Options in Kitchen Drawers

Options in Kitchen Drawers

From the outside, it may not seem like there is much to know about kitchen drawers. You open them, you put your hands in, and you find the silverware. But on the inside of these drawers lives a world of hidden treasures!

 

What are these treasures?

Let’s start with your utensils. In most kitchens you will find what is called a drawer divider that separates your spoons from your spatulas from your whisks. While some people may prefer utensils to live in a jumbled mess together (I personally do not), there are other benefits to the drawer divider.

 

 I know from experience that it’s very easy, when putting away your utensils at night, to pull out the drawer and find your spatula lying in front of the drawer divider. In this case, all you have to do is pop out the divider and add it back again when you’re finished (if you don’t use it, simply remove it! It’s only held in by tension). All of your utensils are now exactly where you pulled them out, and you didn’t even have to move a muscle!

 

In addition to allowing you to easily organize your utensils, the drawer divider also serves as a utensil barrier. No one likes finding their spoons in the same drawer as their spatulas or whisks (especially not while searching for a whisk!). 

 

With the divider in place, you can comfortably search for any kitchen utensil without fear of danger (again: I do not condone the mixing of spatulas with spoons). The divider keeps your silverware separated and organized, making it easier to find what you are looking for.

 

The kitchen drawer divider prevents you from losing utensils, as well! You’ve seen me say this before, but I repeat it here: if you lose a dish towel or spatula, your kitchen will never be the same! You will now have to walk to your basement or attic each and every time you need that missing item. Also, the loss of one utensil can potentially lead to the loss of dozens of others. You have been warned: improper storage can ruin a good kitchen (which is why people pay for professional organizers). So make sure that all of your silverware is properly protected.

 

Your forks, knives, and spoons also need to be kept safe. A lot of people store their silverware in a drawer directly inside the kitchen. But someone like me can tell you: silverware handles are sharp! Sharp enough to cut through the bottom drawer of your kitchen cabinet and stab into the flooring underneath. 

 

This is why it’s important to use a knife guard or fork guard (or both) when storing your silverware in a drawer that’s not inside of a cabinet. A knife guard will protect your floor and prevent future visits from repairmen. A fork guard will keep your forks safe by elevating them above the knife blades, preventing them from getting poked accidentally.

 

Bottom line

If you’re running a home business and have both a kitchen and a front desk area, store your utensils in a file or shoe box in the front room instead of the kitchen. The filing cabinets in your office are much less likely to be bumped into by guests or children than an empty drawer in your kitchen. But don’t forget to put your silverware back into their drawers every evening!