Having a very small kitchen means we have to be creative with storage. Every inch of counter space is prime real estate. Cabinet space is priceless given that we have to store so many utensils, tools, and gadgets.
So, where do we store those big /heavy items? Where do big pots and heavy pans go when we have a small kitchen?
Ha, until recently most of those items were relegated to the basement. That's true, my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and all the big pots were stored in the basement. Thank goodness that's not the case anymore!
Below you can see a small video I made - with a little parody of this problem and the solution.
Those big pans & super heavy cast iron pans that my son is now collecting (He loves to cook with cast iron) weren't banished to the basement. Nope. As you can see in the picture below, they were stored inside the stove! 😫
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Those pans are HEAVY!
Having those cast iron pans inside the oven was the main reason for me to go and organize that little nook behind the door in our laundry room, a few steps away from the kitchen.
You can check my previous post HERE for the complete details about the before & after of this little nook.
The outside was painted white and it flows so nicely with the surrounding area. Just yesterday I installed the pulls. Much better!
HEAVY-DUTY PAN ORGANIZERS
Now, I didn't want them stacked one on top of the other. That's why I bought these heavy-duty pan organizers which are supposed to hold up to 50-LB. They are made of strong metal steel.
I bought two racks. One for 5 pans and the other for six. I wanted to check which one would fit better. In the end, I kept both, they both work for my needs.
However, using these heavy-duty racks horizontally is the way to go!
I pushed those two big pots on the lower shelves all the way to the back of the cabinet and now the stand mixer and the Dutch oven also fit in here. :)
Loving your cast iron pans? Here are some of the gadgets that I recommend for using them and keeping them in tip-top condition:
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| | Pan Rack-5 Tier | Pan Rack - 6 Tier | |
When I bought this set of heavy-duty pan racks, they were advertised for use vertically or horizontally.
I put them to the test vertically and this is how it looked here on the counter, holding three cast iron pans on the lower racks and two lighter pans on the top.
The weight of the pans was making the rack lean sideways and it didn't look too stable. I DO NOT recommend this pan rack be used vertically when storing cast iron pans.
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| | Electric Hand Mixer | Magic Bullet | Apple Peeler | Cast Iron Pan | |
Perfect!!
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| | Pan Rack-5 Tier | Pan Rack - 6 Tier | |
I went to the basement to retrieve those big pots! Even my Crock-Pot (it's ancient) got brought out upstairs from the basement.
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| | Crock Pot | Pasta Pan | |
Love how organized and handy it is!
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| | Cast Iron Pan | Dutch Oven | Stand Mixer | Pantry Cabinet | |
Just like that, my kitchen got a little bigger! :D
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We had to laugh---at you and dealing with those pans. WE have multiples, in multiple sizes...and ended up hanging them on a wall with other 'stuff'...and yes they are heavy---but iron really cooks some things better (at high) heat, sorry Cuisinart...Fun post and if I had room for that rack, I would use one...!Great post! Sandi
ReplyDeleteHaha yep. It was a pain getting those pans out of the oven every time we were going to use it. My son was the one that started buying cast iron and now I also love them. I thought the cleaning was going to be harsh, but no, it's even easier than with the other pans.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and for the kind comment Sandi!
HAHA! Cristina, I had to laugh because you look like me getting all my pans out of the oven. I store all my baking pans, cast iron pan and pan with oil in my oven and every time I want to use it, ALL of that needs to come out. Wish I could find a spot to store all that stuff. I have to build something in the Laundry room soon to store my pots and kitchen appliances. How far in relation to your kitchen is that closet?
ReplyDeleteExactly! :D They had to wait a top the kitchen island for the oven to cool down to put them back there again.
DeleteThis little area is one step away from the kitchen table - The pictures were taken standing right by the kitchen island.
Yes, if you can get a little area in your laundry room to install a cabinet for all those kitchen appliances, go for it! 👍