This Might Be the Smartest Hidden Storage Spot for Your Pots and Pans

The tiniest apartment kitchen I ever had was also one of my favorites. Everything was intimate and efficient in that space — something I think about frequently in my “dream home” whenever I walk the five whopping steps from my pots and pans to my range. Not an inch was wasted in that micro-kitchen, and one of its smartest storage solutions was utilizing the refrigerator to organize pots and pans.

No, I did not treat my All-Clad like fruit bowls or use my stockpot to house a half-gallon of milk — I hung all of my pots and pans on the side of the refrigerator with a pack of heavy duty magnetic hooks I bought for less than $10 on Amazon. 

The MIKEDE hooks can hold up to 50 pounds vertically and 150 pounds horizontally, so they have no trouble keeping even your heaviest cast iron pan in place. This practically effortless solution creates storage out of thin air — no drill required.

In my new kitchen, my stainless steel refrigerator isn’t magnetic so I really can’t use the handy hooks, but I recently purchased a new pack just to be sure they’re still as good as I remembered. And they absolutely are. I tried them out on a fireplace, and the look gave me serious Little House on the Prairie vibes. I honestly love them so much I’m trying to figure out another way to use them — maybe I’ll take up carpentry so I can hang some in the garage. 

If you’re worried your pans aren’t display-worthy, you can make even the most discolored pans look bright and shiny with a little elbow grease and Bar Keepers Friend. Or just proudly hang the spotty pans like I did, with zero shame — it just meant I actually cooked with them!  You’ll free up precious cabinet and drawer space. 

Think of this method like Julia Child’s iconic pegboard, but much more affordable and easier to install. You won’t have to drill even one hole in the wall to make it happen. Renters, rejoice!

Buy: MIKEDE Heavy Duty Magnetic Hooks 4-Pack, $9.98 (normally $10.98)