The kitchen is a place where the housewife spends a lot of time. Various small items are stored in the kitchen space: knives, forks, spatulas, ladles and other utensils. For the convenience of the housewife, they should always be in their place. Everything here should be organized comfortably and rationally.
A stand for spoons and forks and a tray for storing cutlery allow you to functionally place household items. They help you quickly find what you need for cooking.
The importance of proper organization of cutlery storage
If your kitchen is optimally organized, then all the items in it will have their place, and all the little things will be neatly arranged on shelves and drawers. Agree, such an organization is the dream of any housewife. To help her perform her daily routine duties in the kitchen and turn ordinary cooking into an exciting process, you should approach the organization of space in the kitchen with imagination. After all, you must agree: when you are absorbed in the creative process of cooking, there is no time to look for where the spoons are and where the forks are. Therefore, it is advisable to provide a special tray for cutlery. You can choose the option that best suits your budget.
The spacious drawer can accommodate other cutlery in addition to spoons and forks
Features of organizing cutlery in the kitchen
A cutlery drawer is a shallow compartment of a kitchen cabinet, equipped with a special stand (tray) for placing spoons, forks, knives and other items. In addition, if you install a special stand with a tray in it, the devices can be dried there.
As a rule, such a box has a retractable design and is located in the floor module of the furniture complex - in a cabinet or cabinet. In the first case, a drawer for cutlery is located under the tabletop and above the main compartment of the structure. In the second - in the middle of the element, at a level of 80-110 cm from the floor.
The lower module of the kitchen set can be equipped with not one, but several drawers for cutlery, arranged in a row vertically (under each other) or horizontally.
What is a cutlery tray and what is it for?
A tray for spoons, forks and knives is a small box that is divided into sections, each of which is designed to store a corresponding type of device. As a rule, trays have from 4 to 6 sections - both large and small, which makes sorting devices convenient.
Practical wooden organizer in a kitchen drawer
These trays vary depending on the size of the kitchen drawer. Therefore, the main criterion you should pay attention to when choosing is the size of the box in which you hope to fit this liner. If you are the happy owner of a large kitchen drawer, then you can easily afford to choose a tray of the appropriate size, which will fit not only forks, spoons and knives, but also other irreplaceable kitchen accessories: a whisk, a potato peeler, a slotted spoon, a strainer, etc. . The latest innovation is two-tier trays, which have maximum capacity.
Convenient and easily accessible cutlery arrangement
Thus, the cutlery tray in the drawer is an ergonomic device. This allows you to fit more forks, spoons and knives without increasing the area. This accessory is an indispensable item in any kitchen, as it greatly simplifies cooking and table setting.
In one large box you can arrange trays from different materials
In addition to its main purpose - packaging and storing kitchen utensils - the tray also performs another important function. Thus, it serves to dry appliances, facilitating their rapid drying. This device also prevents water from getting onto the delicate wooden surface of the box.
Classic gray plastic tray
Photo of kitchen drawers for cutlery
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A convenient and spacious cutlery drawer is the best solution for keeping cutlery clean and tidy and organizing order in the kitchen.
Variety of trays for the kitchen
Currently, any self-respecting kitchen factory also produces kitchen accessories, including storage trays. Therefore, you should not have problems finding this little thing. You can buy a cutlery tray for a drawer online, fortunately there is no shortage of such offers.
Mesh cutlery tray with additional cells
What are standard trays made of? As a rule, such universal materials as:
- plastic;
- tree;
- stainless steel.
With such a tray your kitchen drawer will always be in order.
However, there are also very exclusive options, lined with velvet or other expensive fabric. Such models are suitable for kitchens designed in Rococo or Baroque style. However, in this case, the box should be used only for storing collectible instruments. Therefore, you will still have to get a more standard device for daily use.
Beautiful contrasting tray upholstered in black velvet
Advice! Ideally, the tray should be selected to match the style of the kitchen in general and the kitchen unit in particular. So, an ideal option for a Scandinavian-style kitchen would be a wooden tray. And fans of hi-tech will appreciate the stainless steel accessory. So, you can decorate your kitchen with cutlery tray designs.
Built-in two-tier wooden cutlery tray
Traditional and new storage systems
The decisive factor for convenience is not how many cabinets you have in your kitchen, but how everything is organized in them. There are systems that will help you arrange various containers and kitchen utensils as compactly as possible. At the same time, they make it very easy to access the things you need. Modern headsets use the following systems:
- Roll-out boxes and baskets . Their advantage is that they allow you to view all the contents at once. They can be of different shapes and heights - cutlery and cooking utensils are stored in low ones, tableware in high ones, and even pots can fit in the largest drawers. You can store both food and textiles in the drawers. The main thing is that they slide out without much effort on your part. Dividers that are easy to make with your own hands will help organize storage inside the drawers.
