Software
Houzz Logo Print
jessica_lee673

What do you store in kitchen drawers?

8 years ago
My kitchen has an abundance of drawers and I feel I don't have enough to put in them and I hate it. I have four to the left of my stove and then a very wide drawer on the right with two smaller ones next to it. I have absolutely no idea what to put in them. I have them all filled but two are junk drawers and I feel I can do better with organizing them. *Sorry about the blurry photos!

Comments (16)

  • 8 years ago

    I feel I don't ever have enough kitchen space, but in terms of drawers I have:

    junk drawer

    plastic containers

    measuring cups and spoons

    misc baking accessories

    two drawers of every day flatware - on the side of one is rolling pins, etc. and the side of the other is can openers, etc.

    one drawer of specialty colored flatware

    two drawers of misc items - molds, tools, gadgets

    baggies, foil, parchment, seran wrap

    pot holders, trivets, etc

    dish towels

    specialty silicone tools - spatulas, tongs, etc.

    small metal gadgets

    placemats, cloth napkins for every day use



  • 8 years ago

    To answer your question I have a drawer each for:
    1. silverware
    2. spices (actually 5 individual apothecary drawers)
    3. knives
    4. baking utensils
    5. cooking utensils
    6. towels, wash cloths, and hot pads
    7. steam mop pads, extension cords, and hand mixer

    1. bread
      9. plastic bags/wrap and foil
      10. "junk"
      Though I call it a "junk drawer", it's not full of junk at all. It's neatly sorted useful items such as batteries, hand screwdrivers, miscellaneous nails and picture hangers, etc in mini bins that fit together.

    The drawers shown in your top photo appear to be the type for silverware, knives, cooking or baking utensils, plastic bag/wrap, and foil type storage.
    It depends on the size of the other drawers what can be stored in them. If they are deep and large enough, they could hold pans and dishes.

  • 8 years ago

    In smaller drawers we have Reynolds wrap, aluminum foil, sandwich bags, portable chargers & cords, measuring spoons, can opener, spatulas, utensils, silverwear, pot holders. Mid size drawers - dishes, cat and dog bowls, rolling pin - large drawers pots and pans, backing dishes, colunders, crock pot

  • 8 years ago

    We have all those previously mentioned and then we have a snack drawer. Bars, bags, rolls of crackers, etc.

  • 8 years ago

    Figure out your work zones. This is a good opportunity to clear off your counters. Keep the junk drawer out of the busy areas so that your family can access that stuff without getting in the way during meal prep.

    Ideally, the prep area is between the sink and stove. You'll store knives, scissors, measures, peelers, prep bowls, plastic wrap/foil, etc. The stove is the cooking zone so it can hold most used spices, stirring utensils, spatulas, thermometer. Whatever you use when cooking. If you have room by the sink and dishwasher, store towels for drying, dishcloths/sponges, the sink basket/plug in a plastic bin.

    Drawers are an excellent use for storing frequently used items and easier to access than cabinets. You don't have that many. My new kitchen will have 23 with minimal lower cabinets. I'm hoping for an empty or two. Below are some past threads for ideas.

    [What do you store in your kitchen drawers?[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-do-you-store-in-your-kitchen-drawers-dsvw-vd~2552595)

    [Please post pics of your organized cabinets and drawers[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/please-post-pics-of-your-organized-cabinets-and-drawers-dsvw-vd~2673193)


  • 8 years ago

    I have mostly drawers in my kitchen. I have a large pantry cabinet with 2 deep drawer and 2 interior drawers in which I store canned goods, baking ingredients, etc crackers. Almost everything else is stored in drawers except for a few dishes and glasses stored on open shelves. Pry the drawers from my cold, dead hands, and be prepared for haunting if you do.

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    I store everything in drawers , my pots, pans dishes,everyday glassware baking supplies , cutlery, cooking tools , spices the whole sheebang. I never deogn kitchens with base cupboards at all

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Everything we have in the kitchen lives in drawers (and pull-outs in the tall pantry cabs). Only the one upper cab and a Lazy Susan corner cab don't have drawers. I also have one or two drawers that so far, are empty. After living with a tiny, disfunctional kitchen for years, I LOVE it.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Store most of your current countertop items in the drawers.

