Ella Walter
Pots and pans are essential in every kitchen, but they can be tricky to store. They're big, bulky, and awkwardly shaped, and because they're so frequently used, they need to be stored somewhere easily accessible. There are lots of ways to organise your pots and pans, and the best method for you will depend on your kitchen setup and personal preferences. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Use a designated cabinet: Stack pots and pans in size order and use a cookware rack as a divider to keep them organised and scratch-free.
- Install a hanging rack: Hang your pots and pans from a rack on the ceiling or wall. This saves cabinet space and can look great, but it might not be for you if you don't want your pots and pans on display.
- Store in a deep drawer: Deep drawers are a great option for storing pots and pans, especially if you add internal pan racks or dividers to keep things neat and avoid rattling.
- Use open shelving: Open shelving is a stylish and efficient way to store your pots and pans. It keeps them within easy reach and can create a stylish focal point in your kitchen, but remember that it requires a commitment to keeping things neat and organised.
- Hang from a pegboard: Install a pegboard on a stretch of wall and use hooks to hang up your pots and pans by their handles.
- Store lids separately: Keeping lids on your pots can waste space and cause rattling, so consider storing them separately in a drawer or cabinet near your stove.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Near the stove or cooktop, in a cabinet, on a wall-mounted rack, in a drawer, on a shelf, in a pantry, on a kitchen island, or above the stove |
| Organisation | Stacked by size, separated by dividers, hung on hooks, hung on a pegboard, hung from a ceiling rack, hung from a rail, or stored in a pull-out drawer |
| Accessibility | Easy to reach, stored with commonly used items, stored separately from non-cooking items |
What You'll Learn
Decluttering
Ask yourself some key questions
- How often do I use this?
- Do I like using this particular pot or pan?
- Is this too damaged or worn for use?
- Do I have duplicates of this item?
- Does this cookware have its matching lid?
- How much space do I have to store my pots and pans?
Only keep what you need
Be honest with yourself and only keep the pots and pans that you actually use and like. If you have duplicates or items that are damaged or worn, consider getting rid of them to free up space.
Consider your storage options
If you have limited cabinet space, you could try hanging your pots and pans on a wall-mounted rack, installing a ceiling-mounted pot rack, or using a kitchen cart for extra storage. You could also store larger pots and pans in a pantry or utilise deep drawers to keep your cookware organised and accessible.
Organise lids separately
Lids can be tricky to store, so consider using a lid organiser or storing them in a separate cabinet or drawer near your stove. You could also hang them on a rack or hook to keep them within easy reach.
Edit your collection
If you're struggling to find space for all your pots and pans, consider paring down your collection to just your favourites. You can donate or recycle any items that you don't use regularly to free up space in your kitchen.
Use dividers
Dividers can help you stay organised and prevent your pots and pans from scratching each other. You can purchase dividers or install built-in drawer dividers if you're renovating your kitchen.
Make use of open shelving
Open floating shelves or a hanging rack can be a great way to store pots and pans while adding a decorative touch to your kitchen.
By following these tips, you can effectively declutter your pots and pans, creating a more functional and organised kitchen space.
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Hanging pots and pans
Ceiling-mounted racks can be hung using ceiling beams, ensuring that heavy pots and pans are well-supported. This option is ideal for those with a large cookware collection or weighty items such as cast-iron skillets. When installing a ceiling-mounted rack, ensure that it is high enough so that you don't bump your head on the pots while cooking.
Wall-mounted racks are another option, providing storage for pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils. These can be customized to accommodate pans of varying sizes and are ideal if you don't want your cookware to be the visual centerpiece of your kitchen. Wall-mounted racks can also be installed above the range in a galley kitchen, providing easy access to your cookware.
For a more eclectic look, consider a pegboard with hooks to hang your pots and pans. Pegboards are a great way to organize your cookware and other kitchen supplies in a stylish and space-saving manner. They can be installed on any wall and customized with different colours and accessories to match your kitchen's aesthetic.
When hanging your pots and pans, consider the weight of the items and ensure that the rack or pegboard is installed securely. Additionally, place your hanging storage near your range or stovetop to keep your cookware easily accessible while cooking.
There are a variety of hanging pot and pan rack options available, with different sizes, colours, and mounting capabilities to suit your kitchen's style and your specific needs.
