| # Kitchen # |
| Traditional Hutch A hutch provides a strikingly decorative and practival "still life". Hutches are best for dishes that are in frequent use. Open shelves are attractive for displaying dishes and make frequently used items accessible, but pieces are exposed to dust and grease. Position open shelves away from steamy areas like the stove or sink. Allocate items to the correct depth of shelf. Avoid deep dish cabinets where smaller items, such as tea cups, invariably become lost behind piles of larger plates. Silverware Chest Silver cutlery needs special care. Clean before storing and warp in acid-free tissue away from direct sunlight and damp. Do not store stainless steel and silver together. |
| # Perishable Food # |
| Vegetable Baskets The renaissance of the basket for storing food over the last few years may be an aesthetic reaction against technology, but there are practical advantages, too. Baskets allow air to circulate, which, combined with darkness, is perfect for root vegetables like potatoes or carrots. If you are short of floor space, try a hanging basket for fruit and vegetables. Use for decorative purposes: a bowl of fruit is both attractive and accessible. Hanging Rack A rack is convenient for utensils and foods that need ventilation, such as garlic. |
| # Chilled and Frozen Food # |
| Diary Products Keep cheese and butter in an airtight box, away from other foods, to prevent strong flavors from affecting them. Uncooked Meat Keep raw meat wrapped and on the lowest shelf to avoid contaminating food below. Vegetables Store green vegetables loose in a vegetable box, and salad vegetables in an airtight container. Frozen Food Freeze foods in regular packages to make best use of space, and label clearly. |
| # Non-Perishable Food # |
| Divide groceries into categories: jars, cans, baking ingredients, and dry goods. And plan space for them according to use. Ideally, food cabinets should be sited away from stove or refrigerator exhaust, and they must be kept cool, dry, and clean. Glass jars containing pasta or spices make an appealing display. Dried herbs and spices and dry foods such as rice, pasta, flour and dried fruit should be stored in airtight containers, preferably in cabinets, as their flavors are affected by light, heat, and moisture. |
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| # Cooking Equipment # |
| Terra-Cotta Jar Keep wooden spoons in a jar and other utensils close to the stove and preparation area. Under Stove Racks Sturdy metal slatted shelves beneath the stove save opening doors to reach pans while cooking, and provide a convenient drying place for washed pans and cookie sheets. Avoid stacking pots and pans, they may scratch, and suction can make it difficult to separate them. Utensil Rack Hanging small gadgets and untensil on a rack makes them easily visible, and eliminates rummaging in an overcrowded drawer. Wooden slats or a metal grid hung with buthers' hooks make use of wall storage space that is otherwise wasted. |
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| ~ Storage ~ |