Step by steps instructions and clever tweaks on How to Organize the Kitchen When You Have No Pantry
You’re probably reading this because you have no pantry or no place where you keep your canned goods, spices, and other staples. This means that when you want to cook something simple, like a chicken dish or a bowl of rice, it will take some time and effort to find everything you need. But don’t worry! Many other options are available without a huge bag of flour and a case of ketchup. We’ll show you just how easy it is to turn any kitchen into a functional one — even if you’ve never organized your space before.
If you’re planning to organize your home right now, we suggest looking at our article about some of the best ideas on how to clean a kitchen. We also recommend checking out these smart appliance hacks, which will help you turn your kitchen into a better space for cooking. And if you haven’t already done so, check out our list of kitchen gadgets for more ideas on how to improve your cooking experience.
Here are five tips and tricks that will help you manage your kitchen without a lot of hassle:
1. Store All Ingredients in One Place
You may think that having all your ingredients in one spot makes things easier, but the opposite is true. If there isn’t enough room for your spices, condiments, and other items, they can become scattered throughout your kitchen, making them harder to locate and use. Instead, create a designated area in your kitchen where you store all these essentials.
To avoid cluttering up your cabinets, create a dedicated spice rack. You might also consider cutting down on the number of dry goods you buy and stocking up on cans instead. If you’re short on counter space, you can build a shelf over your stovetop or put a small cutting board against your wall. Whatever method you choose, ensure you have enough space for your supplies.
2. Use a Sturdy Cutting Board That Is Big Enough For Your Needs (and Keep It Clean)
A sturdy cutting board is essential in every kitchen, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re using it as a chopping block or a serving plate. As long as you keep it clean and sanitized, you should be able to do almost anything with it.
The best way to keep your cutting board clean is by creating a separate workspace. You can make a dedicated counter area for your cutting board if you have a few extra inches of counter space. If not, you can use a shallow glass baking dish, but wash it thoroughly after each use.
Don’t forget to keep your cutting board away from the stovetop. This means that you shouldn’t put it directly next to the burner, or you could end up with a hot mess. You should also avoid putting it near heat sources such as vents, radiators, or air conditioners.
When organizing your kitchen, it’s important to think about what you’re doing from start to finish. If you’re working in a small space, you may have difficulty finding everything you need. To solve this problem, ensure all your food containers are easy to grab.
For instance, if baking cookies, you may want to keep your cookie sheets, mixing bowls, measuring spoons, and other tools close by. On the other hand, if you’re making something that requires a lot of prep work, like a casserole or pot roast, you may want to keep those items farther away.
4. Buy an Easy-to-Clean Counter Space Organizer
Keeping your countertops clutter-free is a good habit to develop regardless of whether you have a large or small kitchen. An organization system is a key to getting the most out of your space, especially if you’re limited on counter space. For example, if you only have a couple of inches between your sink and your oven, you’ll need to buy a cabinet or drawer organizer.
An organizer keeps your appliances from taking up valuable counter space while giving you easy access to the items you need. However, if you don’t have much counter space, look for organizer systems that attach to your walls or ceilings. These units often double as shelves, so they can help you store more than just your pots and pans.
5. Get Ready with Supplies Before Cooking
Cooking takes quite a bit of preparation, but if you aren’t stocked up on the basics, you will run out of time before your meal is ready. Ensure you have plenty of knives, forks, spoons, plates, and other essentials. If you don’t have a specific area for storing these items, you should invest in matching storage baskets.
For instance, if you’re preparing a pasta dish and need lots of bowls, you should be prepared with a whole bunch of different sizes. A good rule of thumb is always to have two sets of each utensil. For larger dishes, you can opt to purchase stackable bowls. They allow you to store several pots and pans in one container.
Finally, even though you’ll likely be using a small amount of oil in your cooking, always keep a bottle of olive oil on hand. This oil won’t go bad quickly, and it’s easier to add a splash of oil than to scramble eggs in the wrong vessel.
6. Take Inventory of What You Already Own (And Don’t Worry About Expensive Items)
You’ll inevitably accumulate a lot of stuff from cooking and entertaining need. While holding onto everything you own is tempting, it can cause problems later. So what can you do if you’re running low on space or you don’t have enough storage for all of your cookware?
There are various options available to you, including selling unwanted items online, donating your items to charity, or holding onto them until you have a better solution for them. If you’re unsure what to do with your items, ask yourself three questions:
- Do I actually need this?
- Would this fit in my budget?
- Do I enjoy cooking with it?
Once you answer these questions, you can decide how you want to handle your collection. Some people prefer to sell their excess cookware and equipment on eBay. Others donate their unused items to a local charity. And some homeowners simply continue to use the stuff that they already have. Either way works, but you should avoid hoarding.
Still talking about kitchen organization, next, it’s time for you to access our
10 Ideas on How to Organize the Kitchen When You Have No Pantry Video:
The pantry is indeed essential for a kitchen. However, some kitchens are so small that they do not have enough space for a dedicated pantry.
