Help me organize my kitchen - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

innovis · 02-18-2006, 10:01 AM

I have an entire cabinet full of spices and tea and coffee, and another full of 4 kinds of rice, other various grains, all my baking stuff, sugar, etc. Most are in their original packaging. I'd like to organize it all, and make it look nice to boot!

So here is where I need help. I'd like to store all of my baking and grain type stuff in stainless steel square containers, preferably with no outhanging latches so I can stack and store things flush against each other. My google-fu has failed me miserably. I'd also like to find some sleek, space saving solution to storing all of my spices, coffees(not SO much an issue), and teas(more of an issue than coffee, I have 6 or 7 kinds of loose leaf tea, and probably 15 different types of bagged teas). Maybe something I could even use on my counter...

Also, I'd kind of been looking into magnetic knife holders, any good experiences, bad, recommendations, links?

Thanks in advance!

taboo · 02-18-2006, 09:22 PM

how about something like this for your spices or teas?
I have one at home that is vertical and mounted to the wall...saves more space like that..

or maybe something like this, that could also become a part of your counter wall...

Sage · 02-18-2006, 09:40 PM

Those are good Ideas...

How much cabnet space are you working with? Do you *really* need everything that you have? How old are all these different things?

I'd say- start with a purge of your pantry. Throw out everything that is out of date or that you won't ever eat. That usually clears up a lot of room. Take all the baking stuff- flour, rice, whatever, and put it into containers- like the stainless steel ones you mentioned, but tupperware would probably be cheaper (that's what all my flour, rice, etc is in). The pics above are nice solutions towards the teas.

Also, keep in mind that if you just put stuff in bins and stack it all, you'll have to take it alll back out in order to get at whatever is in the back. The sliding drawer thingee as shown above would make it super easy to get to what you need when you need it and keep things clutter free and easily accessible.

As to the magnetic thingee- make sure that the magnet is strong enough to hold your knives. Sounds simple, I know, but it's important- you want those suckers to be *stuck* to the wall and not easily jarred off. Falling knives = not good! Do you have a block of knives of a specific brand or just a bunch of random ones you've picked up along the way? If you've got a specific brand, look for the knife holder that is sold by that brand. The magnet will be gaurenteed to be strong enough.

Look upon cleaning up your kitchen as an oppurtunity to really clean out everything- chipped glassware, old stained dishtowels, some of those fifty thousand coffee cups lurking in the back of the cabnet... that kinda thing. I did the same thing about three months ago and it was great! One more thing- practally every kitchen gadget (zester, peeler, handheld can opener, juicer, measuring spoons, etc) can be hung on the wall. There's the pegboard option like shown above- hell, I just have nails in teh wall and all that stuff is hung on the wall- makes for super easy access and frees up my (very limited) drawer space!

kutulu · 02-18-2006, 10:40 PM

The thing about the magnetic things is that if the knives are not all from the same set it doesn't look as good. If you go for a block, look at this:

Spices:
How old are they? If they are 6mo or older, throw them out but save the containers. Or buy new matching ones (maybe a set so they are labeled, but toss out the display case, see below) Buy new spices at a place where you can get then in bulk. Bulk is perfect because its cheaper per ounce and you can buy in proportions that you expect to use in about a couple months, resulting in them staying much fresher.

Keep in mind that although open racks on the counter may look nice, they are a bad idea. Spices stay stronger in cool dark places.

What about mason jars for the rices, grains, and baking goods? They are cheap and pretty.

innovis · 02-19-2006, 01:55 AM

Well, I do use pretty much everything I have. Some spices sit around for prolonged periods (Fennel, corriander), but in general we use everything else. For large containers for baking stuff/Grains... I'd need to store:
White Rice, Sushi Rice, Parboiled Rice, Wild Rice, Oats, Flour, Corn Meal, Sugar, Chocolate Chips

I could get some plastic containers, but when I get my own place I want something I'll be able to just stack along the back of the counter and still have it look like it *belongs* out (maybe a steel backsplash?). The problem is I can't find any of said containers... I guess I need to hit up Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens and Things, and World Market...

Gotcha on the knife magnet, I don't have a nice set or anything, so I guess that would be kind of pointless.

That spice storage thing was kind of interesting. I will google around and see if there are any other neat spice storage solutions.

Thanks and keep the ideas coming!

maleficent · 02-19-2006, 09:02 AM

**moved to cooking**

From personal experience... I would never store grains/rice/baking stuff anywhere but in the fridge or very airtight containers... Mealworm infestations are truly the grossest things you will ever encounter...

Kutulu's right on the old spices... get rid of 'em if they are older than 6 months.. they lose their flavor... Buy smaller batches more frequently...

Spice racks I've found are a waste of money, while they look nice... they usually have spices on them that yuo will never use....

Try the container store - they have storage stuff in every shape and size imaginanable...

sailor · 02-20-2006, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

From personal experience... I would never store grains/rice/baking stuff anywhere but in the fridge or very airtight containers... Mealworm infestations are truly the grossest things you will ever encounter...

Hahahaha, or weevils... Nothing like dumping some flour into whatever youre baking to find it crawling with little black bugs.

Second the airtight containers. They should be pretty easy to find--theyre made for just this reason. We've got a pretty big one (prolly 2 gallons) that works great for flour, and several smaller ones for other things (sugar, rice, hominy, etc).

avernus · 02-20-2006, 07:00 AM

If you want spices to last longer by them whole and grind your own with a pestel and morter or a dedicated spice grinder. I use kilner jars (http://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/pr...e+Jars&id=8024) or equivilant for storage of a lot of my stuff. They are really for preserving but older ones need lids replacing so I just use them for lentils and such. Am sure you can get them cheaper than that link though.