IMPORTANT . Drawers need space not only inside the unit, but also outside - so that they can be pulled out completely and still stand next to them. This principle is true for hinged cabinets, ovens, and dishwashers.
- "Carousels". Useful devices that make it easier to access the most hidden places in corner cabinets. These are movable shelves strung on a rod inside the module. “Carousels” can be semicircular or round. The semicircular ones slide out on their own when the door is opened. The round ones are inside the cabinet. They are usually located in the lower sections. On such shelves you can store quite heavy items - large frying pans, pancake pans, pots and lids, canned food in jars.
ATTENTION. “Carousel” cannot be installed under the sink, as there is a drainpipe located here.
- Cargo, or bottle holders. Narrow, but at the same time tall, retractable metal baskets. They can be installed where there is not enough space for wide sections. Bottle holders are convenient for storing bottles with vegetable oils, sauces and drinks, and groceries in jars.
- Stationary drying, consisting of racks and a tray. If the cabinet does not have a bottom, a pallet is not required. This, on the one hand, is more convenient - the dishes dry faster. On the other hand, drips from dishes falling into the sink can be annoying.
Advantages and disadvantages of different trays
However, the advantages and disadvantages of each material and its features should also be taken into account.
One of the most popular materials for making trays is plastic. Its key advantages are its presentable appearance and low cost. At the same time, such trays are durable and perfectly resistant to moisture, grease and other negative things typical of the kitchen. At the same time, plastic trays are easy to clean.
Practical and easy to clean plastic tray
Modern trays made of natural wood are also not afraid of moisture. To do this, they are impregnated with special protective oils. However, you should be especially careful when handling wooden storage units: if exposed to moisture, they can still lose their original appearance. Therefore, such trays are considered less functional, although they look very impressive.
An interesting solution for knives hidden under the main tray
If you are disgusted by such standard solutions as plastic trays, and you consider wooden storage too unreliable, then it’s as if stainless steel liners were specially invented for you. They cope well with moisture and acid. Such trays have increased strength and do not deform during operation.
A large number of compartments in the tray will allow you to place the maximum number of kitchen utensils
As for non-traditional trays lined with velvet, they are ideal for expensive appliances. They will be an ideal place to store silver knives and forks and highlight their value. In this case, an ordinary tray turns into a source of pride for the owners and into a collector's item.
Exquisite velvet tray in a modern kitchen interior
On a work apron
For many people, the part of the wall above the countertop, which is called the “apron,” serves as a storage place for kitchen utensils, which is especially important for small spaces.
The plastic container for cutlery is equipped with hooks and hung on a railing system.
Cutlery can be stored in the kitchen in an ordinary jar, glass or glass vase. You should not use wooden or ceramic products with textured elements. They are not intended for regular washing, and they are also difficult to clean from plaque.
Today we have a large selection of special organizers with compartments that can simply stand on the countertop. Such storage is convenient and practical: you don’t need to make unnecessary movements to take the necessary cutlery.
But there are also disadvantages to this option. The open storage method cannot be called hygienic. Dust settles on the devices, splashes, grease, and fumes enter. Therefore, they will have to be washed more often.
It makes more sense to store openly only those items that are in daily use. It is better to put the rest in a closed box.
Unusual organizers for devices
If you are not a supporter of standard solutions, then in addition to exotic material, you can also consider the option of using trays of different colors. Such inserts will fit perfectly into pop art or hi-tech styles. For example, the compartment for storing knives can be yellow, and for storing forks – green. In this case, it will be even easier for you to determine which device to put in which drawer.
Rubberized fabric at the bottom of the wooden tray will help protect it from scratches
In addition to the standard trays that fit easily into a kitchen drawer, there is another option to consider. Lately, wall-mounted storage shelves have become increasingly popular, allowing you to store beautiful tableware, such as porcelain guest plates, that you rarely use. However, this option is more decorative than functional.
Original cutlery organizers will highlight the style of your interior.
DIY decorative organizer for cutlery
Things should be stored where it would be more convenient not to take them out, but to return them to their place.
Marie Kondo's "The Magic of Tidying Up"
Today I invite you to take a look into the kitchen. There are so many cooking utensils here that the housewife herself may not remember them all. We rarely use some - baking dishes, a meat grinder, a food processor, etc. Most often we store them on distant shelves and take them out on occasion. We use others several times every day; we use them to cook and eat.