Do you also have this problem? Do not worry! We have listed these 10 ideas (+6 extra) for organizing the kitchen with no pantry. This way, you can optimize your cooking space without breaking a sweat or, hopefully, your bank. As always, Simphome presents you with the list.
10. Shelves Inside a Shelf Idea
You might think your kitchen has run out of space and you cannot store more canned foods and cereals anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Some cabinets are too large for canned foods and other small items. Thus, you can still find plenty of space left because you do not use them efficiently.
Try investing in wire racks or under-cabinet baskets that allow you to use the available space in your cabinets more efficiently. They allow you to store more items on the same shelf and make you think that you have a wonderful life, although you do not have a pantry.
9. Install A Wall Shelving
When you do not have much floor space, you need to be creative with every inch of your kitchen. Look around and see whether you still have an empty wall. If you do, you can tap into it by installing some shelves.
Installing shelves is the most convenient way to incorporate more storage solutions. They are easy to install and make your kitchen look stylish. You only need to get wooden boards, screw them to the wall, and that’s it! You can also install L-brackets to make them sturdier.
8. Bookshelves in the kitchen
Bookshelves in the kitchen? Are you sure about that? Absolutely!
The living room is not the only home for bookshelves. The kitchen can also be a safe haven for them.
Try shoving the bookshelves on one wall in your kitchen to create a replacement for a pantry. You can also explore your creativity in displaying foods and spices to make the kitchen look more attractive.
7. Tap into Awkward Spot with Rolling Racks
Do not underestimate the awkward space between the fridge and the wall. It may look tiny, but you can still use it to store many things.
A rolling rack will be your savior when tapping into this cranny because it fits snugly and has small wheels that enable you to access it easily. You can get this rack in stores easily. If you are good at woodworking, consider making it yourself with wooden pallets, dowels, and castors.
6. Install a Cabidor
Another good thing about Cabidor is that you can adjust the shelves, making it a highly versatile product that you can use in the kitchen and other rooms.
Unlike the traditional over-the-door racks that may bump into the trim and damage it, Cabidor features a magnetic assembly on top that keeps the shelves securely affixed to the door.
5. Optimize Your Corner Cabinet
Taming the corner of the cabinet can be challenging. You have organized and decluttered it countless times, but the clutter remains.
Another annoying thing is knowing you have wasted a lot of potential space there. To tackle this problem, you can try installing a lazy Susan inside the corner of your cabinet.
Making a lazy Susan is not that hard. You only need to get round standard wood pieces that fit snugly in the corner of your cabinet. Then, you will also need Lazy Susan turntable hardware that allows the board to rotate. First, attach the Lazy Susan hardware to the round wood pieces. Then, you can paint or stain them if necessary. Finally, install them in your cabinet.
4. Reuse Clear Bottles
Do you like having a cup of coffee with creamer in the morning? That is awesome! But do not throw the empty bottles away in the trashcan because it will add more waste to our earth. Besides, you can reuse them and give them a second life.
When the clear plastic bottles are empty, wash and dry them thoroughly. This way, you can use them to store chopped nuts, baking, chips, and seeds. It is a good and cheap way to organize your kitchen while saving the earth.
3. Do not Leave Every Inch of Your Wall Space Untapped
Remember that you always have your walls when you barely have floor space. Thus, do your best to optimize every nook and cranny on the walls.
In addition to installing wall-mounted shelves, you can hang a pegboard and add as many shelves and racks as you need. You can also try installing magnetic strips to house your knives. This way, you can grab them quickly when you need them. Besides, it is safer than storing them in the drawers because your kids will not be able to reach them.
2. A Tool Organizer to the Rescue
Did you know that a craft or tool organizer can do more than just organize ribbons, threads, needles, and stuff? It turns out that you can use it to store baking items you do not use daily. Besides, it has compartments that prevent things from being mixed up.
Lastly, Number 1. Use Your Countertop
Countertops are also a great place to store items when you do not have a pantry. You had better use them to display the items you use regularly. This way, you can grab them quickly without running to the cabinet, which may take a little time.
Using clear containers, you can also make your countertop look more appealing. To make it happen, use clear jars or mason jars to store the items you use every day, such as sugar, salt, and oats.
Then, label each jar so you will not take the wrong item. Besides, adding labels will also make the jars more exciting.
Placing some jars on the countertops can be an excellent solution for your pantry-less kitchen. Do not overdo it because you do not want them to take over-the-counter space and hinder you from cooking comfortably.
Having a dedicated space for a pantry would be nicer. However, these 10 ideas on organizing the kitchen will do in a pinch, especially if you have no pantry. So, give them a try, and happy cooking!
References:
10. Familyhandyman.com
9. Mydomaine.com
8. Houzz.com.au
7. Littlehouselovelyhome.com
6. Littlehouselovelyhome.com
5. Familyhandyman.com, Iheartorganizing.com
4. Familyhandyman.com
3. Mydomaine.com
2. Familyhandyman.com
1. Familyhandyman.com