8 Tips for a More Organized Kitchen

If you’re constantly digging through the junk cabinet to find the pan you need or staring down a freezer full of unmarked mystery containers, you might be due for a kitchen overhaul.

Kitchen organization can seem overwhelming, but with a few key changes, you can transform your cooking space into a streamlined, stress-free zone. Of course, we assume you’ve already got your cutting boards stacked and handy near your prep surface, your favorite apron hanging on a handy hook, and a dish drying mat next to the sink for smarter clean up.

But what does moving beyond basic kitchen organization look like? To answer that question, we checked in with ultra-organized recipe developer Anna Stockwell, who shared her best tips—big and small—for getting more organized. From rethinking where to store your pots to unleashing the power of a lazy Susan, these eight simple ideas can totally change the way you cook.

1. Gear Proximity Is Key

For Stockwell, great organization is all about easy access. “Having my pots and pans within reach is the best way to stay organized while cooking.” Her solution? Open shelving on the left, right, and across the island from the stove, keeping everything she uses regularly—sheet pans, pots, skillets and mixing bowls—close by. If you can’t rework your kitchen or don’t have space for open shelving, try alternatives like a hanging pot rack or a peg board near the stovetop.

The bonus? “The easier it is to access, the more likely you are to put things away in the right spot.”

2. Divider and Conquer

You’re probably used to using a drawer divider for silverware, but Stockwell finds this inexpensive tool can organize much more. “Use dividers to separate measuring spoons, dry goods cups, cheese knives, tiny serving spoons, bottle openers, corkscrews, bottle stoppers and even straws,” she said. Throughout Stockwell’s kitchen, drawers are stocked with dividers and other small containers to corral little items, making them easier to find and adding a touch of aesthetically pleasing order to each drawer.

3. Spice to See You

If you’ve been haphazardly shoving spices into a cabinet where they’re hard to access and nearly impossible to identify, it’s time to take Stockwell’s clever organizing tips into account: Storing spices in a drawer makes them much easier to see and access.

"But wait," you might think, "Won’t they all just look like a bunch of similar lids?" Stockwell’s solution is simple: She pulls out her label maker and adds a custom label to each bottle’s lid. This way, she can quickly glance at her spice drawer and grab the ingredient she needs without hesitation. Instead of alphabetizing every spice (which can become a chore to maintain), Stockwell organizes them by type, grouping similar ingredients together. For instance, she said, “I put my baking spices in one area, Indian spices in another.”

4. Consider the Lazy Susan

A countertop scattered with your most-used items can quickly look messy, but Stockwell has found that a stylish lazy Susan in the middle of her prep counter can help manage the chaos.

“I have a lazy Susan with all my essential kitchen things: flaky salt, honey, a favorite vinegar, a spray bottle to keep my cats off the counter, a squeeze bottle with olive oil, pens, pencils and scissors.” Stockwell keeps this pared-down collection of items near her stovetop, so she isn’t constantly running back and forth between the countertop and a hot pan. We’re taking a page from her book in 2025, stocking both spots with HexMills, a squeeze bottle of olive oil for drizzling, and a kitchen timer.

5. Hard Crock Life

Nothing’s more frustrating than rummaging through a drawer of utensils to find the spatula you need at the last minute. Instead, Stockwell keeps sturdy crocks next to her stove filled with whisks, spatulas, tongs and more. Opt for a variety of crock sizes so smaller items don’t get lost in the mix.

6. Stay Cool (or Hot)

You might notice a pattern here: Keeping your most important tools within reach can make all the difference, just like having the right pots and pans or high-quality ingredients. There’s nothing worse than overcooking or undercooking a dish simply because you couldn’t find your thermometer in time. Stockwell keeps a dedicated thermometer basket right next to the oven, making it easy to check the temperature of a thick-cut steak or a roast.

7. Cell Power

Instead of relying on a kitchen timer with its sometimes-cryptic numbers, Stockwell uses her phone’s timer app, which lets her label each timer for reference. “You can easily change the name of each timer so one can say 'chicken' and the other can say 'pie,'” she said.

8. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Stockwell keeps her fridge organized with baskets for ingredients she needs to access easily. Eggs are one example—she transfers them from the standard carton to a wire basket. This way, instead of pulling out the entire carton, she can simply reach in and grab an egg or two. The same system works for citrus and other small items she likes to keep on hand. 

And that pesky freezer? Stockwell doesn’t worry about that too much—just keep things dated and labeled, she said. (Our addendum: Set aside time every month or so to check dates and investigate anything that looks too hoary.)

Here’s to a better organized kitchen in 2025.