The Easy Pots & Pans Organizing Hack That Keeps Your Essentials Neat On A Budget

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Pots and pans are kitchen necessities, but finding space for them is a challenge in itself. Since they vary in size and can be quite bulky (even without their corresponding lids), they are often piled into any cabinet, shelf, or surface that can accommodate them. To prevent a cookware avalanche and stop cabinet clutter before it starts, repurpose file organizers to keep pots and pans organized. You can use either single file holders or a file rack for this hack that will help make pots and pans clutter a thing of the past. 

While great for keeping paperwork neat, you can repurpose a file organizer to declutter and organize your kitchen. More specifically, to store pot lids and pans. Simply place the file organizer on the cabinet, shelf, or surface where you store your cookware, and place the pans and lids inside as you would a file. These holders come in various materials –- plastic, wired, vinyl, cardboard -– and many sell for less than $20, making them perfect for anyone looking to keep their kitchenware tidy on a budget. The Leven Collapsible Magazine File Holder is one example. As cookware can get quite heavy, more durable and easy-to-clean file organizers or racks work best, so opt for plastic, vinyl, or wired ones over their flimsier cardboard counterparts.

For those using the single file holder approach (such as the Amazon Basics Plastic Desk Organizer), be sure to purchase one file holder for each pan you want to store. You want to also have an extra organizer or two for pot lids. Place the file holder in your cabinet with the tallest, covered side resting on the surface. Put your pans inside the organizer as you would a magazine, handle facing outward. To store your pans with their matching lids, set the lid on top of the pan, handle facing inward, before placing the pan inside of the file organizer. This will ensure the pan and lid will fit inside the holder. For pot lids, position the file holder inside the cabinet the same way you'd place it on a bookshelf or desk. Then, add as many pot lids as you can fit inside the holder.

With a file rack like the SAYEEC Acrylic File Sorter, tuck the item inside your cabinet. Insert your pans and lids in each slot with the handle pointing outward. File racks and sorters often have four or five slots for files, so one sorter can store up to four or five pans and lids. Want to utilize more vertical space? Stand the file rack so the slots are essentially on top of each other. Place your pans and lids in each slot with the handles turned outward or sideways.