Make Room for Everyone Who Uses Your Kitchen
Cooking with family and friends can be fun. But it can be crowded and confusing, too. Even if family members don't use the kitchen at the same time, a space that's not organized for multiple users can be trying (Remember the last time someone put your favorite utensil in the "wrong" drawer?) Try these easy and economical tips to organize your kitchen for everyone who uses it:
Maximize your space. Create multiple workstations by using countertops as work areas rather than as storage space. Keep appliances, cookbooks and other bulky items out of the way by storing them on shelves or in cabinets. Add more counter and storage space by using a free-standing kitchen trolley (such as the BEKVÄM kitchen cart, $59.99). If you're getting a new kitchen, design it to fit in double ovens (You can cook up pizza while her cake is baking) or two or more sinks (You can watch vegetables while he washes dishes). If you have only one sink, use it to your advantage: Free up your workspace by using the BOHOLMEN chopping board ($12.99) or cover plate ($17.99), both of which fit perfectly with our BOHOLMEN sinks.
Keep tools accessible and available. Cooks want to stay focused on cooking, not get sidetracked looking for tools or ingredients! Display your pans, utensils, spices, or even your cheese grater using GRUNDTAL open shelves and hanging rails. Hang knives on a magnetic knife rack for easy access (and to keep them out of the way). And don't make cooks wait around while someone else uses the only measured teaspoon. Stock your kitchen with multiple sets of measuring cups, bowls, mixing spoons, IRIS oven mitts ($0.99) ... anything that might be in high demand by many cooks!
Give everyone a space of their own. Do you have kitchen tools that you'd rather no one else use? Or maybe ones that he likes but you don't? Consider assigning a personal drawer (or section of a drawer, using RATIONELL dividers) to each family cook. Fill it with supplies specific to their culinary specialties or personal tastes.
Make kids feel welcome. But keep them at a safe distance! Use the BEKVÄM step stool ($19.99) to help kids reach the counter when they're serving as the cook's helper. Or better yet, provide kids access to their own workstation with a worktable and chairs at their level. Give them their own set of plastic utensils, bowls and measuring cups. Keep kids from getting hurt by pushing hot items, knives and cords back from the edge of the counter. Install PATRULL locks ($1.99/5 pack) to keep kids from helping themselves to the off-limits supplies in your cabinets or drawers!
Stay safe. With so many cooks in the kitchen, heavy traffic can lead to spills and other accidents. Avoid these by making safe choices. Before starting a cooking project, clear the floor. Remove grocery bags, stools, and even trash cans to keep them from tripping you up. Wipe up spills from the floor soon after they happen. Higher up, handle hot pots and pans with care. Turn pot handles inward to keep them from being knocked around or onto the floor, and lift lids away from you so that escaping steam doesn't take you (or someone standing near by) by surprise. Keep a fire extinguisher accessible at all times. And most of all, with the good conversation and joy of cooking with others, pay close attention to what you're doing!