How to Organize Your Kitchen for Easier Cooking

Learn how to arrange your kitchen tools and ingredients so you can cook like a pro with less mess and more fun. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Clear the decks. Take everything out of one cupboard or drawer at a time. Wipe the surface clean with your cloth. This gives you a fresh start to see exactly how much space you have.
2. Group like with like. Sort your items into piles. Put all the mixing bowls together, all the measuring cups in another spot, and all your baking ingredients in a third area. This is called 'zoning' your kitchen.
3. Keep the most-used items close. Think about what you use every day. If you make smoothies often, keep the blender and your favorite cups in an easy-to-reach spot. Put things you rarely use, like a turkey roaster or holiday cookie cutters, on higher or lower shelves.
4. Label your bins. If you use plastic bins to hold snacks or spices, write what is inside on a piece of tape and stick it to the front. This helps you find what you need in seconds without digging through everything.