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Kitchen Storage and Organization Essentials That Keep Us Sane

Many of our suggestions take inspiration from restaurant kitchens.

By
Ariel Kanter
Ariel Kanter
Ariel Kanter
Commerce Director
Ariel Kanter is the director of commerce at Serious Eats, where she manages everything from equipment reviews to gift guides. She's been with the site since 2016. Her writing has also appeared in New York magazine, Time Out New York, amNewYork, Afar, Today and Refinery29.
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Updated May 09, 2024
four deli containers on a wooden countertop

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

We've written at length about how to stock a kitchen, from equipment recommendations to pantry essentials and ingredient guides. And we've addressed particular storage issues, like the best way to organize your spices or set up your fridge. But we realized that we've never broken down our preferred organizational tools and storage equipment for our readers, like the containers, shelving units, and utensil crocks that keep our test kitchen organized.

Happily, most of the solutions we use for our office kitchen are equally appropriate for a home kitchen. And because many of these items are designed for, or take inspiration from, restaurant kitchens, you might just be surprised by how efficient and affordable they are. Here's a look at the essentials.

The Best Kitchen Storage and Organization Essentials

Pantry Shelving

If you're lucky enough to have a real pantry in your home and are looking for storage ideas, you're likely going to need to set up some shelving. There are plenty of fancy built-in storage solutions out there, but many sacrifice utility for looks while landing you with a hefty bill. Metro shelves, on the other hand, will run you under $60. A Serious Eats favorite, these are affordable, easy to clean, and tall enough to fit larger appliances. What's more, if you get some S-hooks, you'll be able to hang all of your utensils, strainers, mandolines, and even pots and pans right from the unit. If you are looking to have something built in, try this simple steel rail from IKEA. With a few of these and a lot of S-hooks, you'll be able to clear the clutter in no time.

Of course, not all of us are lucky enough to have a true pantry at home and therefore use a lot of tools for small kitchens and need to be economical with space. If that's you, try some of these under-cabinet storage sets. They'll help you make the best use of the space you do have.

Storage Containers

The Rubbermaid containers are our favorite for dry goods storage after testing. They're lightweight and airtight, and easy to open latches. For something a little less expensive, Daniel recommends using glass storage containers like these. They're a little heavier but they nest well and are great if you're looking to transport any of your ingredients (they came out on top during testing, too).

Taking a cue from those in the office who have worked in professional kitchens, we rely pretty heavily on pint and quart deli containers to store veggies or dry goods. They can be filled with stocks or soups and stored in the freezer (it helps that they're stackable); the quart containers are perfect for storing leafy herbs like cilantro and parsley; you can even use them for drinking cups in a pinch or for your collection of desiccant packets. Unused, they nest and take up very little space. Plus, they are way cheaper than your average food storage container, so you won't feel guilty if you accidentally leave one filled with leftovers in your fridge for a bit too long (just throw it away: these come in packs of 50). To keep their deli containers even more organized in restaurant kitchens, chefs label each container with some tape and a sharpie (date and what the ingredient is—they take this very seriously, as Sohla can attest). If you want to get fancy with it, you can get this awesome label maker, which will make your pantry look even more professional.

For in-fridge organization, we like sturdy plastic bins like these ones from iDesign. They're available in a bunch of different sets and can be stacked to really maximize storage space. Some of the bins even have movable dividers. And while they're not super cheap, they're built to last and are sustainable and made from 100% post-consumer plastic. A good runner-up option for either of these would be these shoe box storage containers.

Dry food storage containers filled with Cheez-Its on a gray surface

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

Hotel Pans

Another vital container used in restaurant kitchens is the hotel pan. You'll find all sorts of sizes (all of which nest into a full-sized hotel pan) and we find the shallow sixth, the deep sixth, and the shallow ninth to be the MVPs. Daniel uses his collection to hold stews and braises, cooked beans in their water, blanched and drained vegetables, and cooked grains. All of these can be simply covered in plastic wrap and secured with a plastic band. Like pint and quart deli containers, these hotel pans nest well when not in use, plus they're durable and non-reactive (and not plastic, in case that worries you).

Knife and Utensil Storage

Magnetic knife strips are not only space-saving but they also look pretty badass hanging on your wall. They'll keep your knives from rubbing up against other utensils, which can make them dull (and can be dangerous, too). We tested a number of them and the one from Jonathan Alden our favorite. If you're short on wall space, we also have a countertop knife block pick that won't dull your knives—it swivels and has a very strong magnet.

But there are plenty of utensils that need to go in your drawers and for that, we like an adjustable drawer organizer, which should be able to fit your tallest forks and your smallest spoons. If you do prefer to keep your knives tucked away, this in-drawer knife dock is a great solution. With it, knives are out of sight but easy to grab without the chance of nicking yourself in the process.

For tools like spatulas and whisks, a good old utensil crock will do the trick. If you have a dirty utensil but still need it later on, don't set it down and make a mess of your counter, get one of these spoon rests instead.

To store utensils and make even more use of your walls, we love Command strip hooks, which come in a wide variety of sizes and finishes. They are quite durable and can stay on walls for years. (If you're a renter, they're a great way to store tools, towels, oven mitts, and more without poking too many holes in the walls.)

Kitchen utensils and flatware in a wooden drawer organizer.

Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi

Spice Organization

There's a lot to say about how to manage your spice collection. First and foremost, pay attention to freshness. If you can't remember when you bought that bottle of paprika, chances are it has transformed into sad red dust with zero flavor. For more info on how to keep your spices fresh, read our guide here—then invest in a spice rack for keeping things organized.

a spice rack in a drawer with spices on it

Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi

Everything You Need for Cleanup

While organization is key when it comes to cooking, it's also helpful when you're organized and stocked for cleaning up. Cleaning can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you don't have a dishwasher. But with the right tools, you'll at least have a good system in place to keep clean-up time to a minimum. A dish drying rack (like our favorite, after testing, from KitchenAid) helps dishes dry quickly and easily, and won't take up a ton of space on your already limited counters. Lid organizers also make great dish racks in a pinch; as you know, we love a good multitasker. We also recommend a good sponge holder, to keep that sponge from getting too grody (though, we're told you should replace it every two weeks...gotta get on that!). Associate commerce editor Grace Kelly likes this one from SunnyPoint (which, bonus, is only $10).

A dish rack with a variety of dishes on it.

Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi

Why We're the Experts

  • Ariel Kanter was the former commerce director at Serious Eats. She worked for the site for many years.
  • She's written a variety of pieces for Serious Eats, including essential knives.

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