How to Organize Your Kitchen Into 5 Zones

Once you’ve implemented the seven baby steps from Home Organization, you can begin to breathe a little bit easier. Let’s keep the momentum going by digging a little deeper into your organizational journey by learning how to organize your kitchen using zones.

The kitchen is the most used room in our house, so I thought I would post some tips on how I organize it and keep it running smoothly. I believe that a kitchen will function effectively if it is organized well.

Why You Should Organize Your Kitchen Using Zones

Before you begin to organize your kitchen using zones, you will first have to figure out what your storage needs are. Take a look at the contents of your drawers and cabinets. Are the items located where you use them? Can you grab an object without moving others out of the way?

Be sure to look at each piece and determine if it is something you need to keep. You may realize you have multiple items that you haven’t used in a while and can donate or recycle.

What are the 5 Work Zones in a Kitchen?

There are 5 work zones in a kitchen, and it’s best to store the items where you use them. The 5 zones are food preparation, refrigerator, stove, sink & cleanup, and serving. Take a look at your kitchen and note where these zones are in your kitchen.

Trust me, when you store your items in the right zone, you will be able to prepare meals and put things away more quickly and efficiently. I like to periodically go through my cabinets and drawers to make sure items are where they should be.

Once you locate the zones in your kitchen, you can start moving items to where they belong. The following ideas will help you decide where they should go.

What Goes in Each Zone When Organizing Your Kitchen

Where to Store Cooking Utensils

Place spoons, spatulas, ladles, and whisks near the stove. Some options for storage include a utensil holder on the counter or a rail installed on the wall above the stove. You can also store them in a drawer if you have one near the stove. Now all of your utensils are accessible while you cook.

Flatware Storage Tips in Your Kitchen

Store forks, knives, spoons, and other small kitchen utensils in drawers near the prep and cleaning areas. To eliminate chaos, select an organizer that fits your drawer.  Organizers come in wood, plastic, or wire, and some stack within a drawer to maximize space.

Creative Solutions to Store Pots, Pans & Lids

The best spot for pots is in a base cabinet near the cooktop. Cookie sheets, broiler pans, baking pans, and cutting boards should go near the oven. If you are tight on space, you can purchase a lid holder to hang inside the door of the base cabinet. Lid holders are also available as a shelf rack and will hold them vertically on a shelf or the bottom of a cabinet.

How to Store Knives in Your Kitchen

 

Keep knives near the food prep area. They can be stored on a magnetic wall strip, a freestanding block, or in a drawer.

Organize Cooking Materials in Your Kitchen

 

Put items like cooking oils, spices, and condiments you frequently use near the stove. They can be stored in drawers, in an upper or lower cabinet, or on a shelf on the wall. Baking ingredients and dry goods can live on the counter in canisters.

Organizing Tips for Storing Dishes

Dishes should be stored near the sink or dishwasher. Most people place dishes in upper cabinets. However, you can also have a plate rack on the countertop or put the dishes in a deep drawer. Shelf maximizers will allow you to use more space in the cabinet. Maximizers come in wood, wire, and acrylic. Some sit on a shelf, and others can hang below it.

Storing Cleaning Supplies in Your Kitchen

Use the space under the sink for cleaning supplies. Consider putting a lock on the cabinet if you have little ones running around. You can also keep your trash under the sink if you don’t have a pull-out trash bin.

Should You Keep Small Appliances in Your Kitchen?

Only keep the appliances that you use every day on the countertop-put all others in a base cabinet. Having only items of necessity on the counter will give you more room to prepare meals and will help your kitchen look less cluttered.

What Goes in the Pantry When You Organize Your Kitchen

Use the pantry for storing non-perishable food and dry goods. Keep everything in view-store larger items behind shorter ones on risers so they don’t get lost in the back. If you can see everything in your pantry, you will always know what you have on hand and eliminate multiple purchases. There are options to replace your shelves in the pantry or cabinet with sliding drawers, or you can install small racks on the inside of the door to hold condiments, foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags, or small snacks.

Creative Ways to Store Linen When Organizing Your Kitchen

Store everyday linens like placemats, tablecloths, and napkins in drawers near the serving area. You can use adjustable dividers to separate the items in the drawer.

Where to Store Wine in Your Kitchen

Wine should be stored on its side, away from direct sunlight and heat. Avoid places near the stove, oven, or dishwasher. Here are bottle holders that fit inside cabinets.

The Best Storage Containers for Your Refrigerator and Freezer

Empty your refrigerator and freezer and give them a good cleaning. Toss any expired or spoiled food. When refilling the fridge, put similar items together and be sure to put older food upfront. When storing leftovers, make sure they are in the smallest container that they will fit in because air increases the chance of bacteria getting onto the food. Also, label leftovers and items in the freezer with the date so you can be sure to eat them before they spoil.

How to Store Food Properly When You Organize Your Kitchen

• Eggs should be left in their original carton and should not be stored on the refrigerator door because the temperature fluctuates each time you open the door. The best place for eggs is in the back where it is coldest, and they will keep for at least three weeks past the expiration date on the carton.
• Fish should be refrigerated as soon as you get home and eaten within one or two days. If you are not going to eat the fish within two days, store it in the freezer for up to six months.
• Store meat in the back of the refrigerator as soon as you get home and cook it within 24 hours. If you freeze the meat, wrap it in foil or plastic wrap. Freeze ground meat for up to 4 months and other meats for up to 9 months. If you use freezer bags, squeeze out the excess air before sealing.

The Benefits of Organizing Your Kitchen into Zones

Creating work zones in your kitchen provides many benefits that will enhance your cooking experience. It increases efficiency by streamlining your workflow, and with designated zones for prepping, cooking, and cleaning, you’ll never waste time searching for utensils or ingredients again. Everything will be in its rightful place, making tasks seamless and reducing clutter.

Creating work zones also promotes better organization and cleanliness. As you allocate specific areas for specific tasks, you’ll naturally become more organized in storing and categorizing your kitchen tools and ingredients. This not only makes them easily accessible but also simplifies clean-up, as you can quickly return items to their designated zones after use.

As you can see, it is quite easy to transform your kitchen from one you dread being in into one you don’t want to leave!

Feel free to share how you organize your kitchen and how it helps you to stay organized. I’d love to know! 😉

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Related Articles:

• Organize a Small Laundry Room
• Simple Ways to Organize Your Linen Closet
• The Best Way to Organize Your Pantry