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Storing lids
Use a Lid Organiser
Lid organisers are designed for this purpose and come in various sizes, with some featuring adjustable dividers to fit different-sized lids. They can be made from wood, plastic, or metal and placed inside a cabinet near your pots and pans for a streamlined storage system.
Stack Lids Vertically
If you're storing lids in a drawer, stack them vertically or diagonally to maximise space. You can also use tension rods or drawer dividers to separate them and keep them upright.
Over-the-Door Rack
An over-the-door rack provides storage for multiple lids without taking up cabinet space. It can be installed inside a cabinet door or mounted on the wall, and the metal tiers hold each lid securely while making them easy to remove.
Store Lids with Pots
Keep pots and lids together so they're easy to grab. You can do this in a deep drawer, arranging them by size to maximise space. Alternatively, you can hang them together on a pot rail or pegboard.
Use a Lazy Susan Cabinet
A Lazy Susan installed in a corner cabinet is a great way to store cookware. You can suspend pots and pans from the shelves and place lids on the bottom for quick access.
Customise a Cabinet
Speak to a kitchen designer about having bespoke organiser inserts or inner drawers installed for storing lids. You can also mount a rack on the back of the cabinet door to slot lids into.
Store Less Frequently Used Lids Elsewhere
If you're trying to save space, store less frequently used lids in the pantry or another closet. This way, they don't take up valuable kitchen cabinet space but are still easily accessible when needed.
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Stacking
Firstly, it is important to declutter and only keep the pots and pans that you regularly use. Having a smaller collection will make it easier to stack and store them. You can also consider items that can play a dual purpose, such as cast-iron pots that can go from the oven to the table, or Pyrex baking dishes that can go from the oven to the fridge.
When stacking your pots and pans, it is recommended to group them by use, such as frying pans, saucepans, and casserole dishes. Then, stack them by size, starting with the largest on the bottom. If you have the height space, you can keep the lids on your pots, but be sure to flip them upside down so that the handle is facing downwards. This will create a flatter, smoother surface for stacking the next pot and will also keep the lids and pots together.
To prevent scratching, it is a good idea to use protectors between each pot and pan when stacking them. You can use old cloth napkins, potholders, or cloth dividers to separate the pots and pans and protect them from scratches.
If you are stacking your pots and pans in a cabinet, consider using a cookware rack as a divider to keep the pans organised and prevent scratching. You can also nest the pots and pans together to save space, especially if you are moving house and need to pack them into boxes. Just be sure to use sufficient padding to protect your cookware.
By following these tips, you can effectively stack your pots and pans to save space and create a well-organised system.
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Using drawers
If you're looking to use drawers to store your pots and pans, you'll need to ensure they're deep enough to fit the cookware. While most pots and pans are too large for an average kitchen drawer, a deep drawer should be able to accommodate them. If you're renovating your kitchen, consider installing bigger drawers.
A wide, deep drawer will likely allow you to store all your pots and pans in one place, which is much easier than rummaging around at the back of a cabinet. To avoid rattling when opening and closing the drawer, consider installing an internal pan rack to allow easy access and space around each item. Vertical and horizontal racks are available to make the best use of the space.
Lining the bottom of the drawer can reduce noise and protect your pots and pans from scratches. A pegboard liner is a clever hack; simply adjust the dowels to separate casserole dishes from frying pans, for example.
If you're storing pots and pans that you use less frequently, you could also consider making space for them in a deep pantry drawer.
For pots and pans with lids, you could stack the lids vertically along one side of the drawer, using tension rods to separate them. Alternatively, you could keep the lids on your pots while they're in the drawer, but flip them upside down so the handle sticks inside the pot. This will give you a flatter, smoother surface for stacking another pot on top.
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Frequently asked questions
Wrap your pots and pans in paper and load them at the bottom of any box. Nest the pots and pans together to save space and wrap the lids separately, being careful to protect any glass lids. Label the box as heavy to prevent any injury during the moving process.
There are several ways to store your pots and pans. You can hang them on a wall or ceiling rack, store them in a designated cabinet, or put them in a drawer. If you use a cabinet or drawer, you can use a cookware rack or dividers to keep them organised. If you use a wall or ceiling rack, you can hang the lids from the bars or tuck them behind the bars.
First, get rid of any pots and pans you don't need. Then, group the remaining items by use and stack them by size, starting with the largest on the bottom. If you have the space, you can keep the lids on your pots but flip them upside down so the handle is facing downwards, which will create a flatter surface for stacking.