I also use some tupperware containers without lids to store and stack boxes of teas.

Other than that I have the same problem, drives my gf and flatmate nuts. FAR too much kitchen stuff.

02-18-2006, 10:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
innovis Crazy	Help me organize my kitchen I have an entire cabinet full of spices and tea and coffee, and another full of 4 kinds of rice, other various grains, all my baking stuff, sugar, etc. Most are in their original packaging. I'd like to organize it all, and make it look nice to boot! So here is where I need help. I'd like to store all of my baking and grain type stuff in stainless steel square containers, preferably with no outhanging latches so I can stack and store things flush against each other. My google-fu has failed me miserably. I'd also like to find some sleek, space saving solution to storing all of my spices, coffees(not SO much an issue), and teas(more of an issue than coffee, I have 6 or 7 kinds of loose leaf tea, and probably 15 different types of bagged teas). Maybe something I could even use on my counter... Also, I'd kind of been looking into magnetic knife holders, any good experiences, bad, recommendations, links? Thanks in advance!

02-18-2006, 09:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sage hoarding all the big girl panties since 2005 Location: North side	Those are good Ideas... How much cabnet space are you working with? Do you really need everything that you have? How old are all these different things? I'd say- start with a purge of your pantry. Throw out everything that is out of date or that you won't ever eat. That usually clears up a lot of room. Take all the baking stuff- flour, rice, whatever, and put it into containers- like the stainless steel ones you mentioned, but tupperware would probably be cheaper (that's what all my flour, rice, etc is in). The pics above are nice solutions towards the teas. Also, keep in mind that if you just put stuff in bins and stack it all, you'll have to take it alll back out in order to get at whatever is in the back. The sliding drawer thingee as shown above would make it super easy to get to what you need when you need it and keep things clutter free and easily accessible. As to the magnetic thingee- make sure that the magnet is strong enough to hold your knives. Sounds simple, I know, but it's important- you want those suckers to be stuck to the wall and not easily jarred off. Falling knives = not good! Do you have a block of knives of a specific brand or just a bunch of random ones you've picked up along the way? If you've got a specific brand, look for the knife holder that is sold by that brand. The magnet will be gaurenteed to be strong enough. Look upon cleaning up your kitchen as an oppurtunity to really clean out everything- chipped glassware, old stained dishtowels, some of those fifty thousand coffee cups lurking in the back of the cabnet... that kinda thing. I did the same thing about three months ago and it was great! One more thing- practally every kitchen gadget (zester, peeler, handheld can opener, juicer, measuring spoons, etc) can be hung on the wall. There's the pegboard option like shown above- hell, I just have nails in teh wall and all that stuff is hung on the wall- makes for super easy access and frees up my (very limited) drawer space! __________________ Sage knows our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's She answers hard acrostics, has a pretty taste for paradox She quotes in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics she can floor peculiarities parabolous -C'hi

02-19-2006, 09:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	moved to cooking From personal experience... I would never store grains/rice/baking stuff anywhere but in the fridge or very airtight containers... Mealworm infestations are truly the grossest things you will ever encounter... Kutulu's right on the old spices... get rid of 'em if they are older than 6 months.. they lose their flavor... Buy smaller batches more frequently... Spice racks I've found are a waste of money, while they look nice... they usually have spices on them that yuo will never use.... Try the container store - they have storage stuff in every shape and size imaginanable... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

02-20-2006, 07:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
avernus Crazy Location: Bath, UK	If you want spices to last longer by them whole and grind your own with a pestel and morter or a dedicated spice grinder. I use kilner jars (http://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/pr...e+Jars&id=8024) or equivilant for storage of a lot of my stuff. They are really for preserving but older ones need lids replacing so I just use them for lentils and such. Am sure you can get them cheaper than that link though. I also use some tupperware containers without lids to store and stack boxes of teas. Other than that I have the same problem, drives my gf and flatmate nuts. FAR too much kitchen stuff. __________________ I like to browse in occult bookshops if for no other reason than to refresh my commitment to science. -- Heinz Pagels, "The Dreams of Reason"

02-18-2006, 09:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
taboo Crazy	how about something like this for your spices or teas? I have one at home that is vertical and mounted to the wall...saves more space like that.. or maybe something like this, that could also become a part of your counter wall...

02-18-2006, 10:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	The thing about the magnetic things is that if the knives are not all from the same set it doesn't look as good. If you go for a block, look at this: Spices: How old are they? If they are 6mo or older, throw them out but save the containers. Or buy new matching ones (maybe a set so they are labeled, but toss out the display case, see below) Buy new spices at a place where you can get then in bulk. Bulk is perfect because its cheaper per ounce and you can buy in proportions that you expect to use in about a couple months, resulting in them staying much fresher. Keep in mind that although open racks on the counter may look nice, they are a bad idea. Spices stay stronger in cool dark places. What about mason jars for the rices, grains, and baking goods? They are cheap and pretty.

02-19-2006, 01:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
innovis Crazy	Well, I do use pretty much everything I have. Some spices sit around for prolonged periods (Fennel, corriander), but in general we use everything else. For large containers for baking stuff/Grains... I'd need to store: White Rice, Sushi Rice, Parboiled Rice, Wild Rice, Oats, Flour, Corn Meal, Sugar, Chocolate Chips I could get some plastic containers, but when I get my own place I want something I'll be able to just stack along the back of the counter and still have it look like it belongs out (maybe a steel backsplash?). The problem is I can't find any of said containers... I guess I need to hit up Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens and Things, and World Market... Gotcha on the knife magnet, I don't have a nice set or anything, so I guess that would be kind of pointless. That spice storage thing was kind of interesting. I will google around and see if there are any other neat spice storage solutions. Thanks and keep the ideas coming!