Kitchen Organization

Today’s lesson is 341 words, a 1 min 21 sec reading time. Subscribe here. 📍Introduction Rummaging through cupboards looking for all the items you need to prepare a dish is time-consuming and frustrating. Use these tips to get your kitchen into working order for faster and more efficient cooking. 📝 Notes, Tips, Tricks: * The kitchen is your warehouse. Disorganization quickly leads to chaos. You should be able to find items within ~15 seconds of needing them. * Grouping tools & ingredients is efficient cooking’s secret sauce. Digging for items is a time-suck. Create “stations” or “zones” by task (e.g., tea/coffee, baking), type (e.g., spices in the rack, fruit in a bowl), or storage need (e.g., delicate produce in fridge crisper). * Size matters. Keep heavy items down low & don’t stack things in a way that makes them hard to lift out. Keep small items in baskets or see-through bins. Reuse boxes where possible. Set up drawer organizers for small items. * Declutter ~2x/year. Remove duplicates, damaged items, & anything you don’t use once per month. Store rarely used items elsewhere to free up space (e.g., instant pot in a closet). * Keep long utensils in a crock near the stove for easy access. Other commonly used items should be within easy reach. * Don’t store oil or spices near the stove. Heat degrades them. * The less you have in the cabinets, the less you will have on the counters. The less you have on your counters, the cleaner your kitchen will be. * Once a year, “kon mari” your kitchen. This means take everything out at once, donate items you don’t love, & organize anew. If you are struggling to decide, put an item in “kitchen purgatory.” Place it in a box outside the kitchen. If you don’t use it in two months, donate or recycle it. * Canned & packaged goods eventually expire. If you don’t think you’ll use something soon-ish, consider donating it to your local food bank. * Keep a notebook in the kitchen to jot down “To Do’s” & shopping lists—this reduces your mental load. 🎓 Further Studies: * 20 Amazing Pantries * Find your Local Goodwill This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com