will find a stable and safe position. These new items are on sale.

Cast iron cookware is back in fashion. She will have to pay special respect and place, along with the covers, on a separate lower shelf in the closet. Separating a cast-iron pan with its “native” lid is impractical. This suggests not only the significant weight of this dish, but also the fact that a closed cast-iron pan is better preserved in this way.

Extravagant storage

Placing pots, stewpans and frying pans under the ceiling or on the window - this option is recommended by some designers, recalling that this is country style. But given the traditional as well as ergonomic ways of organizing the kitchen space, such ways do not look very practical. Especially for women: the items are too high, not “at hand”, which means they will have to be taken out with a stepladder.

Dishes that are not put away in cupboards and are not used daily will still collect dust and soot. And this plaque will need to be periodically removed: remove, wash and again place all the “suspended” objects in their places. It should be noted that such an arrangement of pots and pans blocks the lighting - natural and additional.

However, whatever method of storage is chosen, it should suit the owner himself or the mistress of the kitchen.

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