10 Organization Tips to Keep Pots and Pans From Being an Unsightly Pile
Updated: Jan. 06, 2023
The bane of every kitchen organizer: pots and pans that just won’t stack up nicely. Here's how to keep them orderly.
Turn cabinets to drawers
Drawers keep you from crawling on your hands and knees every time you’re searching for a pan, but no need to invest in an expensive kitchen remodel to organize your pots and pans. Simply add a pull-out shelf to your existing cabinet to transform it into a drawer that lets you access your cooking gear easily. Don’t miss these other pantry and cabinet storage ideas.
Use a pegboard
Hang a large pegboard on an empty wall, then use hooks to let your pots and pans dangle from the wall. Pretty the board up by painting it in your kitchen’s accent color, using semi- or high-gloss paint, which are easier to clean than flatter finishes. Here are more ideas for organizing anything with pegboard.
Put a lid on it
If you’ve got the space, store your pots with the lids on but upside-down to create a stackable surface instead of the awkward heap you’d get by piling them when open.
Make it pretty
With attractive cookware, you can keep pots and pans hiding in plain sight instead of tucking them into hard-to-reach cabinets and drawers. Invest in some enameled pots, pans, and baking dishes in a color you love, and display them proudly on a visible shelf.
Let them hang
Dangle pots and pans on your ceiling using hooks or a rod. You’ll get a rustic look that saves precious cabinet space for dishes, appliances, and food. These organizational tools from Amazon will help you become the neat person you’ve always longed to be.
Add a tension rod
If you stash your pots and pans in a large drawer, keep lids from hogging space. Simply stick in a tension rod near the front of the drawer, then slip lids vertically between the rod and the drawer. They’ll stay out of the way while you’re digging out the right cookware. Keep it clean with these things organized people do every weekend.
Divide drawers
Keep your pots and pans drawer organized by adding bars or thin pieces of plywood large enough to fit your cookware and lids vertically. Then slip in clean pans to keep them separated in a neat little “filing” system. Here are more kitchen organization ideas you wish you’d knew sooner.
Invest in lid racks
Lid racks have slots to keep your lids standing up straight without collapsing. Line them up by size with the largest ones in back so you can easily see the one you want.
Make use of weird corners
If you’ve got an awkward corner shelf that you aren’t sure what to do with, use it to stash your pots and pans. Install hooks to the top of it, and let your cookware hang down, with the lids stowed under them. Make sure to get in the habit of these things clutter-free people do every day.
Leave lids on doors
Install a lid rack on the door of your pots and pans cabinet so the tops are handy any time you want to cover your cooking. Here are more inspiring cabinet door storage ideas.
Sources: realsimple.com, goodhousekeeping.com, apartmenttherapy.com, buzzfeed.com, purewow.com, thekitchn.com
