How to Organize Your Pots and Pans
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We understand the frustration many people face in the kitchen, and we’re here to help. Here are a few tips on how to organize your pots and pans!
Cooking for yourself or your family can be so much fun! Learning new recipes, trying new things, everything is just great. At least until you can’t find that saucepan or pasta pot you need to get things cooking. This can be a big frustration. We’re here to help with a few tips on how to organize your pots and pans!
Wondering where to begin? Get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!
How to Organize Your Pots and Pans
When you are organizing your pots and pans, there are lots of things to keep in mind.
Have you ever wondered, “how do you organize pans and lids?” Keeping them together (and not losing the lids) can be quite the challenge! Thankfully, we have some helpful tips that will show you how to organize kitchen pans quickly!
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide that will help you organize your pots and pans for good.
Time needed: 1 hour
Follow these steps to organize your pots and pans in your kitchen.
- Only Keep What You Need
Get rid of any pots or pans that you haven’t used recently. Consider only keeping a few duplicates.
- Store Them Where You Can Reach Them
Find a storage solution for your pots and pans that puts them in a place you can reach. Consider hanging them up or storing them vertically.
- Maintain Your Storage Systems
After you establish a storage system that works for your pots and pans, update it whenever it becomes disorganized or doesn’t work for your family anymore.
What NOT To Do With Your Pots and Pans
First, let’s get started with two common things people do that they really shouldn’t.
Don’t Nest Your Pans
Don’t nest your pans! Doing this can damage the cooking surface of your pans, especially on nonstick cookware, making them more difficult to cook in.
It might seem like the quickest idea or one that is just easier to do. But if you can find any other way to store your pots and pans, do it. This will make them last longer and save you time when you need one.
Don’t Pile Them Haphazardly
Don’t just put them all in a cabinet haphazardly. Many people have a single cabinet for storage but don’t have any organization system. This leads to the same sort of problems as nesting them but adds the frustration of having to dig to find what you need.
Now that you know what not to do, let’s look at some storage solutions for all your pots and pans.
How Many Pots and Pans does a family need?
How many pots and pans do you need? Unless you cook for a really large family (like more than 7 people), you probably don’t need very many things.
Real Simple explained the pieces of cookware every kitchen needs.
The typical family of 5 only needs:
Think about the dinners you make. You might need 2 saute pans and maybe 2 saucepans.
Take your extra pots and pans and put them in a box. Try to go a week without them. If you don’t miss them at all, donate them. It will be so much easier to store them if you don’t keep too many of them.
Hanging Pots and Pans in the kitchen
One popular storage method is hanging them up in the kitchen. This option is good for accessibility and looks great too. Hanging your cookware is the perfect way to free up cabinet space while making everything easier to use.
Most racks of this style hang down from the ceiling above your work surface, so make sure you have space for something like this first. If you don’t, you could also shake it up by hanging them on the walls, or anywhere else you want.
How to Hang Pots and Pans in the Kitchen
There are a lot of creative ways you can hang up your pots and pans. Here are the easiest and most popular ways.
- Make a Hanging Pot Rack – Suspend a hanging pot rack from the ceiling in your kitchen. You can easily make one out of a wood pallet. This video shows you how to do this, step-by-step.
- Install Hooks on the Wall – this is the easiest way of all. Just install some hooks in the wall and hang them up.
- Create a Pegboard Wall – A pegboard wall can hold more than just pots and pans. It can also hold a spice rack, pot holders, and cooking utensils.
- Install Hooks Under a Cabinet – If you have enough countertop space, you can install hooks underneath a cabinet and hang up your pots and pans here.
Hanging offers flexibility not found in other methods, as it does not require existing cabinets or shelves.
Use Decorative Storage Solutions
Want to show off your cookware without drilling holes in the wall or the chance of hitting your head? Use your pots and pans as part of your decor.
Decorative Storage Solutions for Pots and Pans
Want some creative ways to store your cookware? Here are some beautiful ideas that will add flair to your kitchen.
Find something unique to turn into a cookware rack. This kitchen used an old white picket fence for a rustic feel. You can see the idea
And the above photo from Instagram used arrows. Whichever design you pick, make it your own.
Add an island without any shelves or cabinets and then hang up your cookware underneath. This look is more modern and industrial.
Another way to stylishly show them off is with open shelving. Keep your collection small if you choose this option.
Take inspiration from the displays you see in stores to create your perfect mix of form and function. Be sure to be mindful of your counter space. If you don’t have much room to spare this may not be the best storage method for your situation.
Save Space With Vertical Racks
If you’d rather keep your pots and pans out of sight, you are not alone. Using vertical racks with slots similar to drying racks, you can maximize your existing cabinet storage space without risking damage to your pans.
How to Use Vertical Racks for Pots and Pans
There are two main types of vertical racks: the kind you use inside your cabinets, and the kind you display in your kitchen.
Vertical racks for inside cabinets prevent your pans from scratching other pans when you nest them. Solutions like this one can hold different types of cookware and keep your cabinets organized.
This is a really great solution if you don’t have very much space on the walls or ceiling. Just install a chain from the ceiling to the floor and put hooks in it. This vertical pots and pans organizer is genius.
No matter which kind you use, this is a wonderfully versatile idea. You could sort them by size, the frequency of use, or any other method that works for you. This storage solution is simple and easy to maintain, and it can turn a basic cabinet into a veritable filing cabinet for cookware!
No matter what method you choose, be sure to remember that these are kitchen tools you’ll need to use. Don’t get so caught up in the style that you have to nearly take it all down to get to a particular pot or pan. Everyone has their own unique style, and organization is a perfect way to show that off. What works for one person may seem crazy to you, so don’t be afraid to experiment and discover your organizational personality.
Struggling to get motivated? Sign up to get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!
More Kitchen Organization Articles
Now that you know how to organize your pots and pans, here are some more kitchen organization ideas for more inspiration.
- Pantry Storage Mistakes – This article explains common mistakes and how to avoid them.
- How to Get Rid of Your Junk Drawer – You don’t have to live with it, this is how to finally organize your junk drawer for good.
- Refrigerator Organization – Follow these simple steps to have an organized fridge.
