Apartment Dwellers Kitchen Space Savers

[Melissy]

I thought people living in tight quarters like us would appreciate a couple of tips. Please post any more suggestions!

Place a large roasting pan on top of the fridge and fill with cookbooks when not in use.

Use clothes pins as chip clips. We hold everything shut with these...frozen veggies, half-full (guess I'm an optimist) bags of beans, etc.

Mount an inexpensive tie rack on the wall by the stove and hang lots of utensils.

-melissy

[lorilei]

Good idea -- I've lived in a variety of apartments, some of which had odd space issues (like NO closets!). Hope these hints help others too!

Store potatoes or onions in baskets in a cool cupboard or corner.

Hang mugs underneath cupboards to cut down on cupboard usage.

Store flatware in a divided basket with napkins on your kitchen table or breakfast bar.

A hanging multi-tiered fruit basket can save precious counterspace!

I've also stored small appliances atop my refrigerator -- my toaster, microwave or steamer.

[MitchellsMom]

When we lived in an apartment, my favorite space-saver was my hanging pot rack -- not just for pots, pans, and lightweight skillets, but also for the slotted spoons, spatulas, etc. I was also known for putting dirty dishes into the oven to hide them when unexpected company (like my mother) dropped by (no dishwasher, then). And, the top of the fridge came in handy for us, too: an old breadbox kept our chips, and of course the cereal boxes, especially when the cabinets were too small to hold big boxes of cereal.

[andreajackson]

I too have the world's smallest kitchen and I hate it!! The biggest headache in the kitchen is the ONE cupboard we have for pots and pans. Whenever I try to get something out of the cupboard all of the pans fall out! Can anyone help!!!

[Beth]

Originally posted by andreajackson:
I too have the world's smallest kitchen and I hate it!! The biggest headache in the kitchen is the ONE cupboard we have for pots and pans. Whenever I try to get something out of the cupboard all of the pans fall out! Can anyone help!!!

Check Target, Walmart, Linens N Things or whatever for Rubbermaid's pull out storage baskets. There are smaller ones that fit on top and slide back and forth too. The slides can be mounted to the bottom of the cabinet and removed when you move on. I have smaller ones under my bathroom sinks and used to use the large ones for the tall, deep cabinet that served as a pantry in our last house. They might help keep things together and make them easier to reach, even if not quite the same as deep built-in drawers.

[emilycat]

I think my biggest problem with having a teeny apartment, and thus kitchen, is the counter space! Last night, I wanted to go get the ingredients to make a pie, and then I realized that I don't even have enough space to roll one out! The only space I have is occupied by my microwave. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[laden]

Tupperware makes a heavy duty plastic sheet to roll dough out on. It's only about $7. Just use it on your kitchen/dining room table then roll it up to store it.

[venus]

The best space saver I've seen so far is a collapsible dish rack that you can store flat somewhere else when you're not using it. I also keep the microwave in a closet on top of the mini chest freezer under the big soup pot and the toaster (giggle). Flat pans can be stored in that drawer under the stove--but if you;re lucky and have a gas stove, this doesn't work.

It makes me feel good to know that there are other people with the same space problems as me http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth]

Originally posted by emilycat:
I think my biggest problem with having a teeny apartment, and thus kitchen, is the counter space! Last night, I wanted to go get the ingredients to make a pie, and then I realized that I don't even have enough space to roll one out! The only space I have is occupied by my microwave. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

If you can't move the microwave, got a kitchen table? Just don't use the top of the microwave, the flour would muck it up for sure. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[emilycat]

Um, Beth, I have a REALLY teeny apartment. I don't even have room for a kitchen table; but the breakfast bar might work! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif