Sick of Kitchen Clutter? Here's How to Organize Your Utensil Drawer Like a Pro
Is your utensil drawer a jumbled mess of spatulas, ladles, whisks and who knows what else? Do you waste precious time rummaging around every time you cook, never able to find the right tool? If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Messy, disorganized kitchen drawers are a common problem in many homes.
But it doesn't have to be that way. With some simple organizing tricks, you can transform that cluttered mess into a tidy, efficient utensil drawer. Read on to learn how to organize your kitchen utensil drawer like a total pro.
Why Your Utensil Drawer Gets Messy
There are a few common reasons utensil drawers tend to get disorganized and cluttered over time:
- Accumulating new cooking gadgets and tools without removing older, unused ones
- Utensils get dumped or tossed back randomly after use instead of being returned to designated spots
- No organization system currently in place - everything is just thrown in together
- Too many items crammed into a small drawer space
Benefits of an Organized Utensil Drawer
Putting in the effort to organize will make your time in the kitchen so much more enjoyable. Here are some of the benefits of a tidy, organized utensil drawer:
- Find the right utensil faster when cooking and prepping meals
- Less wasted time searching for the tool you need
- More efficient cooking and meal prep
- Less frustration hunting for items
- Enjoy cooking more in a clean, organized space
Assess the Current Situation
Before you can organize, you need to fully assess what all you currently have crammed in that messy drawer. Follow these steps:
- Empty the entire drawer contents
- Categorize the types of items - kitchen utensils, gadgets, flatware, etc.
- Take inventory and evaluate what you actually use on a regular basis vs. unused stuff just taking up space
- Be ruthless - purge unnecessary, duplicate, or broken items
Essential Supplies for Organizing & Storage
Having the right organizational tools and storage solutions will make getting your drawer tidy far easier. Some essentials to have on hand:
- Adjustable dividers to create customizable compartments
- Removable trays or bins to group small items
- Vertical in-drawer racks or holders to neatly store long utensils
- Labels - removable recommend for rearranging - to identify contents
Steps for Organizing Your Utensil Drawer
Group Similar Utensils Together
Keep utensils of the same type together in designated spaces:
- Flatware - forks, spoons
- Long cooking utensils - spatulas, tongs, ladles
- Gadgets - can opener, vegetable peeler, masher
- Measuring tools - cups, spoons
Use Dividers to Create Sections
Insert adjustable dividers to separate the categories of utensils you grouped together. You can adjust them as needed once all your items are inside. Labeling the dividers makes it easy to identify sections.
Arrange Frequently Used Items Accessibly
Place the utensils and tools you use the most frequently right up top or in the front for easy, quick access. Items used less often can go toward the back.
Store Long Utensils Diagonally
Arranging long spatulas, tongs, ladles, etc. diagonally makes better use of vertical drawer space. Store them handle down.
Use Vertical Organizers or Racks
Vertical racks or organizers mounted to the interior sides of your drawer hold bulky utensils like whisks upright - freeing up valuable real estate.
Contain Small Items in Bins or Trays
Smaller gadgets like measuring spoons can go in a removable tray or bin - keeping loose items corralled in one tidy spot. The tray can easily be taken out to access items stored underneath.
Maintaining Organization Long-Term
Setting up the system is just the first step - maintaining organization is ongoing:
- Put every utensil away in its designated spot after each use
- Do a quick tidy and purge as needed every month
- Reorder and adjust components as necessary
- Add new organizational elements as your needs change
If a traditional drawer just isn't working, consider these other storage options:
- Mounted wall rack or rail
- Freestanding caddy or cart
- Hanging organizer or bag
- Lazy susans or slide-out trays
- Pull-out cabinet drawers or organizers
With some effort up front and diligent maintenance, you can keep your utensil drawer neatly organized. Your future self will thank you the next time you're whipping up a meal!