How to Organize Pots and Pans

copper pans on the wall — Photo:
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From saucepans and Dutch ovens to stock pots and cast-iron skillets, your kitchen can quickly fill up (and overflow) with essential cookware. Not only does having an organized system make cooking easier, but it also ensures your pots and pans stay damage-free for longer. But if your cabinets and drawers are bursting with cookware, organizing your collection may be overwhelming. With some smart storage solutions, however, you'll be able to unlock the overlooked areas of your kitchen that are waiting to become a new home for your pots and pans.

Anna Bauer, organizing expert and owner of Sorted & Co.
Darla DeMorrow, certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing
Meredith Goforth, professional organizer and founder of House of Prim

01 of 10

Edit Your Collection

edit pan collection — JazzIRT / GETTY IMAGES

Before you attempt to organize your pots and pans, first go through your cookware collection and part with items you no longer have use for. "When doing any organizing, it’s important to take inventory and edit before creating a system and purchasing products," says Anna Bauer, organizing expert and owner of Sorted & Co. "This ensures you are only buying what you need for what you have on hand."

02 of 10

Install a Toe Kick Drawer

Saucepans in draw under hob — Image Source / GETTY IMAGES

Toe kick drawers utilize the often overlooked area between your floor and lower cabinets, maximizing storage space for pans. "Installing toe-kick drawers is a great way to add more storage space to your kitchen," says Meredith Goforth, professional organizer and founder of House of Prim. "Depending on the size of your collection, you may choose to store pans in the toe-kick drawers." If you don't have cabinet toe-kick drawers, use the shallow drawer at the bottom of your oven for storage, says DeMorrow.

03 of 10

Use Your Kitchen Island for Storage

kitchen island storage — ArchiViz / GETTY IMAGES

If your kitchen island has built-in shelves or cabinets, use those for storing pots and pans. This is an ideal location for cookware because islands are usually placed across from the stove, giving you easy access to the cooking appliances when making a meal, says Bauer.

04 of 10

Hang Them on a Rack

Pots hanging on rack — Berryspun / GETTY IMAGES

Make use of vertical space by hanging pots and pans from a rack, which you can do inside cabinets with a dowel rod or elsewhere. This storage method prevents your cookware from being damaged during stacking. Keep in mind that this works best in kitchens with ample ceiling space and in an area that is both out of the way and easy to get to, says Darla DeMorrow, certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing. "The space over a kitchen island, for example, can be ideal. The space blocking a kitchen window, however, might not be," she says.

05 of 10

Hang Pots and Pans on Hooks

Another way to make use of vertical storage is by hanging pots and pans from wall hooks or on a peg board, which is ideal for narrow kitchens. Not only does this allow you to keep your favorite cookware at eye level, but pretty pots on a painted pegboard can add punch to the décor, says DeMorrow. "You may only need 3 to 5 inches of depth to store pans this way versus taking up a standard 24-inch deep drawer, she says.

06 of 10

Store Pots and Pans in a Tiered System

tiered system of pots and pans — FabrikaCr / GETTY IMAGES

A tiered organizing system makes it easier to access pots and pans that would normally be nestled inside one another in a stack. "Using a tiered system for organizing pots and pans is a great way to conserve surface area and maximize the vertical space that is often unused," says Goforth. "By maximizing the vertical space, you are saving on surface area that you can use for other storage." If you go this route, it's best to leave the lids on the pots rather than separating them.

07 of 10

Hang Pots and Pans Above the Stove

pots and pans above stove — LightFieldStudios / GETTY IMAGES

Keeping pots and pans above the stove makes them easier to access when cooking, plus it frees up room in your cabinets and drawers. "In addition to giving your kitchen an aesthetic appeal, hanging your cookware makes them visible and accessible, allowing for you to quickly grab the right one," says Goforth.

08 of 10

Store Pots and Pans in Your Pantry

pots in the pantry — SandraKavas / GETTY IMAGES

If you have a large kitchen pantry but limited cabinet space, it may make sense for you to keep some pots and pans in your pantry, says Goforth. Consider using this space for storing cookware you use less frequently than your everyday staples.

09 of 10

Use Cabinet Dividers

YouCopia StoreMore Expandable Cookware Rack — Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Use cabinet dividers to store pots and pans vertically. "Using dividers will make it easier to grab your pots and pans while you’re cooking because there will not be anything stored on top of the pot or pan you are trying to grab," says Goforth. "Additionally, these dividers will keep your pots and pans separate so that they are not rubbing against each other, causing scratches, dings, and increased wear and tear over time."

10 of 10

Keep Like With Like

copper pots and pans and steel pans — Malisa Nicolau / GETTY IMAGES

While it's not necessary to keep all of your pots and pans together in one location, you should store like with like. "Barbecue pans and trays might be better stored in a pantry near the outside kitchen, for example," says DeMorrow. "Larger, low-use pots might get stored in the pantry or basement, making an appearance only once a year for that special dish." Keep every day cookware together in an easy to reach location.

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