Comments on: Ask Unclutterer: Storing pan lids

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:46:51 +0000

Also:

With the notable exception of the pot rack I don’t like storing things out in the open. It looks cluttered and anything that isn’t used at least weekly gets dusty and then has to be rewashed before use. I prefer having everything tucked away.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:24:32 +0000

I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi.....tterer-20/

A little pricey, but it’s absolutely perfect. I outfitted three bottom cabinets from with Rev-a-shelf drawers and it transformed them from a disorganized wasteland to fantastically organized, usable space. It was about $200, but cheaper than the Ikea kitchen remodel I REALLY want.

I have a pot rack for the pots and pans themselves, so I store round cake pans, pie shields, tart pans, etc. in the other sections.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Mon, 24 May 2010 20:57:53 +0000

I go the cheap, cheap, cheap way. I use a sturdy cardboard box and store the lids horizontally in it. I can easily pull it out, much as you would a pullout shelf, to access lids in the back.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:59:37 +0000

We have a pot rack over the island, so even though the cabinet under the stove isn’t big enough for all the pots with their lids, the lids alone fit just fine.

By: gypsy packer

gypsy packer — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:42:22 +0000

If, and only if, the lid has a deep interior lip, use a carbide drill bit to drill a hole in the lip, then hang the lid from a hook. If you have one lid which fits several pots or skillets (look for this at secondhand stores, new kitchenware stores etc), ditch the duplicates.

By: Soochi

Soochi — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:16:12 +0000

I use a wok for almost everything with its big domed lid that sits on the stove. Also have a stacked steamer with domed cover that lives on a small chest. I have a few other pans in the drawer at the bottom of the stove but seldom use them.

By: Mardi

Mardi — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:49:43 +0000

Firstly unclutter your pans – I only have two saucepans and two frying pans. Then you can keep the lids on them.

All right, I lied, I also have a third (extra large) frying pan and two stock pots that I use for bulk freezer cooking but they are used rarely so aren’t kept near the stove where my everyday pans are. Their lids are, however, also kept on them to keep dust out.

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:01:04 +0000

I use a dish drainer to hold my pot lids in what would otherwise be a “dead space” corner.

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:56:09 +0000

My Saladmaster saucepan lids are able to sit inverted in the pots when they are hanging.

That works in theory, but they slip out at the angle they hang on my wall. I use an old metal meat loaf pan from the thrift store to file them, which works just fine.

By: DawnH

DawnH — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:38:13 +0000

I use a plastic dish drying rack (it doesn’t have sides) and store all the lids upright. It neatly holds all of them from little to huge.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:30:47 +0000

I keep my 1 large simmering lid out and then only 2 others that fit tightly on the pots. There’s never a need for many lids in my house, and a plate works in a pinch if it would ever be needed. When we moved, I just left all the other lids w/ the extra pans in our storage room.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:00:58 +0000

I pyramid my pots and lids. Place a large pot on the shelf, place inverted large lid on top of it. Place mid-sized pot on lid of large pot, place inverted mid-sized pot lid on top of mid-size pot. Place small pot on mid-sized pot lid, place inverted small size pot lid on small pot. I have two shelves in the pot cupboard but the top shelf is only half the depth of the cupboard. I can just place my stock pot in the back of the cupboard under the top shelf. The pyramidded pots go in the front where they can be stacked as high as I want since there is no upper shelf to contend with. I hope this makes sense.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:52:51 +0000

Great idea with the file organizer!

By: Mo

Mo — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:32:00 +0000

I have struggled with a small kitchen too….yuck. I use the ikea plate holder (it is made out of wood) and store lids straight up in it. Works great. I also use it for tupperware lids.

By: sunshine

sunshine — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:21:34 +0000

I did a big dejunking session and released my carosel in the corner cupboard. Then I store my saucepans with their lids on in the carosel. It may not be hugely space efficient, but it is very simple to find and put away the saucepans and lids. Cutting down the amount of stuff I had in the first place was the key for me.