Organizing your Kitchen

Kitchens are one of the trickiest spaces in a home to organize.  We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and it often serves many more functions than just the place to prepare and eat meals.  A well-functioning kitchen should:

• Provide a space to easily prepare healthy meals and make healthy choices; and
• Serve as a place to gather with loved ones.  

To do these things, creating a clutter-free environment is essential for a highly functional and efficient kitchen.  This means keeping counter tops as clear as possible. 

Let’s dive into how to organize your kitchen.  Think about the layout of your kitchen.  The area within the sink-stove-fridge triangle is considered “prime real estate,” due to the frequency of activity in this space.  (It’s OK if you don’t have a triangle - just envision the areas near these stations.)  Ideally, we would have what we need at each of these stations.  To do this, zone out your kitchen.  Store equipment/tools closest to where they are first used, creating one-step centers as follows:

• Non-consumables center – store plates, bowls, cups, and silverware near the dishwasher or sink so you can easily store them after they are cleaned.
• Cleaning center – store cleaning tools under your sink since you will be using water as you clean.
• Food preparation center – store food preparation tools (e.g., vegetable peeler and can opener) near your sink so you can easily wash vegetables.  Likewise, store knives/cutting/chopping utensils and cutting boards in nearby drawers and cabinets (between sink and fridge ideally).
• Consumables center – non-perishable food in a pantry that is not centralized is fine because you can grab everything you need to prepare the meal and bring it to the preparation center.
• Cooking center – position near stove; store pots, pans, cooking utensils, cooking oils, and spices in nearby drawers and cabinets.

While organizing these centers, begin by removing clutter and items not related to the center’s function.  Clear your counters of small appliances you don’t use at least one time per week and store them in a cabinet.  If you find your cabinets too full to accommodate these items, consider letting go of the gadgets you rarely use.  Most of these “rarely used” items aren’t necessary and take up much-needed space.  Why keep a food chopper when a knife will suffice?

Next, you want to consider accessibility in each center.  Place items strategically as follows:

• Place items more frequently used in easy to reach drawers or cabinets.
• Place heavy items low, and light items high.
• In the consumables center, put protein and veggies at eye level and carbs and sweets below eye level.  You will be more apt to select something that is most visible first.
• In the cooking center, keep spices organized and fresh.  Spices enhance the taste of healthy food without adding calories and fat.