For food we use spoons, forks and knives of various sizes and shapes. For cooking - spatulas, ladles, whisks, masher, skimmers, graters, vegetable peelers, corkscrews, silicone brushes... There are so many of these tools that in some online stores they don’t even have a name - apparently they don’t have time to come up with them. You need to store all this wealth wisely so as not to waste time looking for the right spatula, not to reach across the kitchen for a ladle and not to climb onto the mezzanine in search of a corkscrew. Today we will visit my kitchen and the kitchens of my colleagues, and see how the storage of the most frequently used kitchen appliances is organized. But first…
Let's conduct an audit
If your kitchen utensils and utensils are a mess, it's time to sort it out! As a true follower of Marie Kondo, I already know that before organizing storage it is necessary to conduct an audit .
Then there will be fewer things that need to be arranged, and it is easy to estimate the volume that needs to be organized. In one of my articles I wrote about a wardrobe audit.
These rules also apply to the kitchen. That’s what I did: I laid everything out on the table for a good overview and divided it into three parts . The first is what needs to be kept - beautiful, useful devices that are used. The second thing is that I doubt it, put these devices aside for a month to see if they are really necessary. Personally, I didn’t have any items in this group in my kitchen. And the third is what needs to be thrown away.
I looked at each item and asked myself how often I use it and whether it performs its function well . If the answer is “no,” I threw it away. I also got rid of appliances that I simply didn’t like. Thus, I threw away only 2 items - a plastic spatula, which was a very awkward shape (besides, I had a second, comfortable one), and a wooden spatula, which had already served its purpose and did not look aesthetically pleasing. And in the kitchen it is very important that everything looks beautiful - the desire to cook directly depends on this. So I finally bought a nice ceramic knife with a case that I had been eyeing for a long time, and a nice bright green spoon for the slow cooker.
We organize storage
After the audit, you need to determine how and where to store all these devices . There cannot be an ideal solution here - all kitchens and housewives are different. The main thing is ease of use. Each kitchen appliance moves daily along the same trajectory: storage place - place of use - place of washing - place of drying (if necessary) - place of storage. It is very convenient when this trajectory is minimal, and the storage location is located not far from the place of drying or washing, then cleaning the devices in places is easy and effortless.
There may be several storage places, then it is necessary to separate the items. After looking at the photographs of my colleagues, I noticed only two principles of division . The first is by purpose, when cutlery is stored separately, kitchen utensils separately. The second one is based on frequency of use. Frequently used ones are located nearby, rarely used ones are located further away.
I have two storage places. The cutlery is in a drawer not far from the sink; I put it there immediately after washing. And the cooking utensils hang right above the sink, which is even more convenient - wash it and hang it right away. There are no additional dryers. This kind of storage suits me, especially after I threw away unnecessary items.
What about others?
Now I suggest you go into the kitchen of my colleagues from “Everything is in Place” and their girlfriends and see how they store cutlery.
Elena . Lena has three places to store kitchen appliances.
The first is next to the stove. There is a hanging glass with spatulas, which are most often used in cooking, as well as a magnetic knife holder.
The second is a drawer next to the dining table. Here, cutlery is stored in a special organizer, making it convenient to take them out when setting the table.
And the third is a drawer in which rarely used spatulas, culinary spoons, corkscrews, bottle openers, and whisks are stored.
There is also a drawer with baking equipment. It is very convenient to keep it in one place. Baskets organize space.
Natalia . Natalya keeps all her equipment in one place - in a drawer. But before they go there after washing, they are dried in a special tray on the table.
Regina . Regina divided the devices according to their intended purpose. The first group - cutlery - is stored in a special container in a hanging cabinet. The second - cooking utensils - is in a drawer.
Natalia . Natasha and her family live in a rented apartment, where the kitchen unit has no drawers. Therefore, all kitchen and cutlery items are stored in plastic containers on a rail next to the sink. Everything is at hand - very convenient.
Alyona . All her kitchen utensils are stored in plain sight - on hanging rails and in a stand by the stove, knives on a magnetic strip. The kitchen is small and there is no space in the unit for drawers. Children's equipment is placed separately from adults - on a shelf from which children can get it themselves. Since there is not much space, there are no unnecessary things - everything is just “to the point”.
Ideas
And finally, a few ideas from the Internet.
Kitchen utensils can be stored in a pull-out shelf in a variety of ways. It takes up minimal space, and everything is in sight when you need it.
If there are drawers, dividers will help organize devices by type.
In stationary drawers you can organize vertical storage
It's time to declutter grandma's bins with jam jars and wicker baskets :)
Well, or at least thin out the Lego rubble
In general, if you have some imagination, you can make a place for storing equipment with your own hands - it turns out beautiful and original.
