10 Better Ways to Store Your Pots and Pans
I’m lucky to have plenty of storage options in my kitchen — a pantry, plenty of drawers, and a couple of overhead cabinets, to name a few. But enough room doesn’t always make organization a given. My pots and pans are a perfect example. Instead of nesting them on a pantry shelf or neatly tucking them in one of my bigger drawers, I’ve historically shoved them in a cabinet and hoped they didn’t come flying out when I opened it. So, you could say I’m, uh, on the hunt for a new organization system for my cookware. Are you also looking for the best way to store your pots and pans? Below, I rounded up 10 (better) methods to try with a few products to help you out on your organization journey, too!
Do you have any other organizational tips to add? We want to hear all about them. Share your favorite hacks (and organizers!) in the comments below.
1. Hang them from pot rails on a wall.
Wall space is just storage space waiting to happen! If you have any walls in your kitchen without cabinets or shelving, consider adding a pot rail or two and using hooks to hang cookware. Bonus idea: You can prop the lids onto the rails for even smarter storage.
2. Hang them from pot rails across a window.
No wall space to speak of? Don’t be so fast to discount your kitchen window. You can totally hang a few pot rails across a window without blocking too much light.
3. Hang them from a pot rack on the ceiling.
Pretty much every Nora Ephron movie features a stunning kitchen with great light and a giant, hanging pot rack filled with (expensive) copper pots. Of course, you can get an affordable pot rack (like this one or this one) and hang whatever pots you have on them. You can even get creative and hang, say, a ladder.
4. Stack them and store the lids separately.
The trouble usually comes when you’re nesting pots with or among the lids, right? One way to avoid that is to turn the backs of your cabinet doors (or a wall in your pantry) into a home base for all the lids). You just need two Command hooks per lid — and these easy directions.
5. Nest them with protectors.
Nesting things will always help you save space. Just make sure you’re not causing more harm than good. If you’re nesting cast iron cookware, use a paper towel to protect your hard-earned seasoning (it will also absorb any random moisture and prevent rust!). If you’re nesting stainless steel pans, consider these felt protectors, which Amazon shoppers are obsessed with.
6. Display them on a vertical pot rack.
Leave it to television personality Carla Hall to have a super-cool, stylish standing pot rack, which also doesn’t take up a ton of space.
7. Set them up on a rolling cart.
This might not seem super practical at first, but think about it: You can roll the cart over to meet you wherever you’re working, and then you’ll easily be able to grab what you need. When not in use, you can tuck it into a corner or even a nearby coat closet. This SimpleHouseware cart would be perfect.
8. Stack them in a cabinet — on an organizer.
Maybe you’re like me, and you do have the space, but not the organization skills for keeping pots and pans tidy. Do yourself a favor and invest in a wire pot and pan organizer, like this $18 option from Amazon. Now you’ll get to make use of your cabinet space, all the while ensuring your cookware stays neatly stacked.
9. Hang them on a pegboard.
Let’s say you do have wall space (see tip 1), but you want something a little more purposeful than a pot rail. Consider a DIY pegboard, which you can arrange — and rearrange — however you see fit. Use a file sorter to hold your lids, and get creative with the accessories you add to make it even more useful. Check out this metal option from Wayfair!
10. Put them on display on your stovetop.
Tired of constantly reaching into the same cabinet to pull out the same (heavy) Dutch oven? Give your prettiest pot a permanent home on your stovetop!