Best kitchen storage boxes/tubs/racks

[elephantskiss]

I desperately need to sort out my kitchen cupboards. The kitchen is tiny so we have gone without many things we'd love to have (we're keen cooks) and regularly clear things out so it's not a case of having too much stuff, just lack of space so I'm hoping to organise it so precisely that A) everything will be easily accessible so we don't have to empty half a cupboard to get to the things at the back and B) make the most of the space with no dead space so we might be able to fit more in.

So far, I've been thinking of changing my cereal boxes (3) which are all a mixture of brands and sizes and are wider at the top than the bottom so there's dead space there I could be using. Any suggestions of cereal containers that are square/ rectangular, same width at top and bottom, airtight, fits a standard box of cereal so there's no fiddly bits left over, and the lid stays open while you pour (for DC's sake)?

Also thinking about long open baskets or containers I can pull out with e.g. all the baking ingredients, and with that, some containers that will fit inside it as again, all my many flour containers are completely different shapes and sizes of tupperware/pyrex type things.

Any advice on how best to store ceramic baking dishes (for lasagne, pies, etc.)? We gave some away so only have two but it's still a lot of space.

And baking pans like muffin ones, loaf tins, round cake tins? The standard flat baking trays fit in a shallow slot below the oven but the rest take up valuable cupboard space.

The cupboards seem to be a non- standard size as well (smaller than usual) and after essential glasses, mugs, plates and bowls, we only have 2 left for all food (tins, snacks, rice, pasta, spaghetti, flours, spices, baking ingredients, cereals...), bigger dishes/trays, gadgets (a hand whisk and small coffee grinder but would LOVE a food processor), teas, coffee, probably more I'm not thinking of. I need tips! Any help appreciated!

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This thread is quite old now, so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but we’ve very recently refreshed our best food storage containers page with plenty of space-saving options that have been tried, tested and loved by Mumsnetters. We hope you find it useful.
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[elephantskiss]

Anyone? Trawling the internet and going round in circles so recommendations would be great!

[Cynderella]

I don't really have answers because we don't have cupboards and storage is an issue for us, but ...

• Joseph Joseph do stacking stuff, and I can see the advantages. Especially when lids store with boxes.
• some of our best storage is empty jars/tins - look at what will stock.
• I had plastic containers for cereal when kids were little, but as they grew up, we gave up and just used clippy clips (like Ikea Bevera) because the boxes were actually easier to store.

Our real solution has been to turn our cellar into a store and to move the bathroom upstairs so the downstairs bathroom has become a scullery. Not everything has to be in the kitchen!

[BlueCowWonders]

For cereal we use 'Lock and lock' and the lids stay open

For anything else it's a mixture of what fits best on the shelves

But just like @Cynderella for anything not already open, storage elsewhere is the key for us. Fortunately I have a utility room for baking stuff/ rarely used gadgets and bulk buys

[KiKiDeluxe]

I like this company. It has the measurements for everything so you make sure you don't make any mistakes and get the right size for your cupboards. I've bought quite a bit from them and they are fast and efficient.

aplaceforeverything

[KiKiDeluxe]

Aplaceforeverything dot co dot uk

Sorry phone not linking correctly

[Confusedandshaken]

It's a mystery to me why people keep cereal boxes when they are so hard to store. I take the plastic bags out of the box and seal them with a plastic clip. If that looks too messy for you, tip the loose cereal into an airtight box. Then the boxes can be flattened and recycled.

I like Lock and Lock for storage. They are expensive at first but they last a long long time and remain properly airtight. I've got some that are over 20 years old.

I use a rack in a drawer for bakeware and stacking racks in cupboards to double up storage space.

[elephantskiss]

Thanks! I forgot about Joseph Joseph, I'll need to have a look at what they've got. I've got jars but again they're all different shapes and sizes so don't easily stack.

My pre-schooler wouldn't manage to deal with cereal bags without making a mess but has learnt to use the plastic boxes, hence why I wanted to stick with that. I'll look at Lock and Lock and A Place for Everything.

I understand the suggestion to store things elsewhere, but the house is really tiny (too small for us really, but can't move yet) and I do already have some kitchen things in the bedroom as it was literally the only other place I could store them but it's far from ideal. No cellar or utility room, only one bathroom to start with.

[Coldhandscoldheart]

Joseph Joseph under shelf spice holders. This is my only contribution, they’re expensive, but they do work.

[elephantskiss]

Thanks, @Coldhandscoldheart, I've just seen those but they don't look like they hold much and I have over 20 spices and herbs that we use so would need them spread across several cupboards, so think I'm better sticking with what I have in that regard (already have them stacked in tupperware so they're not taking up much room).

