Kitchen Organizers – Product Comparison

Kitchens are the heart of the home, and it is so important to have them well-organized. Many people think some kind of kitchen organizer is the solution, but it takes more than just containers to make a kitchen function well.  If you want to eat healthy, cook more at home, and spend quality time around the dinner table, you need to get organized first.  You’ll want to read How to Clear the Kitchen Clutter first.  Stop back here after you’ve read this post.

I see all kinds of kitchy kitchen organizer solutions; many are non-functional or completely unnecessary. Often, the kitchen organizer is not used properly, so it does not solve any problem.  The best example I recall seeing was the tiered spice holder.  My client had the tall spices in front and the short spices behind the tall ones. She was lamenting that she couldn’t see the short ones!  Once I moved the shelf above to make more space and swapped the short and the tall, she thought I was a genius.

A few general thoughts about containers:

• Consider buying polypropylene, bamboo, or other natural materials over acrylic. Acrylic is great if you really NEED 100% clarity, but the more clarity in the plastic, the more fragile it is. Additionally, acrylic is not easily recyclable, so once it breaks, it ends up in a landfill.  It’s also more expensive than other materials
• Try reusing containers you already have before buying new ones
• Buy containers only after you have sorted and purged; otherwise, you’re putting the cart before the horse. It is hard to know what you need to contain and how much you have until you have sorted it all out.  And a pretty container full of random junk is not “organized”

Let’s get to it! Below are the bad, the useless, and the good kitchen organizers.  I’ve done the research, so you won’t waste your money.

Reason not to buy this one:

1. It’s overkill
2. At $29, it’s more expensive than a simple alternative

Reason to LOVE this one:

1. Simple
2. Only $6 for this container
3. This container can be used for anything, if your needs change

Reason not to buy this one:

1. It’s overkill
2. Sometimes the drawer you plan to put the organizer into is too shallow. I had a client bring this container out for me to use and it didn’t fit in her drawer
3. At $33, it’s more expensive than a simple alternative

Reason to LOVE this one:

1. Simple
2. FREE!
3. Tear off the top of the box of bags, and it IS the dispenser. Only buy the size of box that will fit in your drawer

Reason not to buy this one:

1. It’s unnecessary. There was a time over 20 years ago when soda only came in 24-pack boxes that were not easily used as a dispenser. Manufacturers have gotten smarter and created packaging that is a dispenser
2. It’s more expensive than a simple alternative

Reason to LOVE this one:

1. Simple
2. FREE!
3. Tear off the corner of the container, and it IS the dispenser

Reason not to buy this one:

1. It’s a set, half of which you likely won’t have a use for. Don’t fall for the set purchase! The set is convenient for the manufacturer to sell you more and maximize shipping containers
2. Most of these are too small to hold a full bag of flour or sugar

Reason to LOVE this one:

1. It is a rectangle. Rectangles and squares are the most space-efficient
2. It will hold a full bag of flour
3. It’s less expensive

Reason not to do this:

1. This just doesn’t work because the bottles topple over
2. There’s nowhere for straws
3. You can’t easily get to what is in the back, so they don’t get used
4. On the upside, this is free, and what most of my clients do

This one can work adequately, but there are easier and better options if you have a drawer available

Reason to LOVE this one:

1. It’s effective and costs $25-$35
2. It fits any bottle diameter
3. Acrylic counterparts are more expensive

This is so simple and doesn’t require any additional device to make it work. Just lie the jars down, and you can see everything!

Reason to LOVE this one:

1. It’s effective and costs $6-$12 to buy a couple of simple bins to keep bottles from toppling over
2. It fits any bottle diameter
3. This is my favorite solution if there is a deep drawer available

IF you have a drawer that is not full of spices and need to keep them from rolling around, check out this simple mat that lies at the bottom of the drawer. You can cut the mat to size. $22

Over my 20+ years in the professional organizing industry, I have seen and tried many different products. Kitchen organizers are one of most important and the trickiest to find functional ones.  I have been collecting photos of great products for years!  Below, I have quite a few other options for your kitchen.  If these aren’t enough ideas, read my other post: Kitchen Organizing – Storage Optimization to learn about more great kitchen organizers and tips.

Did you find anything you can put to use in your kitchen? What cool kitchen organizer or space-saving cooking utensil have you seen?  Please share in the comments!

Can be used vertically or horizontally. Courtesy of The Container Store

Retrofit any cabinet with Shelf Genie to make items in back easy to reach

This pan and platter divider makes access easy. No lifting required! No installation required. This often works well in a deep cabinet, like the one above the refrigerator or a wall oven. There are many variations on this product concept, but this one costs $11 or $13

So simple, yet extremely effective. Use this for items you access daily. The most common place I use it is in a cabinet next to the cooktop. I put cooking spray, oils, vinegar, salt, and pepper on it for quick access

These can come in handy, given the space to utilize them. This makes access quick and easy. There are a few variations of lid holders on the market

If your gadget drawer is tight, like most people’s, try putting the most frequently used tools right next to the cooktop. Look for a container that is substantial in diameter, around 6″. Most of them are only 4″ in diameter, and that isn’t as useful

This handled basket is fantastic for top shelves, especially if you are short like me! I can get a finger, or a cooking tool, on the handle to pull it out, and then grab on and bring it down to the countertop. $8 & $10

Use the depth of your drawers to gain more functional space by placing deep containers to hold tools upright. Group them by category to make the tool you need easy to find

Use any container without a lid to hold snacks, spices, baby bottles, sippy cups, little baking bits, tea, supplements, and other foods that don’t stand up well on their own

Many modern kitchens have drawers that are deeper than 2″. Take advantage of the depth by storing tools in deep drawer trays that are 3.25″ deep. You’ll be able to hold more items without them spilling out into the next tray. $4.50-$9

Measuring spoons end up everywhere. Many come hooked together, which is inconvenient most of the time. The best idea I have seen is a magnetic set! Pitch the old ones and go buy yourself two sets, as I did

Same goes for measuring cups. Try a magnetic set here, too! Take the old, random ones you have and use them in your canisters. Just drop one in each canister and leave them there for handy scooping and measuring on the fly

Everyone needs one of these, and they are difficult to store if you don’t have a deep drawer. Try this collapsible box grater instead!

Everyone needs colanders, too, so continue the collapsible route here. I will buy these colanders next time I move to a smaller home!