15 Better Ways to Organize Your Pots and Pans
Wrangle these awkward pieces of cookware — and so, so many lids — once and for all.
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Pots, pans, and lids are some of the hardest pieces of kitchen equipment to handle. They're big and bulky, but often used, so you have to find a lot of easily-accessible space for them. Here, see how to keep everything tidy and make use of some extra kitchen square footage while you're at it.
Install a slide-out rack within a cabinet.
These organizers by Glideware let you hang the pots as if they were on the rack, but within a cabinet so you don't have to see the clutter.
Stick a hook anywhere.
Peel-and-stick 3M Command hooks can transform wasted space into open-air storage. Use them in awkward nooks, like between the kitchen cabinet and the wall.
RELATED: A Pro Organizer Completely Transformed My Tiny Kitchen
Tackle the tops.
It doesn't help if you have a beautifully organized cabinet of pots, but a jumbled mess of lids. This wall-mounted organizer lets you see all the variety of lid sizes at once.
Flip the lid.
Or, if you're just looking for a quick way to keep a stack of pots neat, keep the lids on your pots while they're in your cabinet — but flip them upside-down, so the handle sticks inside the pot. Not only will you eliminate the need to search for the right-size lid, you'll have a flatter, smoother surface where you can stack the next pot.
Use a pegboard.
A bare, blank wall gets a stylish (and functional!) upgrade with a black pegboard. Hang your pots and pans from hooks and outline them in chalk so you never forget where each item lives.
Try a towel bar.
Don't let the side of your cabinet go to waste: Install a short rail to magically turn the empty space into storage. Since the bar probably won't hold your entire collection, opt to hang the items you use most often — or the prettiest ones (like these copper beauties).
Divide a deep drawer.
Add 1/4-inch pieces of plywood to your deepest drawer to create cubbies for all of your pots and pans — and avoid epic stacking fails.
Reclaim corner cabinets.
Replace the lazy Susan that usually lives in your corner with this savvy solution instead — it's bigger than your average cabinet so you can keep your entire collection in one place.
Hang a vintage ladder.
Who knew you could find your MVP of kitchen organizers at an antique shop? This ladder gets a new life when it's coated with bright paint and hung from the ceiling as a pot rack.
Install a roll-out organizer
Since each shelf gets shorter as this organizer gets taller, you never have to dig under the top of a cabinet to find what you're looking for. Sauce pans go on top, while bigger pieces go below.
Decorate your backsplash.
If you have a tall backsplash, affix a pegboard to hang pots and pans above your counter. This way, they'll be easy to reach, and if you have a colorful collection (like this blue one) it'll double as art.
Hang 'em in your pantry.
If you have a walk-in pantry (lucky you), make the most of the back wall by hanging your bulky kitchen accessories on it — now items are quick to find, use, and store.
Embrace an open wire rack.
These oversized shelves are stylish, too. Pots live on the bottom, and — since now you don't have to deal with doors or sides of cabinets — you can pull out your go-to scrambled eggs pan without any obstacles.
Use a rail (or two).
The wall next to your stove doesn't have to stay blank: Use two rails and S-hooks to hang pots and pans, and store lids safely between the rails and the walls.
Buy a super duper organizer.
This wire rack holder for your cabinet gives every item a designated place: Lids go on top, pans go in the back, and pots go up front. Oh and did we mention it can fits snuggly under a standalone stovetop? How convenient.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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