A woman spends a good deal of time in her kitchen. Besides cooking food to eat and cleaning up, the kitchen is a center of social gatherings. Making time to organize and stock the kitchen will help your kitchen work for you.

Personal Story

We moved into a new house. I had learned from experience to start with setting up beds and unpacking some toys in each child’s room. My next focus was unpacking the kitchen. Preparing our kitchen for meal preparation and family dining was vital for family sanity during a transition. I had a plan for getting everything situated. Then I went back over everything later to adjust and stock the kitchen. When we could eat and converse, it brought the family through our busy move in great shape.

Organizing Your Kitchen

The key to getting your kitchen to work for you is organizing your kitchen so it flows according to the work done in the area. Getting your kitchen organized starts with a plan.

Set Up Zones

• Food preparation zone- the longest continuous counter space
• Cooking zone- near stove
• Dishes zone- near sink and dishwasher
• Food serving zone- near table where you eat
• Food storage zone- near the refrigerator or stove, or in the pantry

Stock the Zones

• Food preparation- blender, cutting boards, knives, measuring tools, mixer, mixing bowls, spices, small appliances, etc.
• Cooking zone- bake-ware, bowls, cookbooks, pans, pots, etc.
• Dishes zone- bowls, glasses, mugs, plates, pitchers, utensils, etc.
• Food serving zone- candles, dishes, place-mats, platters, napkins, salt/pepper shakers, tablecloths, vases, etc.
• Food storage zone- bottled items, boxed items, canned goods, paper products, etc.

Minimalism in the Kitchen

As you are creating your zones, keep track of items that would help you work smarter or faster in the kitchen.

• You can buy items that help you have an easier time with food preparation and serving. The key is not to go overboard and buy everything you see in a kitchen supply store. Here are some tips:
• Thoughtfully consider the amount of space you have when choosing the amount, size, and shape of appliances.
• Purchase dual use items. For example, use glass storage containers for serving bowls.
• Choose fewer pieces of higher quality pots and pans.

Don’t be afraid to remove items you don’t use. It will give you space for the things you do use regularly.

Action

Take time this week to think through your kitchen. Create a plan for your kitchen zones. Each week set aside some time to work on creating a zone in about a month you will see how well your kitchen can work for you.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. What do you think? How do you make your kitchen work for you? Please leave a comment.

Resources:

Organizing from the Inside Out, by Julie Morgenstern