New Year Resolutions: Organizing the Kitchen for a Healthier & Happier You!
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The New Year is the perfect time to commit to fresh starts - why not start with organizing your kitchen? Decluttering your kitchen and dedicating a few minutes each day or week to re-organizing will create a space that is healthier, happier, and more efficient for cooking. The New Year is the perfect time to commit to fresh starts - why not start with organizing your kitchen? Decluttering your kitchen and dedicating a few minutes each day or week to re-organizing will create a space that is healthier, happier, and more efficient for cooking.
Kitchen Tips for the Texan Kitchen That Are Actually Useful
Discover practical and useful kitchen tips curated for the Texan kitchen, providing insights that make cooking and meal preparation in Texas a breeze.
Not only will you be able to easily find any cooking utensil or ingredient you need, but you'll also eliminate any potential health risks from expired food, old appliances, and outdated cookware. Instead of dreading the task each time you enter the kitchen, take pride in knowing that it’s updated. With just a little bit of effort upfront, reorganizing your kitchen lets you reap the rewards of efficiency every day.
With the dawn of 2023 at the horizon, there is that window to prepare better. To go into the new year feeling more in control.
Why Organizing the Kitchen is Important?
Having an organized kitchen is essential for managing the demands of a household. In addition to providing convenience and ease in grabbing food items on a whim, there are several other positive outcomes that result from organizing the kitchen.
Budget your finances for food. Having a systematic approach like this makes shopping trips more efficient since grocery lists become easier to work through since all stock levels are clear.
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Curb spur of the moment impulsive food shopping. Being able to easily find what foods you have in stock and what may need restocking can reduce silly trips to the grocery store and also save time during meal-prep as you always know what ingredients are available.
Prepare healthy nutritious and fresh meals for your family at all times. An organized kitchen also allows you to have visibility of what is stocked or needs replenishing as well as providing an efficient way to discard expired food items that can cause health issues if consumed.
Minimize food wastage. Maintaining order when it comes to food storage containers allows studies to show that proper storage of food significantly reduces spoilage and contains additional costs.
Before we get into how to best organize your kitchen, let me tell you that we have all been there. Even with excellent organizational skills, there have been times when I have discovered a bag of spinach that I thought I had already cooked, lying in the fridge, completely unrecognizable. So just be consistent, and over time, you will develop a scheme for all things kitchen.
Organize food first.
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The most important step in organizing any kitchen is to first consider where the food will be stored. An effective option is to make use of a pantry, as it provides ample space for groceries and other ingredients.
Whether you choose to put it next to the fridge or on separate shelves, ensure that they are both easily accessible. Additionally, try to place dry products near where you usually cook, or incorporate them into the kitchen islands' storage design if necessary. This will make your daily cooking routine much easier and more efficient.
Don’t throw the leftovers!
Don't throw away the holiday leftovers.
Mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, stuffing, and turkey. With so much food being prepared during the Holidays, there's bound to be leftovers. And to get to the next stage of organizing the kitchen, you must first get over this one.
Looking for fresh turkey across Texas? Click here.
Here are some exciting and delicious ways of using extra food that has already been cooked.
Get to know your fridge! (and pantry!)
Once you organize the food into its proper food storage containers, you will finally be able to see the walls of your fridge! So say hello to your trusty old companion and give it the cleaning it deserves.
This year, instead of using harmful cleaning chemicals, try this simple homemade cleaning combo that will do the job and not give you a chemical burn!
Once your fridge is sparkling, you will be able to appreciate all of the valuable cabinet space that could have been missed or underutilized. So take advantage of the newfound room and get ready to store a variety of items: tinned food, spices, seasonings, and fats, are just some everyday items that can fill up valuable pantry shelves.
Cleaning out your pantry is an essential first step in organizing and decluttering your kitchen. After exploring what's inside, begin sorting it. While at it, toss out any dated products that no longer meet expiration guidelines.
Utilizing all available resources can make use of more space than ever before and leave you with a refreshed kitchen you can feel proud to show off!
Empty kitchen cabinets and drawers, one by one.
