IN THIS POST
– Rarely Used Appliances
– Cooking Utensils
– Serveware
– Storage containers
– Spices
– Knives
– Oil Bottles
Organising your kitchen is not an easy task. Regardless of how often you wipe the counters and clean the cabinets, your cooking space may still look unkempt and disorganised if you don’t know which items to put on display and which to store elsewhere. If you are someone who likes to keep their favourite cooking utensils and knife sets within close reach, you may have to slightly change your habits. Since a cluttered kitchen can be impractical as well as unhygienic, we have put together a list of things not to store on your countertops that will make your cooking space look well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing.
Let’s take a look at some tried and tested kitchen counter organisation tips.
List of Things Not To Store on Your Countertops
Wondering how to keep your kitchen counters clean and free of any visual clutter? Well, you can find that out for yourself by banishing these items from your countertops.
Rarely Used Appliances
Nothing makes your kitchen counters look more cluttered than a bunch of rarely used electronic appliances just lying about gathering dust. Apart from taking up a chunk of your precious counter space, these items also get in the way of your day-to-day activities and make your kitchen look untidy.
If you want to organise the kitchen countertops, you need to start by removing any and all rarely used appliances from your sight. The under-counter storage units are usually the best place to store things like blenders, mixers, juicers, and sandwich makers. The only small electronic appliance that can be stored on the counter is probably your toaster, as it would be a hassle to put it in a cabinet and then take it out on a daily basis.
As per the rule of thumb, the appliances that aren’t utilized every time you cook should not be kept on your kitchen countertop.
Here are some more useful tips on how to make the most out of your countertop space.
Cooking Utensils
As convenient as it may be to store all your favourite pots, pans, and spatulas on the kitchen counter for easy access, you must know that experts categorize them among items not to store on the countertops.
If you are looking for some clever kitchen counter storage hacks, consider transferring all of your cookware and utensils to drawers and cabinets that are close to the oven or stove. This will ensure easy access while keeping these items out of sight.
Moreover, storing utensils on the counter is not very sanitary. Since grease, dust, and grime tends to accumulate on things placed close to the stovetop, using an unwashed spatula or spoon while cooking can be really bad for your health.
Before we move on to the next item, here is a list of essential cooking utensils every homeowner should have in their kitchen.
Serveware
Among the things not to store on your countertops, serveware ranks higher than you probably realize.
The coffee mugs, teacups and other crockery items resting on your kitchen counters may seem useful but they can easily get in the way during meal prep and cooking. These items take up a lot of space, collect fine dust, and may even get coated with a thin layer of grease if placed too close to the stovetop.
Similarly, fancy china and dinnerware should not be stored on the countertop either. Apart from making your cooking space look cluttered, they are also at the contact risk of accidentally falling and breaking into pieces.
The best way to organise the kitchen countertops is to store all of your plates, bowls, mugs, teacups and saucers in different cabinets. In case you don’t have enough cabinet space, consider installing C hooks under the cabinets to hang the cups.
Storage containers
A lot of homeowners store staples like flour, rice, and lentils in containers on their countertops since it is easy to reach out and grab them while cooking.
However, these storage containers are also categorized as items not to store on the countertops because of two main reasons. First, they take up a lot of counter space, and second, they may lose their freshness due to the excessive heat from your stovetop as well as the exposure to sunlight.
Hence, it is recommended to store these staple containers in your pantry or cabinets.
On the other hand, smaller decorative containers for daily-use items such as sugar, salt and coffee can be stored on kitchen counters if you have enough space. The bulkier containers, nonetheless, must be moved out of the view.
Check out these tips on how to smartly store food in your kitchen for more storage solutions.
Spices
Almost all kitchens have a spice stand placed in the full view. Aesthetically, there is nothing wrong with storing a few spice jars on the counter, but keeping them too close to the oven or stovetop can weaken their flavours and make them taste stale over time.
Natural light and heat from the cooking surfaces can quickly degrade the flavour as well as the colouration of certain spices. Therefore, you should move them to a cooler and darker place as soon as possible.
If that’s not feasible, consider investing in any of the kitchen counter organisation products available in the market for spice storage.
Here are some clever spice storage ideas for your kitchen that will help keep your kitchen neat, clean and well-organised.
Knives
Knife blocks may look trendy and deserving of a prominent spot on your countertop, but is it really safe to store such sharp objects out in the open? If you have young children running around the house, you should consider getting rid of the knife block and moving all your knives to a drawer with a lock to keep them out of reach.
Even if you don’t have kids in the house, keeping a knife block on the countertop can take up a lot of space. It may even be a hassle if you don’t use most of those knives on a regular basis. They are also not easy to clean.
So, another way to declutter your kitchen countertop is by removing your knife block from the surface.
Oil Bottles
As it turns out, oil is yet another staple that you’ve been storing wrong all along.
Just like spices, oils can also lose their taste or even go bad if stored near a heat source or under direct light. While it makes perfect sense to keep the oil bottles nearby when preparing food, you should consider storing them at a cooler location to make sure they last longer.
It is also important to mention that placing oil bottles too close to a burning stove is a fire hazard in itself. They can also make your kitchen counters look very cluttered and disorganised.
To conclude, only the items you use daily should be placed on the countertop. Things not to store on your countertops include items such as spices and oils, which can go bad due to excessive heat, should be stored in the pantry. Likewise, fragile dishware, bulky knife blocks, and cooking utensils should all have their designated storage space in every kitchen. This will make your cooking space look clean, hygienic and visually appealing.
So, how many of these items will you banish from your kitchen countertop? Let us know your thoughts and comments on kitchen countertop storage ideas by dropping a message at blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, if you are planning to renovate or remodel your kitchen, make sure to take a look at our guides detailing the cost of installing new countertops, best materials for countertop construction, and how to cover old countertops without replacing them.
For more kitchen counter storage solutions, stay connected to the Zameen Blog – the best home décor and property blog in Pakistan. You can also subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter and Facebook page to receive updates about the latest construction and real estate trends in the country.
