Kitchen Storage 101
With A Professional Chef

From a chef’s point of view, there are a few essential items you need in the kitchen. As these are the items you tend to reach for the most they may also be the gear worth investing in. We asked Rebecca the most-reached-for items in her kitchen and here's what she had to say:

• Spatulas, whisks, and tongs are usually the items I use most often in the kitchen. They’re multi-purpose and required in almost everything, from savoury to sweet dishes.
• My cast iron pan and a stainless steel frying pan are my most used pans
• A bench scraper! It might sound a bit strange as it’s just a flat piece of metal but it is so useful for cutting or scraping things and even scraping down your counter. I find myself reaching for it all the time when trying to cook quickly.
• A scale is essential if you’re an avid baker or if you need to weigh your food. It also comes in handy when you can use it to split your food into accurate portions if you buy meat or vegetables in bulk.
• It might not be a must for everyone but I also love my rice cooker.

“Kitchens get messy, there’s no way around that. You can’t avoid it. It’s important to organise a kitchen in a way that works for you. Just because you like the way a kitchen looks doesn’t mean it will make sense for you, so I always start by putting the things I need the most often closest to where I’m usually standing in the kitchen. For example, I have some pans that I use all the time that just stay on the stove because when I use them I don’t want to have to dig for them in a pile of other pots and pans. So keeping things that you use frequently within reach is really helpful.”

“I have a bakers rack in my kitchen that is really useful - it’s basically a set of shelves with a backboard and a little shelf on top. If you have a small kitchen it can be helpful for keeping things in reach but organized. You can line up the spices you use most up the top, hang the tools you use from the hooks. I don’t need my blender out all the time but it is one of the appliances I use most often so it lives there too. Having that open storage for the things you use all the time is a really good way of having stuff out but having it always look organised."

Some of Rebecca’s other top tips for setting up your kitchen to minimise mess include:

• Keep your bin close when you’re chopping food so you can slide the scraps right in
• If that’s not possible, keep a scraps bowl so you can clean as you go - making the cleaning process when you’re done cooking so much easier
• Have kitchen towels always within reach so you can clean up any spills quickly

Some people simply leave the pots and pans they use regularly on their stove. However, if you have a small kitchen this habit could make your space look untidy. If you’re storing your pots and pans away remember to take care of them, and keep in mind the material they’re made out of:

“Cast Iron is super resilient; you can do almost anything to it and you’re not going to damage it. Keep in mind, however, that cast iron and carbon steel are sensitive to water and moisture so I wouldn’t keep them under your sink for example. But if they do get a bit rusty, you can fix them! They’re very durable.”

“Stainless steel is also pretty resilient; you can do a lot with it and it’s pretty easy to fix. You obviously don’t want it to get super scratched up, but again it will probably be fine. Make sure you heat it properly — heat the pan, then add oil, then add your food — and you won’t get that film of oil that sticks to the pan and is impossible to get off. For any other stains, Bar Keeper’s Friend will make your pans look brand new again.”

“Really, the pots and pans you want to be careful of are the nonstick pans. You don’t want the non-stick surface flaking off into your food and they’re not meant to be used over high heat.Some people put thin sheets of foam packing material between their non-stick pans. That way you can stack them and they’re not going to scratch each other. I only have one or two non-stick pans but I never put another pan on top of them or, if I do, I try to stick a kitchen towel in between them because the non-stick base can scratch off really easily.”

It can be extremely frustrating (and unsafe) trying to cut vegetables, meat, or fruit with a blunt knife. That’s why it’s important to maintain your knives and keep their sharp edges. Rebecca’s preferred way of storing knives is in a knife block because it prevents them from getting damaged but also keeps the blades hidden away. Just remember not to drop your knives into the knife block as if it’s a long knife the point is likely hitting the counter and getting damaged each time. You could also install a magnetic wall strip to stick your knives to.

To clean your knives, you want to use a soft sponge and warm soapy water to wash them. While hand washing them is always best, you can also run your knives through a wash cycle in a dishwasher, but it may damage them over time. After washing them, it’s always best to towel dry your knives instead of air-drying them. And, remember, if you have any doubts, it’s best to consult the care instructions for your individual knives to make sure you’re taking care of them in the best way possible.

To sharpen her knives, Rebecca usually uses a stone sharpener. It may take some time to sharpen your knives using a stone, but it will give your blades the edge you need to slice through almost any type of food easily.

“I do have a nice stone sharpener but I also have one of those $5 plastic run-your-knife-through-it kind of things. They’re not ideal because they’re always going to sharpen your knife to the same degree of sharpness and not all knives have been created with the same angle on the blade edge. While they’re not the best, if you’re new to the world of knife care it’s not a bad way to get yourself thinking about it. I also use honing steel, which doesn’t sharpen the knife but does straighten out the edge of the knife blade.”

Some appliances can break other items—especially those made of glass—if they’re packed in the same container.