Take a few moments to go through each of your spaces and empty the cabinets and drawers. Place the items in categories so that when you start to organize them, you will know exactly where they belong. Create piles such as plates, bowls, and cutlery or space for storage of baking ingredients and dry goods. You'll be surprised at how much space this activity creates and how much you can unearth!
As you bring items forward, decide if they are worth keeping. Many kitchen accessories are multipurpose - measuring cups that double up as mixing bowls or cupcake cases that can become form trays - so it is important to recognize the potential of objects rather than simply storing them away neatly out of sight. Storage containers help to keep the counters free from clutter. With some homework and reconfiguring, organization in the kitchen will become second nature!
Throw the processed stuff away!
To clean up your eating act, the most important thing you do is eliminate foods that don't fit into your strategy. Then, save space by limiting unhealthy food in your kitchen cabinets! These include:
Chips, sodas, foods loaded with artificial ingredients (all that stuff with unpronounceable names), sugary yogurts, and super-caloric foods.
Commercially made salad dressings and condiments
Most of what you see in your kitchen space should support your goals and reflect how you want to live.
Make a list!
When organizing your kitchen, it is essential to have a solid plan in place.
Before you head to the store, list all the ingredients you plan to purchase for your everyday meals and snacks. This helps prevent overcrowding in your fridge, cupboards, and drawers and keeps you from buying items unnecessarily.
Spices
Canned goods
Baking ingredients
Snacks
Making sure to account for wet and dry products will ensure you have everything needed for making homemade meals from scratch.
Make sure to factor in any food preferences and dietary needs of anyone who lives at home while shopping. Being mindful of these factors can help reduce the amount of money spent on food while ensuring minimal space is wasted in your fridge.
Additionally, make sure you don't buy anything impulsively – have a plan for each item before entering your kitchen! All these small efforts together can genuinely transform your life in the kitchen!
Make-Ahead Dishes for the Holidays
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Assign items to kitchen cabinets.
One way to make assigning items to kitchen cabinets more efficient is to group items used for similar tasks. For example, group condiments in one cupboard, baking ingredients in another, and kitchen utensils in a third. This will help you quickly find what you're looking for without rifling through multiple cabinets - allowing you to spend less time searching and more time cooking! You should also place items frequently used within easy reach while stowing lesser-used items on higher or lower shelves.
For instance, if you like to cook with certain spices, it makes sense to store them with easy access to where you will be prepping food or creating dishes. Or if you have glassware like wine glasses that you don't use often, it might make sense to store those cups and glasses in a nearby closet, so they remain safe during storage.
When deciding which items belong in which cabinet, the organization is up to you - keep things organized and manageable to maximize the entire space, reduce frustration from misplacing something, and ensure your kitchen stays tidy. Taking a bit of time during the selection and organizing of the items in the kitchen can pay off in meaningful dividends throughout your cooking journey!
Create storage zones
Storage zones can give the kitchen a more organized feel. Break down the kitchen into two main parts: food storage, preparation, and cooking. This can involve grouping items together, such as keeping vegetables in one area of the Pantry or spices close to the stovetop.
When organizing your drawers, designate an area for each type of item - utensils, paper products, containers, etc. - so that it'll be easy to find and access when you need something. You could even assign a particular spot for frequently-used items that you open multiple times throughout the day; this way, they don't have to be shifted around every time.
File food storage container lids in a bin.
Over time, storing my food container lids in a bin instead of one of the kitchen shelves gives me much more organized space. The added bonus is that I don't have to keep the doors of my cabinets open to keep all the lids together. A larger bin for all these lids takes up less room and allows for a more streamlined look. Plus, plenty of containers can be removed again when needed, so I'm using the cabinet and counter space effectively. Having an organized system keeps me from having to search endlessly for the suitable lid and saves storage space at the same time – it's definitely a win-win situation!
Categorize your kitchen items.
With the kitchen supplies allocated, you can separate your cooking and kitchen tools from your dinnerware. Utensils (such as spatulas, spoons, etc.), pans, pots, baking trays, and service ware can all be placed in designated cabinets. Divide further according to what items you often use or need easy access to; maybe a knife rack is perfect for those near the stove.
Leave the Pantry to store things like canned goods, pasta, and spices–sort these into smaller baskets or containers if it makes sense. And don't forget to keep an eye out to donate expired items so they won't take up room. With a system established, finding things quickly and having fun in the kitchen will become much smoother!
