Kitchen Storage - Optimizing Your Existing Space

Kitchen Storage - Optimizing Your Existing Space
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Erica_A_Brooks]Erica A Brooks

Looking at those cluttered countertops and that jumbled pantry it's hard to imagine any reasonable way of gaining back that control you once maintained and somehow surrendered slowly over time to the likes of a canister here, that sandwich maker there, the one that you just "had to have". We could go on and on, but the issue here is not the cause of the dilemma. Your focus needs to be on the remedy.

Any approach towards taming the beast that your kitchen has become needs to be measured, both figuratively, do not go overboard with your ideas, simplicity is better and primary to our equation, literally measure the existing space. After all, you can't fit a bowling ball into a marble pouch. When measuring the existing storage space available in your kitchen, focus more on the empty areas.

Above your cabinets:

By doing something as simple as installing dish rail to the forward edge of the upper cabinet tops, you provide a defined, aesthetically pleasing storage area for the likes of that fancy dinnerware you have used once in the last year, the larger pieces of cookware that also have not seen action since the last holiday. Storing larger, seldom used pieces overhead clears more concealed storage space for some of the items that clutter your counter space. Remember that sandwich maker; there you go, out of sight. (Note, keep a balanced and visually appealing amount of items overhead, don't defeat your progress by simply shuffling the jumble from below overhead.)

Behind doors:

The vertical space behind doors, whether it's the door to the basement, to a closet or mudroom, any interior door off the kitchen can become an ideal source for kitchen storage. With the wide variety of easily customizable over the door organizers available today you can turn almost any door into a mini pantry. Providing an organized place for that cluttered pile of food wraps and trash bags you thought would forever reside there beside the bread box, and don't forget those jumbled cleaning supplies. Well, you can take it from there.

While the examples above give you a good foothold in your efforts to reclaim control of the clutter in your kitchen, they are by no means the only ones. Proceeding with simplicity of concept and optimized use of "forgotten" space the clutter that was will become order as you become a master of kitchen storage.

Erica enjoys helping families to incorporate their personal style into their homes while saving time and money. Visit KitchenStorageStore.com for an abundance of affordable kitchen storage [http://www.kitchenstoragestore.com] solutions and [http://hubpages.com/hub/Kitchen-Storage-Guide]kitchen storage tips.

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Helpful and Awesome Kitchen Gadgets

Helpful and Awesome Kitchen Gadgets
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eddy_Salinas]Eddy Salinas

While I am not simply Martha Stewart, I do like to make terrific meals for my family and friends. Personally, there is nothing more enjoyable than spending the full day testing out various recipes. I frequently cook or bake the same meal many times over, with just a minor variation in each version as I try to make things completely perfect. Members of the family frequently provide help with either the cooking or the washing, but having so many people around me while I work only serves to throw every thing off. Instead, I would rather use some of my awesome kitchen gadgets to help get things done faster and better.

It seems sensible that somebody who cooks as much as I do might have a number of awesome kitchen gadgets to play with. But it's not necessary to become a gourmet chef to get plenty of use out of many of these items. As an example, the gadget I use frequently is a salad spinner. All a salad spinner does is rapidly remove extra water from your newly washed greens by spinning the lettuce leaves around a strainer. That seems pretty low-tech as compared with other awesome kitchen gadgets, but believe me, you will use this virtually every day. It's much better than preparing a salad with wet leaves or attempting to dry them with a paper towel!

I can't talk about awesome kitchen gadgets and not mention my french fry cutter. This can be a nifty little device that squeezes whole potatoes into perfectly cut fries which are instantly ready for frying. For those who have kids or if you are a french fry lover yourself, then this item is really a must-have. The fries you make from fresh potatoes taste much better than the frozen brands, with a cutter, it's not necessary to waste lots of time cutting each potato by hand.

A listing of cool kitchen gadgets has to include some electronic items, so i'll just tell you about my remote thermometer monitor. This device looks kind of like a baby monitor, with a base and a removable handset. In this instance, the base has an attached thermometer that you could put in a steak, chicken white meat, or turkey out on the grill. Then you can certainly carry the handset around with you and get instant updates on the temperature of your meat with out needing to go out to the grill every couple of minutes. I love it!

And this is simply the tip of the iceberg as much as all my cool kitchen gadgets go. I've got a bunch more that make every day tasks and chores much faster and simpler to perform. If you like cooking but want to reduce much of the drudgery involved, then you might like to consider taking a many of these awesome kitchen gadgets for yourself. They are inexpensive and useful, which is a terrific combination!

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