Ways of organising your kitchen
The kitchen is a place of nourishment and creativity. It gives you the space and freedom to make something out of just a few ingredients. Something that is nutritious. Something that feeds your body and mind, giving you the energy to go about your day and live a healthy life. For this reason, it should be respected and inviting. A place of relaxation, rather than stress. A place for all to gather in and make memories. They say everything happens in the kitchen. Perhaps that's why you’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties.
Below are some ways of transforming your kitchen into a cooking sanctuary.
Clear out the cupboards
Take inventory of your pantry. Is it full of wholesome foods? When you are hungry and craving a snack or need to whip up a meal quickly, do you have the essentials that allow you to do this? Beans, legumes and grains such as lentils, rice and quinoa are long lasting pantry staples that are quick to cook with and full of protein. When you have the basic ingredients, you can add a few vegetables and the result is a homemade meal full of nutrients.
Open up your cupboards and check the dates of all your products. Look out for duplicates and use up any lurkers in new recipes that you haven’t tried before. What an excuse to get creative! You can also give anything that’s not going to be used to a neighbour or someone who might enjoy it more. Transferring your dried goods to clear jars is a great way of organising your pantry and ensures you don’t double up on items. Plus, you can have fun labelling the jars and making them look pretty!
Cool and collected
Clear out your fridge regularly, wiping down the surfaces and getting rid of anything mouldy that you’ve avoided checking for quite some time now. Stock up your fridge with fresh fruit and vegetables, being sure to store any leftovers and cooked food on the shelves above the raw food. The middle shelves of your fridge should be reserved for yoghurts, dairy and cheese to provide optimal circulation, while omnivores can store their meat and fish on the bottom shelf. An organised fridge will keep your food fresher for longer and entice you to cook.
Of course, the things that you use everyday should be visible and easy to access. Set up your tea and coffee area, keeping your favourite tea bags close by and ensure you have oil, salt and pepper on hand. Make the space work for you, don’t overcomplicate the process. It’s all about making life easier, so if you have a small kitchen, you’ll want to avoid overcrowding the area and decluttering more often. Try to free up your countertops and maximise your space as much as possible. Holistic Food Chef, Alessandra Mariotti, recommends hanging hooks for pots, pans and utensils to save drawer space, as well as a spice rack. Let’s face it, having mini bottles of fragrant dried herbs and spices all neatly displayed is practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Get in the zone
Things build up and regardless of the season, a ‘spring’ clearout should become a more regular ritual. Try to put time aside every month to clear out your culinary space. You’ll waste less food and feel more inspired to try new recipes when you know what you have. Making the kitchen feel like a kitchen is so important. It’s the heart of the home and where the real magic happens. Alessandra Mariotti has defined 7 zones that we should organise our kitchen into. In doing so, it ensures the most fluid layout and makes cooking a seamless experience. If you’ve fallen out of love with cooking recently or feel flustered at the sight of your drawers, implementing these zones can help save you time and stress in a place that is capable of sending you into pure mindfulness.
To learn about these 7 zones, check out Alessandra’s online session, How To Fall in Love with Cooking. Here you will find tips for healthy cooking, the ultimate tools and utensils, and how to start meal planning and batch cooking. Alessandra also outlines various tips for organising your kitchen, especially if you’re short on space, and ways of bringing life and love into the kitchen.