Many of us enjoy cooking, but we like to do it quickly and efficiently and move on to other things in our busy lives. A key to doing this is keeping the kitchen neat, tidy and organized.
It's tempting for a busy professional to think that he or she does not have the time to keep her kitchen organized. In fact, a disorganized kitchen makes life harder. It makes daily cooking and cleaning much more time-consuming.
There are a number of simple tricks and shortcuts you can utilize to keep your kitchen in order. The order of the day overall is to keep things simple and where you need them.
1. Hang Those Pots and Pans
How many of us spend several minutes per day rooting through cabinets looking for that sauce pan or that specific favorite skillet? This is a big time waster. If it is possible, cut down on this problem by hanging your saucepans and skillets on the wall. Or, hang a rack or hooks from the ceiling and suspend the cookware overhead.
Hang the cookware near the stove where you use them all the time, so they are within reach. Keeping the pots and pans within reach of where you need them most is such a neat way to save time.
It is not always possible to hang those lids up, but you can put them in a wire dish strainer in a cupboard under the counter.
2. Rearrange Your Appliances
What are the two appliances you use every day? For many of us, they are the coffee maker and the blender. Keep those two your counter top, but stow away less frequently used appliances in cabinets that are within reach when you need them.
3. Put Your Favorite Utensils Out
Keeping all of your cooking utensils in a drawer can be a real time drainer. You always have to search through the drawer to find that spatula or wooden spoon. Buy a decorative jar of some kind and put it on your counter. Place your most commonly used spoons, spatulas, tongs, ladles, etc. in the jar. It is surprising how much time you can save by just grabbing what you need on the fly.
4. Have a Shopping List Handy at All Times
Nothing wastes time better than to get back from the store and realize you forget three things. The best way to solve this problem is to put a paper pad with a magnet on the back on the fridge. Any time you think of something you need, jot it on the list. Forgetting to buy groceries will be a thing of the past!
5. Hang the Pot Holders
Hanging pot holders on the wall near the stove and microwave is the way to go. They are always within arm's reach when you need them most.
6. Organize Your Pantry
Keep lots of staple items on hand. Also, put all the similar products on one part of the shelf together. Small plastic boxes from Tupperware or Rubbermaid are good to keep your spices organized. No more searching through the pantry for this or that spice.
7. Take an Inventory of Your Whole Kitchen
We often think we do not have enough space in our kitchen. Often, the biggest problem is that space is taken up by items that we rarely use. Look in your drawers and cupboards closely. Do you have pans, utensils and appliances that you use less than once a month? Get a couple of large boxes and store them in the basement in a place you can easily find them.
You should only store items in the kitchen that you use on at a daily or weekly basis. Beyond that, store it. This is a really good way to clear the clutter in your kitchen.
By following these 7 simple steps, your kitchen will be more organized and you will have more time for family and your other daily tasks.
