Some people are truly talented in the kitchen. They can whip up an amazing meal without even looking what they’re doing! However, while talent and hard work play a huge role in their cooking achievements, their amazing kitchen organisational skills also deserve some praise. So, if you want to boost your culinary skills, take a look at these tips on how to organise your kitchen like a pro chef and you’ll certainly have an easier and more successful time in the kitchen.
Declutter
First things first, start your kitchen organisation project by taking a good look around your space. Open your cabinets and drawers and take everything out to reduce clutter. Put back only those items and gadgets that you actually use and donate or throw out the rest. Less is often more, especially in the kitchen, because crowded cabinets and drawers will create a lot of confusion, clutter and irritation. Sticking with kitchen basics is always the right way to go! It allows you to store things in a way that’s easy to access and memorise. No amateur chef needs an avocado cutter or a French fry cutter, so go ahead and get rid of them!
Bring your necessities closer together
Once you have the clutter out of your way, it’s time to start the real kitchen organisation. One thing professional chefs do to make their job easier and more efficient is reduce the number of steps they need to take in their kitchen. Equip your home kitchen in a way that will require you to take as few steps as possible in order to reach your required zone. This move will make your space feel functional and well-organised.
Create different zones
Every good commercial kitchen has a food prep area, a few cooking stations, a dishwashing station, plating station, dry and cold storage and various other zones, depending on the type of kitchen. Your home kitchen can also have these zones that will make meal-making much easier and faster. Plus, since this is your kitchen and you can make the rules, you can add your zones. If you love to bake, you can create a baking zone with all your ingredients, tools and recipes at hand. If you love Italian food, you can designate a pasta making station. Keep that space clean and clear and your fave activity will be even more pleasant.
Ensure everything is in perfect working condition
If you have a blender that doesn’t work right there on your counter, it’s a total waste of space no chef would tolerate. A clogged sink will also affect your cooking efficiency and satisfaction. So, make sure everything is in top shape and ready to help you create some great food. And don’t worry if your defect happens on Sunday or during the holidays! For instance, a Northern Beaches plumber offers 24-hour emergency visits and can ensure your pipes, faucets and all other kitchen plumbing is working like clockwork. They can also handle your gas concerns and ensure you can cook your heart out without any annoyances and issues.
Think in terms of triangles
Every good kitchen is designed to resemble a triangle. This triangle consists of the fridge, sink and cooking range and it is the best way to ensure a good flow while cooking. Everything in your kitchen that’s not used for cooking (your junk drawer, glasses, serving plates…) should be kept outside of your cooking triangle. This way, you won’t stumble into things that are unnecessary for your food prep process and you’ll have a better-organised kitchen.
Master food storing
Do you want to have every ingredient at your fingertips? Well, do what chefs do and master food storage techniques and smart food labelling. Start by investing in a few stackable containers with lids to keep your pantry clean and organised. You can employ similar philosophy to your fridge as well and store everything that’s pre-made in containers. Once you have all your loose ingredients and spices well-organised, label everything. You can grab one of those label makers (they are super fun, especially if you love stationery) or take the good old masking tape and a marker and go to town on your container.
Once you finish your kitchen organising and get used to your new layout, any sort of food prep will be a piece of cake!
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