[thelegohooverer]

I use these for cereal.

I organised my kitchen years ago by designating every shelf/drawer as A (prime real estate - easy to access and only for items used daily), B (slightly less accessible and for items used weekly), C (hard to reach spots for monthly use) and D (need a ladder for rarely used items). I can’t remember who to credit with that method but it’s brilliant.

When I was really short on space I made my own storage baskets from cereal boxes and contact paper because I could cut them to the exact size for the space. It’s really difficult to find baskets that aren’t wider at the top.

Metal bookshelf dividers can be useful too. I got some in a charity shop so I’ve no idea if they’d be worth buying new, but they’re handy for sectioning off Tupperware from boards from baking trays, etc.

It might be worth adding extra shelves to maximise space. You can buy wood and ask them to cut it to size in big hardware/diy stores. Having 3 shelves instead of 2 can make a big difference.

[WhereIsMyMojoGone]

Lakeland are good for storage as are I-Design on Amazon and John Lewis but expensive. Wayfair is a good website to look at for storage solutions. Wilko do a few kitchen cupboard organisers too.

There are lots of options, you just need a budget and plan carefully. Good luck OP.

[elephantskiss]

I've made a start! I found an adjustable pan rack so I can fit the ceramic dishes in as well, so they're all tidy, and got a deep container for all the bottles of oil and vinegar. I also got two shelf rack things to give extra shelf space in two cupboards. It hasn't freed up any space as such but has meant things aren't precariously stacked so they're easier to access and put away. I will hopefully sort out cereal containers, flour containers and some long, narrow fridge boxes soon as the ones I've seen that would work were all either too expensive or out of stock. Those should actually free a bit of space as well if I get good sized stackable ones.

[SBBTOL]

Would you mind sharing the picture of the pan rack please? Or the link where you got it from. Thanks.

[elephantskiss]

I got this one which can go vertical or horizontal. I originally planned to have it vertical but slightly mis-measured so it had to go horizontal.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0838WPCFZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Callmecordelia]

I might be too late, but here's my top tips.

I have a couple of these -

www.lakeland.co.uk/25944/Lakeland-Adapt-A-Shelf-Extendable-Storage-Shelf-Large

On them I use empty plastic Jacob's Cracker boxes. Now, I admit, the shade of orange is not pretty, but they are the perfect size for wall cupboards. They are high enough and sturdy enough that things don't fall out when I take them down from the shelves. They fit under and above the lakeland metal shelf things.

I also have a couple of these, but they don't seem to sell the boxes that fit with them any more - www.lakeland.co.uk/24405/Caddy-Stack-Food-Cupboard-Organiser-Shelf-

[chimichangaz]

Not sure if this will help your food storage issue - maybe spice jar storage? - but I have discovered lazy Susan's and they are a revelation. I've got a two tier one I use for my spices, from Wilkinson's- which is ok but not brilliant. I've then found a couple of larger ones from TK Maxx and Sainsbury's which I'm using to store my under sink washing up and cleaning stuff, and also my stock cubes and gravy. They are brilliant- it saves you the constant pulling out of stuff just to get to what you need at the back.

I'm not sponsored by lazy Susan's, honest - I just think they are brilliant and I'm amazed I have only just realised that, at the age of 55

[BensonBunny]

Do you have a wall you can use? My spices are in small metal tins from Ikea that have a magnet on the back, I have a couple of metal notice boards behind a door in the kitchen and they all fit on there (just counted ant there are 30). It's dead space behind the door so this makes good use of it. Trying to attach a photo, not sure if it will work!

[elephantskiss]

Thank you. Both good ideas. I unfortunately have no wall space. My kitchen is a very small galley style but I only really have one side (oven, under counter fridge, under counter freezer, and a few cupboards on the walls) as the other side is the back door, sink and washing machine with a window above.

[Fairydustrust]

Just wondering if you have any outdoor space?. I have a couple of waterproof plastic storage cupboards that I use for mops buckets hoover etc. You could maybe get something like that for tins/ veg etc.

[elephantskiss]

Oh, I didn't know you could have outdoor cupboards! My small paved space is taken up with a mini greenhouse so I can grow my own tomatoes etc. in summer, and the grass has raised beds for more veg and a washing line, but I love the idea.

[2me2u2u2me]

Hi op, I recently bought these from Wilco, they’re absolutely great they fit any cupboard because they’re adjustable and I now have two heights of jars and can see everything in my cupboards and they’re very cheap from

www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-telescopic-stand-cupboard-organiser/p/0435939