Organize your spices.
To stay organized, many people find it helpful to arrange their spices in systematic order. One approach is to use a spice rack on the wall for easy viewing and accessibility. You can also store spices in designated drawers to keep things neat and organized. Another great way of keeping spices close at hand is by using small containers that can be placed close or on the cooktop, so you have quick access when cooking. Organizing your spice supply can make cooking a more straightforward and smoother process!
Use the sides of your cabinet.
Maximizing the storage in your kitchen is essential when dealing with a smaller space. An oft-overlooked solution to increasing the usable space in your kitchen is utilizing the sides of your cabinet. Adding shelves or railings can quickly transform these spaces into mini-shelves that store condiments and small appliances. In addition, installing a variety of different sizes of racks will help you designate particular food items for better organization.
Using the sides of your cabinets can help create an organized and tidy kitchen without giving up too much valuable square footage. You may even make enough extra room to finally fit that KitchenAid!
Maximize space under the sink.
Using stackable drawers and bins are a great way to maximize the space available under your sink cabinet. Instead of scattering all your items haphazardly amongst each other, these storage options will provide you with organized and compartmentalized solutions that offer much better accessibility.
With their straightforward design, you will be able to organize precisely what is inside each drawer - meaning no more rummaging through piles for that one missing item. Investing in storage under the sink can save time and create additional space - it's a win-win situation!
Get rid of unnecessary packaging.
Unnecessary packaging can create a cluttered look in your home. While organizing and storing items, instead of cramming them into bags or boxes, think creatively and decant whatever you hold into pretty packages. Not only will it be more pleasing to the eye, but it will also make things easier to find.
In addition, using airtight sealed containers for rice or cereal not only looks better but it helps keep the food fresh for longer. Investing a little time and energy into repackaging might initially seem overwhelming, but the end result is worth it.
Use the same type of food storage containers so they nest neatly.
Having the same food storage containers benefits a neat and orderly kitchen. Instead of the mess that tends to happen when different sizes, shapes, and styles of containers become mixed together, using only one variety means all the pieces nest perfectly with each other, leaving plenty of room in the cupboard.
Not having to sort through different kinds to find a lid also saves time and removes unnecessary frustration. A single uniform set also looks much more organized than an eclectic collection of random pieces. Having an incredible food storage system takes a little planning and consistency!
Label everything.
Label everything in your kitchen to ensure you can easily access whatever ingredient or gadget you need. Even labeling the most mundane items in the Pantry can save you time during those busy cooking nights. Not only can labels help keep food fresh for longer, but they also create a visually appealing look for your Pantry.
From dry-good boxes to canned goods, cooking utensils, bags, and containers, ensure that everything has a designated place. All products will be visible at a glance, making it easier to find what you need when needed. So pay attention to labeling all the items in your kitchen and reap the organizational benefits it will bring!
Nest or stack pots and pans.
Stacking and nesting pots and pans is a great way to organize your kitchen and save cabinet space. You may also use this storage technique for your cutting boards! This method ensures that all the hardware is easy to find and allows for more excellent airflow, so everything stays clean longer. Additionally, because you only need one lid for the entire stack of pots, it helps keep counters clutter-free.
Separating out cookware with dividers is also helpful in preventing scratching and chipping from stacking multiple items together. You can quickly maximize storage with limited space by utilizing nesting and stacking techniques!
Copper pots have long been a staple in Texas kitchens. TexasRealFood gives you a guide to selecting suitable copper pans.
Grab a caddy for cleaning products.
The best way to make cleaning a breeze is to grab a caddy for your cleaning products. With one of these innovative containers, you can organize all your cleaners, wipes, sponges, and other materials in a neat little package so you don't have to search through the cabinet every time.
Caddies provide easy access to all the items you need when cleaning and offer an extra layer of protection – with secure lids and zippers, dust and dirt are kept out of your home. Caddies come in various bright colors and styles, so find one that fits your personality and makes cleaning more efficient!
TexasRealFood explores some safe and sustainable home cleaning alternatives that will help keep your home clean while also being gentle on the planet.
