Easily Organize Your Kitchen With Ina Garten's Must-Try Trick

Many would agree that a well-organized kitchen is very pleasing to the eye. When the shelves and counters are neat and everything is in place, you can prepare meals much more quickly, as you are unlikely to struggle with finding what you need. After all, nobody wants to dig through messy drawers or fumble with cluttered utensil jars while preparing dinner for the family. Celebrity chef Ina Garten, who loves decorating kitchen shelves, has a clever tip to easily organize your kitchen, specifically the everyday tools. According to the "Barefoot Contessa" star, instead of mixing all your wooden spoons, spatulas, and whisks in one crowded jar or crock, it's best to split them up based on material. She suggests having one crock for all the wooden utensils and a separate crock for the metal ones.

Garten swears by her crock trick not only because she likes showcasing the vintage kitchenware in her kitchen, but also because it helps homeowners and home cooks better organize their kitchen counters. Having two crocks for different utensil types means you'll always know exactly where to reach when you are preparing a meal. If you need a sturdy wooden spoon to stir the pot, you just grab one from the wooden crock. If you need your metal tongs to handle the searing meat, then you just go for the metal crock. This goes to show that your workflow will go smoothly and hassle-free when you have designated crocks for your everyday utensils.

Another advantage that is not quite obvious about this hack is that it can help prevent or slow down wear and tear. Wooden utensils can easily get scratched or dented, especially if you store them with their stainless steel or metal counterparts. They can bump against the sharp edges of the metal tools, and this can damage their sides. Then, you'll have to replace them every so often. If you want to extend the life of your tools, Garten's clever organizing hack is a must-try. Just be sure to find the best utensil jars for your countertop. Wide and tall crocks are highly recommended if you have plenty of utensils.

Of course, you don't need to limit yourself to just having two crocks in the kitchen. You can add more depending on the number of tools you have, so you don't end up stuffing as many tools in just two crocks. This way you can assign one for other items, like cake decorating utensils, rubber spatulas, whisks, ladles, and even the tools you don't use as often. You can also sort your tools based on function or purpose, so you can cut the time it takes to assemble the things you need when preparing meals. In the end, Garten's hack will not only keep your kitchen neat and organized, but will also bring a whole new sense of seamless operation in your food prep area.