“Don't put all of your appliances in one box, as you don’t want them banging into each other. They’re also quite heavy and that sucks for whoever is moving them. What I’d recommend is wrapping them with your kitchen towels, putting them in - if you have a box of comforters, pillows, bath towels, and linens - something that can form a big cushion around it. It means the box is relatively light but it’s still protecting, for example, the kitchen-aid mixer in the middle. And for anything that has detachable pieces, you’ll want to take them off, put them in a baggie and label the baggie. Same with anything that has detachable cords - it’s always easiest to keep all of the parts in the same box.”

You also want to label your boxes correctly so that you know, for example, which items are breakable and to ensure when you move in you can get to what you need quickly.

“When we moved last time, I bought a bunch of big colourful stickers and any box that had stuff in it that I wanted right away, I put a big green dot on all sides of the box. That way when we were unpacking I knew anything that had a green dot on it was to be opened first, and that meant we could get our favorite kitchen stuff right away.”

Here are some extra tips to pack various kitchen items correctly:

• Glassware: Use bubble wrap to protect cups, plates and glass bowls. Then place them carefully into a box with dividers. The dividers will prevent the glass items from hitting against each other or moving around in the box. There are moving kits that you can buy that are specifically designed for moving that give you an individual sleeve to protect each item. While this is often pricey, it may be worth it to keep all of your precious items intact.
• Appliances: Toasters, kettles and coffee makers should be cleaned of any food debris or crumbs, wrapped in bubble wrap or soft dish towels. Pack them neatly into a box with other soft items such as linens or towels and make sure they’re packed tightly.
• Cutlery: Separate your spoons, forks, and knives. Then tie them in bundles with elastic bands and wrap them with plastic. Place them in your cutlery tray and then put the tray in the box.

First, make sure all your kitchenware is clean before packaging them to prevent pest infestations. Additionally, make sure that all your items are wrapped securely so that they don’t cause damage to other items in the box.

When you pack your cooking tools into a box make sure you label which side of the box is the top. You don’t want the movers to tip the box the wrong way in case there are breakable items inside the container. The mark will let the movers know in which position the box must be packed during transportation.

If you’re storing your kitchen utensils long-term you want to choose an environment with climate control. This will prevent pests from chewing through your boxes and damaging your items.

Before you start unpacking your kitchenware into your new kitchen you want to make sure your space is clean. Follow the cleaning tips in this next section for the best results.

Pest Inspections

First, do a quick inspection to ensure you don’t have any pests. Look for signs of pest infestations such as rat droppings or holes in the walls. If you do find signs of pests you should call in an exterminator to assist you.

On the other hand, if you find a few ants scurrying around your cupboards simply spray them with a can of bug spray. When they’re dead, wipe them away with a cloth and wash the area with soapy water.

Clean Inside Your Cabinets

Cabinets can get dusty inside. You don’t want to put your clean dishes in a dusty cupboard. Pour warm water into a bucket and add a cleaning aid to the mixture. Use a cloth to wipe down the inside of your cabinets and drawers before you place your clean dishes inside.

Mould and Mildew

There can be mould and mildew buildup in homes that have been empty for a while. To eliminate mould and mildew growth around taps, stovetops and in between tiles use a vinegar and water solution.

Pour one cup of white vinegar into a bucket of warm water. Dip a scrubbing brush into the solution and clean all relevant areas.

Clean Kitchen Tile Grouting

Sometimes grouting in between tiles turns brown or black. You can either use bleach or a powerful grout cleaner to brighten up the areas between your tiles. This will work for tiled floors, walls and backsplashes.

Cleaning The Stove and Oven

Before you start cooking in your new kitchen make sure your stovetop and oven are clean. You can use an oven cleaner to remove old or burnt food from the oven. Use bleach or foamy cleaning aid to wipe down your stovetop.

Wipe Down Storage Racks

If you’re lucky enough to have pre-installed storage racks in your new kitchen then you won’t have to install them yourself. They may be dusty so wipe the kitchen racks down with warm soapy water before storing your kitchen essentials on the rack.

Inspect Your Kitchen Tools Before Storage

Inspect your cooking utensils before putting them in drawers or cabinets. If you find that some items are dirty, wash them in your sink or put them in the dishwasher.

Now that you’re all set up inside your new kitchen, you’ll want to maintain your kitchenware well, so they’ll last. Here are some tips to help you preserve your kitchen equipment.

Read Instructions Carefully

All kitchen appliances come with instructions. Whether you buy a new oven or a fancy toaster, they’ll come with guidelines on how to operate and maintain them. Read instructions carefully so you don’t accidentally break your kitchen equipment by managing items poorly or not cleaning them correctly.

Sign Up for Warranties

Most kitchenware will come with warranties that you can sign up for. If you spend a lot of money on a non-stick pan or a coffee maker, you want to make sure you’re covered if the item breaks. With a warranty, you can either get your item fixed or replaced as long it’s within the warranty period.

“Any company that backs their product with a lifetime warranty tells you two things. Firstly, you know it's going to be a good product because they’re willing to stand behind it for that long and, secondly, if something does go wrong you have a way of getting in touch with the company and getting it fixed. If you’re going to spend a lot of money on something you want to know you’re going to have it for a long time and you want to know the company cares that you spent that amount of money with them.”