gt for kitchen organizing final

8/12/2019 GT for Kitchen Organizing FINAL

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T HIS M AT E R IAL W AS P R E V IOUS LY P UB LIS HE D IN M AR T HA S T E W AR T LIV ING M AGAZ INE .

C OP Y R IGHT 2008 M AR T HA S T E W AR T LIV ING OM NIM E DIA, INC ., ALL R IGHT S R E S E R V E D.

R E P R ODUC T ION W IT HOUT P E R M IS S ION IS P R OHIB IT E D.

11 W E S T 42ND S T R E ET NE W Y OR K , NE W Y OR K 10036

good things for

kitchen organizin


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C O N T E N T S

2 Recipe storage

3 Recipe keeper

4 Herb bowl

6 Keeping up-to-date

7 Save your countertop

8 Streamline the kitchen

10 Use a baking pan as an organizer

11 Towel-bar lid rack

12 Kitchen tools

13 Round up your utensils

14 No-slip drawers

16 Organizing party tableware

18 Stack plates with padding

19 Recycling bin

20 Sink solutions

PHOTO CREDITS:

Sang An: page 16

James Baigrie: page 4

Andrew Bordwin: pages 8, 9

Dana Gallagher: page 13

Lisa Hubbard: pages 2, 5, 10, 12

Ellen McDermott: pages 3, 20, 21

Ellie Miller: page 6

Maura McEvoy: page 7

Amy Neunsinger: page 17

Victoria Pearson: cover

David Prince: pages 18-19

Annie Schlechter: page 11

SimonWatson: pages 14, 15


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RE CIP E S TORAG E

Use photo protectors to keep recipes organized and free of spills

and spatters in the kitchen. Plastic protectors are sold in a variety ofsizes at office-supply stores; look for something that will accommo-

date recipe cards from magazines as well as handwritten ones. Store

the pages in a three-ring binder.

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R E C I P E K E E P E R

Give busy hands one less thing to do in the kitchen. Next time you

following the instructions on a recipe card, use a binder clip to proup the cardthe recipe will stay clean and in plain sight as you coo


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H E RB BOW L

The next time you have bunches of herbs such as basil, oregano,

and thyme, keep them out and at the ready. Rinse them, trim thestems, and then store them in a bowl of water on the kitchen counter

(mint and cilantro should be refrigerated instead). The display

will keep herbs handy for plucking, and you can enjoy their pleasant

look and scent.The herbs will keep for up to three days; change the

water daily.

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S AV E Y OU R COU N TE RTOP

Self-adhesive felt surface protectors designed to prevent chair leg

from damaging floors can also help keep countertops free froscrapes and scratches. Stick them under small appliances such a

toasters, coffeemakers, and food processors. Theyll not on

provide protection but also make it easier to slide the applianc

out from beneath overhead cabinets, if necessary.

K E E P IN G U P -TO-DATE

Whenever you buy spices, label the jars with the date of purchase.

This will help you avoid keeping the seasonings past their peak offreshness.

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S T R E A M L I N E T H E K I T C H E N

Efficiency and organization define this kitchen area. High shelvin

wall panels that double as bulletin boards, and bins for sortimail all help to open up the space and keep it from feeling crampe

1. A shelf positioned just a foot and a half below the ceiling allow

for extra storage and an opportunity to display cake stands a

pretty bowls. 2. Cookbooks that arent used every day are kept o

the high shelf, away from much-needed counter and cabinet spa

but still within easy view. 3.Linen-covered boards are an attracti

alternative to the refrigerator door for posting childrens art, fam

photographs, schedules, and important reminders. 4. The eve

changing display keeps the area fresh and colorful, and mak

redecorating an ongoing process. 5. Each family member is a

signed a clearly labeled bin to keep track of mail and other incomin

paperwork. Cup hooks, attached to the bottom of the lowest b

hold keys.


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U S E A BAK IN G PAN AS AN ORG AN IZE R

Retrieving a jar or bottle from the back of a crowded cabinet can be

awkward. For a simple fix, gather the pantry staples you store on theshelf into a spare baking pan, then treat it like a drawer, carefully

sliding it in and out for easy access.The pan will also catch drips,

speeding cleanup.

TOWEL-BAR LID RACK

Keep pot lids secure by installing metal towel bars inside you

pantry door. Look for plain bars that stand out about 2 inches; mouthem only to the rails of solid-core wooden doors. Slide lids behin

the bar so the handles catch and hold the lids in place.

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R O U N D U P YO U R U T E N S I L S

When cooking, you want only what you need nearby. Kee

commonly used tools in attractive containers. Below, wooden

plastic, and metal utensils are kept in separate crocks, and brushe

in a pitcher. A small tray keeps everything together. Use simila

groupings with basic ingredients.

K I T C H E N T OO L S

Some office supplies come in handy when you cook, so why not

keep an extra set nearby? Slide an open-topped box into a drawer,

and fill it with useful items. Include a ruler to measure dough;

scissors for trimming dough and snipping herbs; and tape, labels,

and permanent markers for dating freezer bags, homemade jams,

and the like.

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N O-S LIP D RAW E RS

Storing sharp knives in a drawer makes for less-cluttered counters

and a safer kitchen. But with each pull of the drawer, sliding knives

collide, dulling and damaging their finely honed edges. Artists'

drawingboard liner (available at art-supply stores) has a slightly

rubbery surface that keeps sharp implements stationary and wipes

clean easily. Using a ruler and a utility knife, cut a piece of liner to

fit the bottom of the drawer, and anchor it in place with double-

sided tape.

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O R G A N I Z I N G PA R T Y TA B L E W A R E

A major dinner party is a big event, so its a good idea to arrange

dress rehearsal for the china. Once you have decided on the menu

assign the pieces that will be used for specific dishes. Place a sli

of paper into each platter and bowl noting the intended use, alon

with the appropriate utensils. The labels will enable you and you

helpful guests to carry each course to the dinner table swiftly in it

desired serving vessel.


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S TACK P LATE S W ITH PAD D IN G

China should be handled and stored with care to avoid chips or

scratches in the glaze. Paper plates, coffee filters, and felt rounds are

just right for cradl ing plate s and bowls withou t adding bulk.

Alternate dishes and inserts.

R E C Y C L I NG B I N

To keep your old newspapers from slipping and sliding all over th

floor between pick-up days, confine them to a recycling bin. Sta

out with a 14-by-12-inch wooden crate with slatted or solid side

For mobility, attach four casters to the bottom of the crate. Pain

the crate, and attach a 2-inch cleat, centered, to the exterior of eac

side. Before filling, run a length of twine loosely between each pa

of opposing cleats to tie up the papers.

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S I N K S O L U T I ON S

Dont let kitchen rags and dishwashing gloves clutter the sink area.

Instead, hang them from hooks screwed to the inside of a cabinet

door, where the items can stay out of sight as they dry. A grommet-

setting kit (bottom; available at hardware stores) lets you make tear-

proof holes in cloth, rubber, and other soft materials. Place a tray

just inside the cabinet to corral cleaning supplies and catch wate r

that drips from wet gloves.

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