Today’s lesson is 341 words, a 1 min 21 sec reading time. Subscribe here.
📍Introduction
Rummaging through cupboards looking for all the items you need to prepare a dish is time-consuming and frustrating. Use these tips to get your kitchen into working order for faster and more efficient cooking.
📝 Notes, Tips, Tricks:
The kitchen is your warehouse. Disorganization quickly leads to chaos. You should be able to find items within ~15 seconds of needing them.
Grouping tools & ingredients is efficient cooking’s secret sauce. Digging for items is a time-suck. Create “stations” or “zones” by task (e.g., tea/coffee, baking), type (e.g., spices in the rack, fruit in a bowl), or storage need (e.g., delicate produce in fridge crisper).
Size matters. Keep heavy items down low & don’t stack things in a way that makes them hard to lift out. Keep small items in baskets or see-through bins. Reuse boxes where possible. Set up drawer organizers for small items.
Declutter ~2x/year. Remove duplicates, damaged items, & anything you don’t use once per month. Store rarely used items elsewhere to free up space (e.g., instant pot in a closet).
Keep long utensils in a crock near the stove for easy access. Other commonly used items should be within easy reach.
Don’t store oil or spices near the stove. Heat degrades them.
The less you have in the cabinets, the less you will have on the counters. The less you have on your counters, the cleaner your kitchen will be.
Once a year, “kon mari” your kitchen. This means take everything out at once, donate items you don’t love, & organize anew. If you are struggling to decide, put an item in “kitchen purgatory.” Place it in a box outside the kitchen. If you don’t use it in two months, donate or recycle it.
Canned & packaged goods eventually expire. If you don’t think you’ll use something soon-ish, consider donating it to your local food bank.
Keep a notebook in the kitchen to jot down “To Do’s” & shopping lists—this reduces your mental load.
🎓 Further Studies:
Kitchen Organization