Making Lists

Make a list of everything you need to store in the kitchen, from utensils, pots, pans and mixing bowls, to worktop appliances such as food processors and stand mixers. Take a look at the list below for guidance and consider how often you use each item and therefore, how easily accessible it needs to be.

 

  • Crockery: all plates, bowls, mugs, teapots, and other everyday crockery
  • Glasses, water jars and decanters
  • Tupperware storage tubs and cake boxes
  • Children’s crockery, if applicable, including plastic cups, plates, and bowls
  • Baking trays, cake tins, muffin trays, bread tins etc
  • Mixing bowls, oven dishes, serving bowls and dishes
  • Cooking utensils, eg. Turners, slotted spoons, serving spoons, whisks, tin openers, graters, wooden spoons, spatulas, chopping boards
  • Cutlery and knives
  • Pots and pans, and casseroles, and whether you prefer to store these in a drawer or cupboard
  • Storage containers when not in use, for example, Kilner jars, which can take up a lot of space but go in and out of use
  • Measuring jugs
  • Small appliances, eg. Stick blender, hand-held electric whisk, electric carving knife, blender
  • Worktop appliances, eg, food processor, stand mixer, kettle, toaster, slow cooker
  • Tea towels and kitchen linen
  • Placemats
  • Films, foils, baking paper, food bags, bin bags
  • Seasonal items such as ice-lolly moulds, and other occasionally used items
  • Special crockery, such as tea sets, or other items used on special occasions
  • Cleaning products: spray cleaners, washing up liquid, washing liquid and fabric conditioner, cloths, sponges, and all other cleaning items

You may also need to store non-kitchen related items in your kitchen, for example, children’s craft materials; art supplies; perhaps you like to keep a small tool kit to hand. And everyone has a drawer in their kitchen in which random stuff tends to accumulate. Things like takeaway menus, business cards, pens, small notepads, medication, a screwdriver, drawing pins… the list is endless, but because of the inevitability of needing somewhere to put these often-unclassifiable items, it’s a good idea to always plan for a “stuff” drawer. The list above is by no means exhaustive. Go through your own cupboards and create a list of the things specific to you and the way you use your kitchen.

 

Next, consider all the different types of food you will need to store in fridges, freezers and cupboards. Consider how you personally like to segregate different types of foods, and what you tend to store together. This is such a personal choice, and often one individual might be amazed at what another keeps stored together in their kitchen. As a rule, try to keep ingredients and foods that are similar, together, such as tinned foods, which conveniently stack on top of each other; bottles of oils and vinegars; snack foods. Do you, or will you once work has been done, have space to store spares of various items, or are you restricted by cupboard space and only really able to buy for the immediate future?

Below is a list of the different food items you will need to consider, and, as with the list of kitchen items, you will certainly have your own specific-to-your-family items to add to the list.

 

  • Boxed items including cereals, cereal bars etc
  • Cans, jars and tins
  • Biscuits, treats, snack foods
  • Dried foods such as rice, pasta, grains, pulses, beans, seeds
  • Oils and vinegars
  • Baking ingredients such as flours, sugars, dried fruits, packets of raw cacao and cacao nibs, other packeted powdered ingredients, essences, cake decorating items
  • Refrigerator items such as meat, dairy products, fresh produce, ground coffee, open jars and bottles requiring refrigeration, juices and other drinks
  • Wine, bottled soft drinks, and squash
  • Spare foods items and refills
  • Baked or otherwise homemade foods, such as cakes and cookies
  • Fresh fruit which needs to ripen, and otherwise not for the fridge