Clean and deodorize cabinets and drawers.
Take comprehensive actions to clean your kitchen cabinets and drawers. First, remove the drawer or cabinet from the kitchen so that all sides of it are accessible. If you have open shelves, use a damp cloth to wipe off any dust that may have accumulated over time. Next, to deodorize the area, combine baking soda (how long does baking soda last?), vinegar, and lemon juice to create a paste. When finished, rub the paste on each corner and surface of the cupboard and drawer interior until thoroughly covered. Afterward, rinse the paste with warm water and let it dry before placing it back in your kitchen. With this simple process, you can quickly ensure that your kitchen cabinets and drawers last for years!
Buy local and organic.
At TexasRealFood, we passionately believe in supporting our local community. There are just too many benefits to buying from local food producers. There are some tremendous farmer markets in Texas that offer organic, fresh, seasonal produce for all your dietary requirements.
If you are in Dallas, check out these Farmers' markets for some organic honey, pickles, preserves, and cheeses.
Farmers Markets in Elgin is known for their locally grown fresh onions, corn, broccoli, and radishes.
Empower your green thumb with our comprehensive How-Tos on growing your own food, offering valuable insights and practical tips for a successful harvest.
Don't overfill!
The amount of food you buy depends on your household and daily needs. Still, it's essential to control purchasing and to stuff your Pantry and fridge. This will lead to overcrowding your Pantry and drawer space. That said, there is a high chance you will only see what's in there once it's gone bad.
To eat healthily, you should eat foods that are still as fresh as they can be.
Prep, prep, prep..
Prepping food can be a significant hassle for busy moms, especially after returning from a hectic grocery run with kids. I totally get it; food prep usually lands at the bottom of the to-do list during those chaotic days. That's why I try not to throw my veggies in the refrigerator as soon as I walk in the door.
Keeping food on the counter is like a reminder that food prep needs to be done. Stashing food away too quickly will only delay or forget about it. If there's no time for prepping right away, I like to line up my food on the counter and go back to it one at a time until each veggie is taken care of properly before storage.
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Buy more vegetables that you can eat with minimal or no cooking.
Having kids at home means snacking for the most part of the day. However, suppose you have a good variety of fresh fruits or vegetables they can munch on. In that case, you can easily have them stay off sugary cookies and processed chips.
Our favorites are cucumbers, carrots, apples, grapes, berries, broccoli, celery sticks, and clementines. Buy organic as much as you can. Here are 5 orchards in Texas you can pick these from!
Chart out your weekly meals.
Have a general idea of what meals you want to eat through the week and prep them accordingly. Wash, chop, portion, and pack. Label your containers by the days of the week. This way, you will spend less than 20 minutes standing in front of your fridge deciding what to cook that day.
I love to cook fresh meals daily, and since I work from home most days, it is possible. But for those who don't have that convenience, it is best to cook main courses weekly, preferably on weekends. Then, you can add an on-the-spot-fresh dish like simple savory braised carrots, stir-fried veggies, or a fresh green salad to go with your frozen meal of the day. That will give your dinners a good variety.
Eating healthier doesn't have to involve a significant lifestyle change. However, making minor adjustments in your routine can substantially impact and promote healthy living for your kids for years to come. Adjustments like swapping butter with ghee (how long does ghee last?) or putting the salt in the cupboard take only minutes but will impact your family's health long-term.
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Summary
As we start a new year, we can commit to creating a fresh start in the kitchen with some brilliant kitchen organization ideas. Removing clutter and dedicating a few minutes each day or week to reorganizing will help create an environment that is both healthier and more satisfying. Not only will it be easier to find anything you need for cooking, but you'll also have peace of mind that expired food, old appliances, and outdated cookware will no longer be lurking in the corners.
With some effort up front, organizing your kitchen becomes an investment with long-term payoffs--you'll get to enjoy the efficiency of having everything in its place without putting in any extra work maintaining it. So start this New Year by making your kitchen one of your first re-organizational projects!
Because Texans love to cook, we also know how to make the best of a bad situation. That's why we've compiled a list of helpful kitchen tips for Texas. From dealing with ants to cleaning up the microwave, these tips will help you make the most of your time in the kitchen.
