I spent the past several years in an apartment with a teeny-tiny kitchen. For someone who really enjoys being in the kitchen, this was somewhat disappointing. However, the experience taught me how to stay organized in this space. Some of the benefits of having an organized kitchen include greater grocery shopping efficiency and less food waste. When your kitchen is organized, it is easy to take inventory and figure out what you need at the grocery store. Additionally, you are less likely to buy foods you already have on hand and/or let foods expire.
I have recently reorganized a family member's kitchen and it got me thinking about how valuable (but potentially overlooked) cleaning our kitchens can be. I'm not talking about the day-to-day maintenance such as doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, and/or wiping down the countertops. I'm talking about going through all of the drawers, cabinets, and refrigerator, throwing things away, and reorganizing/prioritizing. Now, I understand this is definitely a weekend project and something that will require a few hours but doing this every 6 months or so can really save you money and time in the long run.
Here are some things to consider if it's been a while since you have reorganized your kitchen:
- Does it make sense for you? We are all different. There really aren't any clear cut rules to organizing your kitchen. When you begin reorganizing, ask yourself what most frustrates you at the moment and try to find a solution. Are the items you use most easily accessible? In my opinion, shelves and drawers that are the most easily accessible should be used for items that have a quick turnover. This will be different for everyone but can make all the difference. Items that have a long shelf life and that you have surplus of should be stored in the less convenient places. For me, these items might be canned vegetables, canned pasta sauces, canned beans, etc. When items are on sale I stock up but there is no reason to store the surplus on the convenient shelves. Keep a few cans accessible and store the surplus in less convenient spaces.
- How old is that? It happens. We have all been there. Check the expiration dates and toss it if it needs to be tossed. If it doesn't have an expiration date and you can't remember when you purchased it, really evaluate whether it is a staple in your kitchen and if you should hang on to it. I know it can be difficult to throw things away, especially food items, but I believe that purging your kitchen and starting fresh will help you out in the long-term-- you will have better knowledge of your current inventory and more space for future purchases.
- Keep it in the family. Keep things that are similar near each other in the kitchen. This is pretty self-explanatory but if you haven't reorganized your kitchen in a while you may notice that cabinets get out of sorts pretty quickly. At first glance you may only think you have two cans of green beans but as you continue moving items around you discover three more shoved behind boxes of pasta. Again, knowing the inventory of your kitchen will only save you money in the long run (you will avoid unnecessary purchases and/or food expiration).
After you've reorganized...
- Evaluate your stock. Do you have everything you need to make preparing meals easiest for you? Maybe you need to stock up on dried spices and herbs. Or maybe you notice that you don't have a piece of equipment that you could use. If you don't have the immediate funds to purchase new cookware, keep you eyes pealed at thrift shops and/or garage sales where you can find affordable items. A study by Applehans et al. found that the greater availability of food supplies within the home was positively correlated with family meal frequency and home prepared dinners so make sure you have what you need. (1)
- Invest in storage containers and food preservation clips. Keeping your food fresh longer will save you money and frustration. Period. You can even save glass containers (think pasta sauces, olives, etc.) and use these for storage too.
Reference:
- Appelhans B, Waring M, Schneider K, Pagoto S. Research report: Food preparation supplies predict children’s family meal and home-prepared dinner consumption in low-income households. Appetite. 2014;76:1-8.
