Walking into a clean, ready-to-use kitchen, with a fridge and cupboards clearly stocked with nourishing ingredients and all the functional equipment you need within easy reach makes the inevitable daily task of cooking, eating and tidying up infinitely more efficient and pleasant. It’s not about spending a lot of money or having the fanciest things, but stocking up on a few essentials and organizing those (many of which can be reused or repurposed elsewhere if needed) can really do the biggest difference in keeping it that way. I am so passionate about this subject that I I wrote an entire book on itbut if you want to jump right in, here are my 10 favorite kitchen storage must-haves.
A
Enough (and suitably sized) bins to sort waste, compost, food waste and recycle easily and quickly according to local collection requirements.
TWO
Secure knife storage area. I suggest either getting a knife block from a drawer or countertop or using a magnetic knife strip. This prevents knives from getting mixed up with other utensils, helps them stay sharp, and ensures they are easy to access for food preparation.
THREE
Glass storage containers: I like clip-on ones for storing leftovers or batch cooking, large airtight jars for bulk dried goods, and lots of clean, reused jam jars for small batches of things (like spices, seeds, leftovers, etc.). ). This means you can instantly see what you have, what needs to be eaten, and what needs to be added to the shopping list.
FOUR
A whiteboard or notepad on the refrigerator door to write a rough weekly meal plan and write down the shopping list.
FIVE
A turntable or small tray for oils, flavorings, vinegars and seasonings to keep next to the oven. This will help you elevate healthy cooking with a splash of flavor without any extra effort.
SIX
Transparent boxes to organize food stocks in cupboards and refrigerators. Giving everything a dedicated place not only helps us keep an eye on stock levels, but also makes our storage work more efficient (as it allows us to use the full height of the shelves without creating a turret of packaging food).
SEVEN
An opaque box, box or basket to hide fun foods or things we don’t want to eat so often. Remember: out of sight, out of mind. It’s much easier to practice moderation when we don’t have to fight temptation every time we walk into the kitchen or open our cupboards!
EIGHT
Larger plastic bins, boxes or baskets for upper shelves or to place on top of cabinets to store bulk purchases and inventory. This allows us to buy in bulk (and therefore save a little money) while making it much easier to restock in one go. Look for those with a lid to keep contents clean and fresh.
NINE
Simple labels and a Sharpie pen. Neglected but so useful, and perhaps the easiest way to feel on top of things. Adding a label to recycled cardboard boxes or reused plastic trays instantly makes them feel more considered.
TEN
Drawer dividers. It may seem like an unnecessary purchase, but they really make it easier to have a place for everything and keep everything in its place.