How To Organize Kitchen Cooking

Woman cooking and reading recipe book.

How to organize kitchen cooking. You can organize cooking by creating activity centers for all that you do here daily. 

Cooking can be subdivided into smaller sub-activities, such as heating food, slicing and dicing, food preparation, baking, and snacking.

This practical plan not only saves steps but also allows for two people to work simultaneously without getting in each other's way. Here's how to organize kitchen cooking areas in your home..

How To Organize Kitchen Cooking Around the Range

Pots and pans go in the cabinets directly underneath the range. Hang hot pads by the range.

Organize kitchen drawers by grouping the most frequently used cooking tools in ceramic jars or other attractive holders on top of the range. 

But Include only those utensils you use once a week. The drawers will be neater - with more space for other cooking items.

How To Organize Kitchen Cooking Slicing and Dicing Centers

Near the sink, create a workstation with all the paraphernalia you need to wash, peel, and chop foods, including knives, butcher block, peelers, scrub brushes, bowls, etc.

Food Prep Center

Here's where you would group scrapers, colanders, mixing bowls and spoons, whisks, measuring cups and spoons, blenders, and your food processor. Try to contain them all in one cabinet.

Baking Center

Organize kitchen cooking by arranging everything you'll need for baking in one cabinet. Then, organize the items inside plastic storage containers for grouping like items.

I organize kitchen cooking and dessert prep by putting our collection of cake and ice cream sprinkles and candy toppings in a big plastic box.

When it's time to frost cupcakes for class, the kids know where to go.

Nearby, in a second see-through container, they'll find baking soda, baking powder, and sugars, everything they'd need to make the cupcakes. (Except for the flour. To chill out any wiggly creatures, I put my flour inside a zip-close bag that calls the freezer its home.) You don't have to be so finicky.

But you should at least place your opened sugars (brown, powdered, and regular) and flours in airtight plastic containers or zip-close bags to close in freshness and contents and close out nasty bugs that love to cozy up, then divide and multiply there.

Below are three more activity areas to consider as you organize kitchen cooking:

How To Organize Kitchen Cooking - A Kids Snack Station

Young girl holding glass of milk at refrigerator.Place items like milk for cereal on a low shelf in the fridge so kids can fix their own breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.

Make kids more independent and let them fix their own breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. In an accessible low cabinet (away - far away - from the stove), station snack foods for the kids: peanut butter, bread, jelly, raisins, cereal bars, cereal, chips, and zip-close bags.

This is also a good spot for storing lunch boxes. Grouping these items makes it easy for kids to pack their own lunches. Our pullout breakfast drawer was instituted when my kids were 3 and 4 years old. I'd leave a small cup of milk on the lowest shelf in the fridge. 

In the morning, they'd pour their cereal and milk with no help required from Mom, who was rewarded for their creativity with an extra hour of sleep on Saturday mornings.

Dish Storage Area

Oh yeah. You eat in the kitchen too! So you'll need to make room for your daily dishes, your serving dishes, glasses, and utensils in here, as well.

Put them all in one area, and as close to the sink and dishwasher as you can get them to minimize the time spent putting clean dishes away.


You Might Like These:

  • These kitchen study room ideas can help you create a functional, efficient space for your child's homework efforts, whether that is in the kitchen, or elsewhere in your home.

    Kitchen Study Room Ideas

    These kitchen study room ideas can help you create a functional, efficient space for your child's homework efforts, whether that is in the kitchen, or elsewhere in your home.

  • You've got items for recycling, especially in the kitchen. So why not create a kitchen recycling center to organize the recyclables?

    Creating a Kitchen Recycling Center

    You've got items for recycling, especially in the kitchen. So why not create a kitchen recycling center to organize the recyclables?

  • The kitchen is the room where everyone congregates. That's one of the reasons it's the messiest rooms in the house. Here's how to get it organized.

    Kitchen Organizing and Cleaning Tips

    The kitchen is the room where everyone congregates. That's one of the reasons it's the messiest rooms in the house. Here's how to get it organized.

  • Easy kitchen clutter solutions. Since the kitchen is where memories and meals are made, it needs to be organized. These easy kitchen clutter solutions can help.

    Easy Kitchen Clutter Solutions

    Easy kitchen clutter solutions. Since the kitchen is where memories and meals are made, it needs to be organized. These easy kitchen clutter solutions can help.

  • The refrigerator temperature matters. Not having the proper refrigerator temperature could make you sick. Used correctly, your refrigerator will keep food safe from spoilage and bacteria.

    The Refrigerator Temperature Matters

    The refrigerator temperature matters. Not having the proper refrigerator temperature could make you sick. Used correctly, your refrigerator will keep food safe from spoilage and bacteria.

  • Whether the sushi went south last month or you simply need to neutralize fridge odors, these fridge odor removal tips can bring back a fresh, clean smell to your refrigerator.

    Fridge Odor Removal Tips

    Whether the sushi went south last month or you simply need to neutralize fridge odors, these fridge odor removal tips can bring back a fresh, clean smell to your refrigerator.

  • Easy kitchen organizing tips. To get the most out of your kitchen, create a place for all the activities your family does there. It can be done - these kitchen organizing tips can help.

    Easy Kitchen Organizing Tips

    Easy kitchen organizing tips. To get the most out of your kitchen, create a place for all the activities your family does there. It can be done - these kitchen organizing tips can help.

  • What does the "sell by" date on a food label really mean? How long is it good after that date? Here's help for deciphering a food label.

    Deciphering A Food Label

    What does the "sell by" date on a food label really mean? How long is it good after that date? Here's help for deciphering a food label.