Kitchen organization problem

Question

You all have been so helpful in the past so I am back for more advice. I need suggestions on organizing this mess. I have broken more than I'd like to admit by digging through it. I've seen ideas online but I'd like to hear from someone that actually has a proven resolution. (maybe that you do) any ideas on things I could use? Mail sorters are too thin for my deep casserole dishes.

Larose LoganOakes · Answer

At first glance, I would say to take down the heavy glass items from the upper shelves and put them on lower shelves if possible. I made the same mistake a long time ago and I had a very heavy lasagna dish fall off and shatter to bits. I learned my lesson the hard way. Ouch! We found glass pieces forever. Best of luck to you.

Nana101 · Answer

My first question is...do you really USE all of those things? More is less sometimes. Things that get rarely used could be put in the back of a bottom cabinet. If you don't use it in a year, then, time to get rid of it :-))

Shelby @ The Weathered Barn Studio · Answer

...As suggested by Larose , I would move the heavier items to the bottom shelves, and I actually got some metal bins at a store ( TJ MAXX) , to hold certain glass items so they are next to one another and not just ' stacked up' . I found this works better, and also did the same thing with the plastics. ..you can pull the bin out and get what you need, no mess. ..no stacking. :)

Margaret · Answer

I use the white plastic covered shelf thingys from WalMart....darn brain fade. They are like risers that go in your cupboards. Many different sizes. Instead of stacking things inside each other they can be placed over each other on the shelf. This has helped in my cupboards and saves taking stacks of heavy dishes down to get one out.

Brenda Albright · Answer

Inhave found quite a few if the wire shelf things at goodwill recently.
Also a few of the bins. I painted some of them and they look great pkus were about a dollar each...less on discount days.

Shirley Kalinosky · Answer

I have extra casserole dishes and I really only use 3 or 4 at most. When we move this summer, either a yard sale of just give them to Goodwill. Can't stand the clutter.

Sandy Wagner · Answer

I would take everything thing out. Use adhesive spray from the back wall that coordinates with your decor. Line the shelves,only put back your dishes (plates,matching cups,mugs)not the cookware

Blissful1 · Answer

For Shirley Kalinosky;  I found that a good way to cull my cupboards of extra casserole dishes (and pie plates) is to fill them with a favorite homemade dish (and printed recipe) and then give them away to friends and family.  One year I also made doubles of guest favorites during Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays and sent the guests home with extras.  :')

Kayo Frazier · Answer

Here's my 2 cents...I would take everything out then separate everything by size & how frequently used. I would move the dinner ware up a shelf so it's eye level. Then I would move the smallest items to the bottom shelf. I would keep the white lasagna pans where they are & place all decorative/seasonal items next to it. I would stack all the glass pans by size. Do the same w/ other pans. If there is too much for the shelves & you don't use it often enough...Then donate it to Goodwill.

Kathleen · Answer

Your kitchen should be as efficient and as user-friendly as possible. I would start by clearing out what you decide to get rid of (pass on to someone else or REPURPOSE into something else!). if there are pieces you want to keep but only use maybe once a year (holiday, seasonal) move them to a shelf in the garage or somewhere else. Do this with all your cupboards. Then, really think about which cupboard is being used for what items. You just might have the kitchen set up wrong. Many times we're stuck in the way 'it's always been.' Heavier, especially glass, should be in one of your lower cupboards, if possible. I have my glass baking dishes and bowls in the small cupboard down next to my sink. It's not very large, but deep and narrow. I put all the ones I don't use often, in the back. You can do one of two things with the lids: set them upside down in the dishes and stack dishes, or nestle the bowls together and put the lids somewhere else in the cupboard. I actually have a large and small lasagna dish that fit inside each other but they're narrow so nothing else fits inside them. Those 2 are standing up on the side of the cupboard with the large, seldom used pieces in the back and up front I keep the ones I use all the time. Good luck! Warning: this could easily be a full day job....better order pizza!

Honour Min · Answer

I suggest you chose a favourite pie plate, casserole dish, lasagna pan etc and move the rest to secondary storage like attic, garage or basement. It will look more cohesive if you choose mostly pyrex, white corning or mid century bakeware. Using a coffee filters between stacked casseroles keeps them from sticking. Keeping these heavier items in prime space between shoulder and knee is safer.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Agree with Honour Min about editing. However, I don't like open shelves so hope you keep doors on your cabs. My old cabs went to the basement when I redid my kitchen. I store things like the big Christmas roaster, extra Pyrex/cake pans, etc. I keep my oft used Pyrex on the top shelf, too. However, I use a chair to take them down. Always meant to get a kitchen step stool.

Danielle · Answer

I am going to assume the reason you have all those dishes is because you use them, the answer is NOT always getting rid of things. I also see that those shelves are adjustable, so let's adjust them! Put the shelves close enough together so only 1 dish will barely fit height wise and add additional shelves. Glass would be best since it can be thinner but wood is cheaper. I did this in my kitchen, basically doubled (or more) the number of shelves in every cabinet that held baking dishes and that was all it took. I can see from your pic that there is almost definitely room for 4 more shelves, that way nothing has to be stacked except plates. First added shelf - take the bowls off the bottom, move the small plates left and have 2 stacks of large plates, put the shelf barely above the top plate and slide the bowls in without stacking them since they can span the whole width. Take everything out, then arrange your dishes from most to least used, then start loading, fill a shelf, install the next one as close to top of the dish as you can and repeat all the way up so your least used pieces are the highest.

Wanda sinnema · Answer

first thing I'd do is take everything out.. start restacking and restacking until you find a way it works.. I see the 2 big white on top,,I'd seperate them, and stack other things inside of each- item you don't use every week. say the pie plates in one, sq. corning ware in the other. You may not even see it then. add another item on top of it. .I also have found to turn the lids upside down in the dish,, and stack a smaller item on top of it easier to find and get to. THE MOST USED ITEMS should be kept within reach for daily use...Don't be afraid store stuff in another place. Since I bake less now, I've put most of the those items in a tote in the garage..: pie plates, rolling pin, cookie cutters, bread pans, sifter, cake decorating supplies, large muffin tins, most of the cookie sheets, and more..I also keep a bunch of the most used recipes there too.. I can bring it all in, use it, wash it and back it goes..easier than hunting in cabinets each time with a flashlight....

Wanda sinnema · Answer

first thing I'd do is take everything out.. start restacking and restacking until you find a way it works.. I see the 2 big white on top,,I'd seperate them, and stack other things inside of each- item you don't use every week. say the pie plates in one, sq. corning ware in the other. You may not even see it then. add another item on top of it. .I also have found to turn the lids upside down in the dish,, and stack a smaller item on top of it easier to find and get to. THE MOST USED ITEMS should be kept within reach for daily use...Don't be afraid store stuff in another place. Since I bake less now, I've put most of the those items in a tote in the garage..: pie plates, rolling pin, cookie cutters, bread pans, sifter, cake decorating supplies, large muffin tins, most of the cookie sheets, and more..I also keep a bunch of the most used recipes there too.. I can bring it all in, use it, wash it and back it goes..easier than hunting in cabinets each time with a flashlight....

Gloria DiBenedetto · Answer

I have a small kitchen, and organizing is the only way I can store what I need day to day, let alone those special pans for occasions. I use the wire shelf inserts (some from the Dollar Store and some from Marshals) to stack like dishes together, and to separate them to create the jigsaw puzzle that is my kitchen. I also use the cardboard lids for Xerox copy paper as 'sliders' to help me reach the back of my corner cabinets, as I do not have a corner unit. It's not the best solution, but it will do for now.

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