    For example, you don't need to display wooden cooking spoons. Put them in a drawer and keep them away from dust and cooking grease. If their container is attractive, then use it as a fresh flower vase. Leave S&P accessible, but put your spices in a shallow drawer near the stove, if you don't have a vertical slide-out drawer. Store cloth napkins near your eating utensils.

    My kitchen has no lower door cabinets, only drawers.

  • 8 years ago
    Thank you everyone for your insight! I got rid of my junk drawer completely. I divided up my infant's bottles/baby plates between two drawers, then one for steak knives, eating utensils. And on the other side I split up my kitchen accessories by cooking, baking and grilling. *Not pictured but the other side of the kitchen has three top drawers and those are home to towels and washclothes, place mats and oven mitts. So happy to have functional kitchen now!
  • 8 years ago

    I have a junk drawer (it was my husband's must have), a drawer for silverware and knives, a drawer for measuring cups/cooking utensils, etc, and a drawer for foil wrap/shrink wrap/parchment paper/ziplocks, etc. I also have all bottom drawers for pots and pans.

  • 8 years ago

    drawers are great for "need it right now" storage of stuff (utensils, etc.). Drawers are quick-access storage, and good for small things.

    Putting stuff in a drawer far from where you use it is not helpful


    Don't feel you have to put kitchen stuff in them.
    What do you do on the countertop above those drawers? And what do you use when you do it? Can you put those items in the drawer, even if they're not the traditional drawer thing?

    If the drawer is on the far end of the kitchen, maybe it can hold stuff that gets used seldom--heck, lightbulbs, maybe.

    As for my drawers: I have 4 only.
    Closest to the dishwasher/main countertop is the silverware that goes on the table (flatware, serving spoons, chopsticks, iced team spoons).

    To the right, a short reach from the main countertop are the commonly used COOKING utensils that DON'T go on the table (spatulas, paring knives, whisks, measuring cups & spoons)

    To the left, on the "baking" end of my galley kitchen, is a drawer with the commonly used BAKING utensils (spatulas, biscuit cutters, measuring cups & spoons, pastry cutter).

    And beyond that is a drawer that holds the seldom used COOKING utensils (food thermometers, extra spatulas, hamburger press, corn-on-the-cob holders)

    Then I have a skinny drawer right next to the stove, and it holds all the stuff that other people put in the crock--the utensils used for cooking on the stovetop. I don't let this get to be too many pieces--no extras, only the stuff in heavy rotation.

    Last, I have a dinky drawer that used to hold hardware leftover from the kitchen reno (why?!?), and menus. Now it holds anything involved with closing containers--the bag clips, the jar opener, the cat-food can lids. And just a few menus. And the power unit for the electric griddle (bcs the electric griddle is stored one cabinet away).

    Feel free to store canned goods lying on their sides (maybe one specific category?), or all the beverage stuff (like tea, and coffee). Or anything else that'll fit.

  • 8 years ago

    oh--flatware...

    My mom snagged some cheap-o forks, spoons, and knives to keep in her cooking-utensils drawer.


    And then she stored the flatware for setting the table somewhere outside her work zone. I sometimes think of doing that as well--we have a buffet in the dining room that we could use without disturbing the cook.

    (Those are two more drawers: one for the good flatware, and one for the serving flatware)

  • 8 years ago

    I have two drawers for pots and pans, one drawer for all my stovetop utensils, one drawer for all my sharps (knives and scissors), one cabinet with slots for racks, pans, cookie sheets, large trays, cutting board. Another cabinet with plastic and metal bowls, and large cooking pans. A drawer for flatware, one for junk/office stuff. A cabinet with slide out drawers for wraps and bags and plastic containers. I have another drawer for baking supplies, and another for extra cooking supplies, and one for aprons/extra dish towels. I have cabinets near the oven for cooking and baking items. A large cabinet above the fridge for paper goods, party supplies. Another two sets of cabinets for all my appliances, and cabinets above for fragile serveware, liquor and a shelf for candles. And I don’t have room for anything else.

  • 8 years ago

    I forgot a few more: a drawer near the stovetop for pot holders and dish towels, a pull out bin for garbage, and several shelves for canning jars/travel mugs. Then of course cabinets for plates/bowls, and one for glasses/cups.