I like that with each new article on our blog, my home becomes cleaner and more organized, because they contain so much inspiring experience from housewives like me - wives, mothers, working women. I hope you are moving in this direction too. After all, no matter how we store our kitchen appliances, the main thing is in what mood we cook. This means that we need to organize the workspace in the kitchen in such a way that the desire to treat our loved ones and friends arises more often.
Several rules for storing dishes
The more storage sections there are, the better. In this case, in addition to traditional spoons, forks and knives, you can store whisks and other necessary small items.
A large number of sections in the tray will help save space on your desktop
Advice! If you don't have enough earbuds, why not buy extra ones? This will greatly simplify the search for the necessary devices.
Additional knife holder in the kitchen drawer
Don't forget that you should take care of your earbuds. After all, they often contain crumbs from the table and leftover food. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the trays periodically. Perhaps plastic trays withstand cleaning best. They can simply be washed with running water and detergent, which should be rinsed off thoroughly. Don't forget to clean the drawer in which the tray is stored, too.
Cleanliness in the kitchen is the key to health and beauty
Types of trays for storing spoons and forks
The functionality of kitchen sections determines their internal contents. Trays, stands or nets with several compartments are placed here, which can be purchased separately or as a set with cabinet furniture.
The table holder for household items stores many necessary small items.
Traditionally, such devices have from four to six sections:
- large compartments for spoons and forks;
- small ones - for dessert cutlery and teaspoons;
- long and narrow - intended for spatulas, knives, ladles and other similar utensils.
The housewife chooses a tray based on her needs and the number of people living in the apartment. For a couple, a capacity of four sections is sufficient, and if the family is large, then the best option is six sections.
Types of structures
The cutlery drawer consists of a front, three walls and a bottom, and a mechanism is responsible for movement. There are several types of boxes.
The traditional modification has a rectangular shape and is installed in a cabinet or pencil case of straight geometry. To open it you need to pull it towards you.
Corner-shaped furniture is equipped with drawers of the appropriate configuration. This allows you to effectively use the interior space of the cabinet.
The “carousel” system is quite convenient. It can be chosen for furniture cabinets of any shape.
The dimensional parameters of the boxes vary over a wide range.
- Height from 15 to 30 cm.
- Width from 30 to 90 cm.
- Depth from 40 to 60 cm.
The box for spoons and forks is equipped with a roller or ball-type guide system.
- Roller fittings will please you with their affordability, but are not designed for a load of more than 25 kg. Opening is accompanied by a loud noise and extension is limited by approximately 25%.
- The ball mechanism is more durable, reliable, can withstand significant weight (up to 65 kg), provides 100% extension, but is more expensive. The drawer opens smoothly and silently. Many devices are complemented by a closer and a damper.
Storing vegetables
Many people, by mistake and ignorance, store vegetables in the refrigerator or on the balcony, and then wonder why potatoes sprout quickly, carrots dry out, and onions rot. And everything is so banal! Vegetables, like other food products, require proper storage conditions. How to provide them in a small kitchen?
The easiest way out is to equip several kitchen drawers specifically for storing vegetables. Select baskets or containers to match the size of the furniture (there are now a wide variety of them in household and dishware stores). An alternative option would be wicker baskets made of wicker; in them, vegetables and fruits retain their freshness, beautiful appearance and good taste longer.
If stored properly, potatoes can last from 2 weeks to 2-3 months (under no circumstances should they be stored in the refrigerator), carrots will last for 3 weeks, and onions can be stored this way for up to 3-4 weeks.
Remember that the place where vegetables are stored should be well ventilated and located away from the stove, oven and radiators. Ideal - in a pantry or built-in kitchen cabinet.
Storing vegetables and fruits in the kitchen.
An example of how to store vegetables in the kitchen.
Storing vegetables in wicker baskets.
In baskets
Using baskets to store kitchen utensils is a simple and original idea. Wicker organizers made from natural materials are suitable for rooms in Provence or Country style, for example. They can be decorated with ribbons to match the curtains, which will give the kitchen a special coziness.
There are also disadvantages to storing cutlery in baskets. Such organizers are afraid of dampness, so you can only keep dry kitchen utensils in them. In addition, they are difficult to maintain, unlike a plastic container that can simply be rinsed with water.
Order in the little things
Order comes from little things, don’t lose sight of them. Stack the bowls one inside the other, designate a place for plastic containers (and their lids!). Store confectionery supplies in one place; allocate a separate cabinet or shelf for them. A wicker box is perfect for storing baking dishes. Once you determine a place for each item, order will take root in your kitchen.
Storing plastic containers in the kitchen.
Storing baking dishes.
