15 Super-Smart Ways to Organize All Those Cooking Utensils

Storing a collection of cooking utensils can be a challenge. You want your wooden spoon and spatula within reach, but you don’t want them cluttering up every available drawer or taking up all your counter space and leaving you no room to cook. And what about those tools that just don’t seem to want to cooperate? (Tongs, we’re looking at you.)

Rather than rummaging through your drawers spending precious time looking for that one item, we’re here to help you spend more time actually enjoying the cooking process. Here are 15 clever ways to get all those kitchen tools under control.

Limited kitchen space? Try mounting a container directly to the outside of your cabinet. Not only will your utensils be easy to grab, you’ll always be able to see exactly what tool you’re looking for.

Easily free up space and make your drawer clutter-free with a utensil organizer. They come in a variety of sizes so you can customize them to fit your drawer and find a place for every little utensil you have.

The back of the cabinet doesn’t get enough love. Take advantage of that unused space and mount some Command hooks or magnetic strips to the inside of your cabinet door for a discreet and easy storage solution.

Install an extendable curtain rod in between cabinets, in the space above your sink, or even under the cabinet for some extra storage.

Slot some of these wire baskets into your drawers and done! Easy fix. (You could probably also find some affordable options at your local thrift store.)

Ran out of counter space? Add some utensil hangers to the bottom of your cabinets to store additional utensils. These also swivel so you can turn them to easily grab exactly what you need.

Commonly used for tools in a garage or workshop, a pegboard is just as handy for storing kitchen utensils. After all, Julia Child had one in her kitchen.

A magnetic knife strip can hold, well, anything that’s magnetic! That includes things like stainless steel spoons, ladles, whisks, and other utensils.

We love this inspiring before-and-after drawer organizing story! Mason jars make great organizers. Just be sure to lay them on their side so they fit.

If you lack wall space, just hang a bar or individual hooks on the side of your cabinets, and you’ll have instant storage!

Storing long utensils diagonally makes smarter, more efficient use of drawer space. So simple, yet so brilliant. We even have the steps you need in order to make one custom for your drawer.

You’ve already heard of utensil crocks, we’re guessing. We’re just here to point out that you can always go bigger. Go for the biggest crocks you can find (like antique stoneware pickle crocks), and you just might be able to fit your entire collection in one.

Pot racks aren’t just for pots! Just add hooks and hang. We love that they add a surprising decorative touch among skillets and sauce pans.

Looking for a fun weekend project that you can get the kids involved with? Try converting your old cereal boxes into drawer organizers. No need to buy anything additional — just make use of what you already have!

If you have the budget and are planning a kitchen renovation, leave some space to store your utensils directly into the countertop. You’ll reduce the amount of clutter on top and will have more space readily available for prepping and cutting. Plus, your countertops will look a lot sleeker, too!

Do you have your own smart ideas for organizing utensils to add? Share them in the comments below!