Shine Food

City Dwellers: Try These Space-Saving Kitchen Gadgets

September 18, 2012 at 6:51 p.m.

Source: City Dwellers: Try These Space-Saving Kitchen Gadgets

If the show Hoarders has taught me anything, it's that a cluttered home is the antithesis of chic. Regardless, my petite city kitchen has limited storage space, making for an ongoing struggle. Luckily, I've come across a handful of smart space-saving kitchen gadgets that are sure to aid organization no matter your square footage.

Folding Colander: This petite colander
($19) folds flat for storage, then easily clicks into place when it's time to drain pasta or potatoes.
Magnetic Measuring Spoons: Dual-ended magnetic measuring spoons
($14) are like having two sets of measuring spoons in one. Additionally, the magnetic feature keeps them organized, a boon in cluttered kitchen drawers.
Magnetic Knife Strip: While this magnetic knife strip
($28) excels at its intended purpose, it's also an ideal home for other metal tools, such as kitchen shears, vegetable peelers, and offset spatulas.
File Organizer: Think outside of the box, and repurpose a file organizer
($11) to utilize vertical cabinet space for storing cutting boards and baking pans.

Pop-Top Containers: Have a cluttered pantry? Try these pop-top containers
($50 for the pictured set); they're clear and stackable, making good use of vertical space in cramped quarters.
Cast Iron Combo Cooker: Pots and pans are some of the worst kitchen clutter offenders. Pare down your collection without sacrificing function with a preseasoned cast iron dutch oven
($30) whose lid doubles as a heavy-duty 10-1/4-inch skillet.
Collapsible Box Grater: For large-volume grating, a collapsible box grater
($20) is the way to go.
Tongs: Ever the workhorse, tongs are not only useful for flipping steaks and tossing salads, but can also be employed as leverage to squeeze a lemon or lime, instead of a reamer or citrus juice press. We're fond of these nylon-tipped tongs
($12), but for a no-frills (and less-expensive) version, try your local restaurant supply store.
In-Drawer Knife Tray: Don't have counter space for a bulky knife block? Afraid of drilling holes in rental walls? Employ the help of an in-drawer knife tray
($40) instead. It protects your knife blades (and fingertips) from dings and will organize up to six large knives (chef, serrated, boning) as well as six smaller ones (paring, steak).

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