Putting the right and nicely organized kitchen tools and gadgets in small kitchen drawers can make all the difference in your culinary experience.
Within the bustling confines of your kitchen, easy access to essential items becomes paramount for a seamless cooking experience. These diminutive yet versatile drawers hold a treasure trove of possibilities, providing convenient proximity to your culinary arsenal.
But what items are best suited for these compact spaces? In these compact drawers, you’ll find the perfect space for various items frequently used in the kitchen.
You can store utensils, cutlery, kitchen gadgets, and napkins, ensuring you’re always ready to whip up your favorite recipes. Also, you can store your coffee and tea supplies in these drawers for that morning brew.
We will discuss what items should go in which drawers and how to organize your kitchen drawers properly. So, let’s look at some useful suggestions for maximizing your small kitchen drawers.
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What to Put In Small Kitchen Drawers? A Comprehensive List of Essentials
You’ll need to organize essential items in your small kitchen drawers to make the most of the space. Your small kitchen drawers can hold these things:
- Cutlery
- Kitchen Gadgets
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Small Cooking Utensils
- Napkins and Dish Towels
- Food Storage Bags
- Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Snacks
- Spices
Let’s discuss what to keep in small kitchen drawers in detail:
1. Cutlery
When considering what to put in your small kitchen drawers, cutlery should be at the top of your list.
Keep your knives, forks, spoons, and other utensils well-organized in utensil trays or organizers. This ensures easy access and prevents clutter in your small kitchen drawers.
Our suggestion is to separate each type of cutlery into designated compartments to create a neat and efficient system that will make meal preparation a breeze.
2. Kitchen Gadgets
Store your handy kitchen gadgets in dedicated compartments to effortlessly access them whenever needed, creating a sense of convenience and efficiency in your culinary adventures.
Small kitchen drawers are perfect for organizing peelers, zesters, can openers, and other essential tools. By designating specific compartments for these gadgets, you ensure that they are always within reach when cooking.
This saves time and adds a touch of organization to your kitchen space, simplifying finding what you need.
3. Measuring Spoons and Cups
Keep all your measuring spoons and cups together in one section for quick and easy access, making your cooking and baking tasks a breeze. Organizing them in a small kitchen drawer means you’ll never have to search for the right measurement again.
4. Small Cooking Utensils
Spatulas, tongs, whisks, and other small cooking utensils can easily clutter your kitchen counters and cabinets if not stored properly.
To ensure that everything stays neat and accessible, we recommend storing your small cooking utensils in dividers or containers within your small kitchen drawers. This will keep everything in place and allow you to find what you need during meal prep or cooking quickly.
5. Napkins and Dish Towels
Keep your napkins and dish towels within reach by rolling or folding them neatly in your small kitchen drawers. This saves valuable counter or wall space while ensuring you have clean towels on hand.
Also, having a dedicated drawer for linens helps them avoid getting mixed up with other kitchen tools or ending up in different drawers.
6. Food Storage Bags
Parchment paper, ziplock bags, and aluminum foil are also important kitchen items you can store in your small kitchen drawer. Use compartments to keep these items together, making it easier to wrap and store food items more efficiently and organized.
7. Coffee/Tea Supplies
To create a dedicated space for coffee filters, tea bags, and stirring spoons, consider storing them in a designated drawer section. This way, you will have all your coffee or tea essentials in one place, making it easier to brew your morning cup without searching through multiple kitchen drawers.
8. Snacks
You can also use your small kitchen drawers to store grab-and-go snacks like granola bars and packaged nuts. This is an excellent way to keep quick snacks available and within reach whenever needed.
Also, organizing snacks in your small kitchen drawers will keep these items separated from other food items, preventing unnecessary clutter in your kitchen.
9. Spices
If you have a designated spice drawer, consider storing small spice containers in it. This makes finding and using spices while cooking or baking much more manageable.
Utilizing drawer organizers or dividers designed specifically for spices helps ensure that everything stays in its proper place and doesn’t get mixed up. Also, keeping spices in a uniform container will ensure they take up less space in your small kitchen drawers.
What Goes in What Kitchen Drawers?
We found that kitchen drawers come in both deep drawers and slim drawers. Therefore, let us determine which drawers are best suited to storing what type of item.
1. Deeper Drawers
Deeper drawer storage accommodates pots, pans, and other larger cookware. You don’t stack these cookware categories on top of each other when storing them. Because this can lead to scratches, chipping, and general wear and tear.
You can also store your chinaware in deep drawers, so setting the table and accessing dinnerware is easier.
These drawers can also store electrical appliances like blenders, smoothie makers, and food processors. The deep space accommodates their height and bulk, securing them safely.
As for items like chopping boards, baking trays, and casserole dishes, placing them vertically between dividers saves space and prevents clutter.
2. Slim Drawers
Slim drawers are perfect for keeping cutlery and utensils organized. Using trays or dividers helps keep them separated and easy to find. You can store napkins and kitchen linens in slim drawers to keep them neat.
Several coffee and tea enthusiasts found that slim drawers conveniently store their essentials, including filters, tea bags, and stirring spoons.
For grab-and-go snacks and packaged treats, slim drawers offer quick access and an efficient way to keep these items organized. You can also keep ziplock bags, parchment paper, and aluminum foil in these drawers.
Measuring utensils like spoons and cups are best kept separate from other kitchen items. Slim drawers provide an excellent solution for keeping all measuring tools in one place.
A slim drawer is also ideal for storing small cooking utensils like spatulas, tongs, whisks, and other essential tools.
How Do You Organize Small Kitchen Drawers Effectively?
You can follow these instructions to organize your small kitchen drawers:
1. Use Drawer Dividers
In our opinion, drawer dividers can be an effective solution when organizing small kitchen drawers. They help to create separate spaces for different items, making it easier to find what you need quickly.
You can either purchase ready-made drawer dividers or make custom inserts. Custom inserts can help you create a specific section for items such as utensils, measuring cups, or spices. Kitchen drawer dividers prevent things from mixing up and keep things organized.
2. Group Similar Items Together
Organizing items by category is an effective way to maintain a more organized kitchen. You can group items such as utensils in one section and coffee/tea supplies in another.
This way, you can quickly find what you are looking for, which will help prevent clutter. Grouping similar items together makes finding what you need more efficient.
3. Utilize Clear Containers
Clear containers are an excellent storage solution for small kitchen drawers. They provide better visibility and allow you to see the contents without opening the drawers.
You can use them to store items such as spice jars and packets, tea and coffee bags, or even cutlery. With clear containers, you can quickly identify what is in your drawers without sifting through them all.
4. Vertical Storage
Vertical storage is an excellent technique to free up horizontal space while preventing clutter in kitchen drawers.
You can store baking trays, chopping boards, and casserole dishes vertically between dividers. With this type of storage, you can easily access your stuff when you need it.
It can also keep your kitchen drawers looking neat and tidy. When vertical storage is utilized, it frees up horizontal space to store more items in your drawers.
5. Consider Frequency of Use
When organizing small kitchen drawers, it’s crucial to consider the frequency of use of each item. Keep frequently used items closer to the front of the drawers for easy access.
Items used less often can be placed towards the back. This way, you can easily access the items you use most often without digging through all your drawers.
8. Label Items
We also found that labeling your small kitchen drawers is an effective way to keep things organized and make sure they’re returned to their rightful places. This is especially important in pantry drawers or those with similar items.
You can use labels with clear, legible writing that specifies the contents of each drawer. Labeling your items can avoid confusion and save time searching for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many questions that homeowners may have about kitchen drawer organization, and you may also have these questions. So, let’s check out some FAQs.
How many drawers should a kitchen have?
For an effective kitchen storage solution, experts recommend at least one stacked drawer cabinet for every double-door cabinet. Specifically, a three-drawer stack with a smaller top drawer and two larger lower drawers is highly recommended.
This setup optimizes storage space and allows for better organization of kitchen essentials. By incorporating these types of drawers, you can easily store and easily access utensils, cutlery, and other kitchen items.
How often should I organize my kitchen drawers?
To maintain an organized kitchen, we recommend you set aside 10 minutes every few weeks to declutter anything accumulated in your drawers. This approach will help prevent clutter from becoming overwhelming and time-consuming.
Also, regular decluttering will keep your kitchen more functional and efficient, ensuring that everything you need is easily accessible.
What is the best material for kitchen drawer organizers?
The ideal material for kitchen drawer organizers would depend on personal preferences and practical needs. Generally, we found that bamboo wood, plywood, and plastic are good choices for most people. Plastic is a great option if you’re looking for convenience because it’s dishwasher-safe.
On the other hand, bamboo wood is eco-friendly and has an appealing aesthetic but requires hand washing for proper care.
Conclusion
Organizing your small kitchen drawers is essential for maximizing space and enhancing your culinary experience. You can ensure easy access and efficiency during meal preparation by strategically placing items like cutlery, kitchen gadgets, measuring tools, and spices in designated compartments.
Utilizing drawer dividers, clear containers, and vertical storage can help maintain order and prevent clutter. Remember to group similar items together and consider the frequency of use when arranging your kitchen essentials.
With these tips, your small kitchen drawers will become a well-organized treasure trove that elevates your cooking endeavors and adds a touch of convenience to your daily routine.
