Have you already de-cluttered your kitchen tools? That’s one of the things that I did during the quarantine. Because of that, I realized that I had a lot of kitchen items that I haven’t used in a long time because, a) I’ve forgotten about them; and, b) I had no use for them. When I first started baking, I bought so many kitchenware and baking tools without giving much thought when I would really need them. Yeah I had a list but I got carried away due to my excitement. Hence, those cooking tools were stuck in the innermost part of my kitchen drawers – lost and forgotten.
How I De-Cluttered My Kitchenware
Before I started de-cluttering, I made sure that I had already prepared food for the whole day. I cooked BBQ Baked Beans earlier and that should last until dinner. They just need to reheat it in the oven when they’re ready to eat. When I start cleaning up, it usually takes me the whole day coz I always find something to clean up.
The first thing I did was to clean-up the kitchen area. I didn’t want extra germs to get into my clean kitchen tools. I also prepared some containers where I can sort different cooking and baking tools.
Practical Tips to Organize Your Cooking and Baking Tools
Organizing and de-cluttering your kitchen tools is tedious yet rewarding. You will also realize that you have so much storage space. BUT, that is not another reason to buy more unnecessary kitchen tools. To help you de-clutter your kitchen, here are some questions you need to ask yourself:
- Have I used it in the past 6 months?
- Are there duplicate items?
- Are they in good condition?
If you haven’t used them recently mainly because there are similar items or they are in bad condition, then it’s time to throw them away. Likewise, if they have been unused but in good condition, you can just donate them to those in need.
To help you get started in de-cluttering your kitchenware, cooking tools, and baking tools, here are some tips for you:
- Categorize your kitchen tools according to use. Place your most-used kitchen tools within reach. Tip: install tension rods and hooks near your kitchen stove and hang your mixing spoons, trivets, spatulas, and kitchen shears. If you like cooking in the oven, your baking pan and rack set should also be within reach. Did you know that you can also use your cooling racks as kitchen organizers?
- Group your cooking and baking tools. For example, your baking tools such as rolling pins, cookie cutters, baking sheets, cookie cooling racks, and mixer should be near each other. You may want to put your stand mixer in a cabinet and have your baking items in one drawer. Since the baking pans and cooling racks are stackable, you can store them in shelves upright or horizontally.
- Use small spaces such as the inside doors of cabinets to store additional kitchen tools. You can install hooks on the insides and place the pot and pan covers inside. You can also install a DIY shelf that fits the small space between your fridge and the wall. Here’s an idea from Pinterest.
- Re-purpose old jars and food cans. If you have an abundance of mason jars, old cans, or glass jars, you can re-purpose them and use them to store spoons, knives, and forks. Just make sure that you dry the utensils well before storing and keep them inside a clean cabinet.
- Install drawer organizers. You can buy drawer organizers at Amazon or create your own using a sturdy cardboard and some clean cloth. The great thing about DIY drawer organizers is you can customize according to your preference. Having drawer organizers is a perfect way to separate spoons, from forks, knives, and other kitchenware.
The Verdict
A clean and organized kitchen is such a pleasure to be in! Since I have successfully de-cluttered my kitchenwre, baking and cooking tools, I am so hyped to cook something delicious soon! I cannot believe how much unused cooking tools I have — at least someone else will be happy to have them.
I hope these tips will help you in de-cluttering and organizing your kitchenware and cooking tools. Feel free to share this with your family and friends! Don’t forget to tell us all about your experience on the comments section, too.