How to Stow Pots and Pans
You use pots and pans every day, but they often end up in an awkward,
towering heap. They are bulky and heavy, don't always nest
well, and may have handles of varying shapes and sizes.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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-
1
Pull out all your pot and pans (including woks, roasting pans and steamers), along with their lids. Throw out anything that's gouged, nicked or burned beyond repair, including nonstick pans if the coating is peeling. Toss aluminum pots immediately: The metal they leach into cooked foods and liquids has been associated with Alzheimer's disease.
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2
Scan your kitchen: Does it make sense to return the pans to their drawer or cabinet, or do you need the space for other appliances? Free up space by installing a wall- or ceiling-mounted pot rack or a Peg-Board outfitted with hooks.
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3
Make cabinets that house pots and pans more efficient by installing a deep, slide-out drawer. Nest pots and pans as much as possible. Start with the roasting pan on the bottom, then stack pots followed by frying pan.
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4
Target a shallow drawer for the lids. Or, organize them in a lid rack (available at organizational and hardware stores) or a long, thin plastic basket that will fit in your drawer or cabinet.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To protect the coating on nonstick pots and pans, set a paper plate inside each when you nest them with others.
To clean out pots that have burned bits of food stuck to the inside, fill the pot or pan with water and a small drop of dishwashing liquid. Boil on the stove for 10 minutes and scrub the pot.
Store less-used cookware out of the way, such as above the refrigerator or on a baker's rack.
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Comments
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muskiet
Oct 27, 2008
"try freezing the pot/plate and then see if it will drop out. Heating will not work" Freezing will make the problem worse as a metal pan will contract when being subjected to colder temperatures. The first sugestion seems to me more obvious and you might want to try to either soak the pan/plate combination in hot water or even heat water in the pan to boiling. The steam which forms on the bottom of the pan when boiling could help push the plate free while the water makes it easier for the plate to slide out. -
muskiet
Oct 27, 2008
"try freezing the pot/plate and then see if it will drop out. Heating will not work" Freezing will make the problem worse as a metal pan will contract when being subjected to colder temperatures. The first sugestion seems to me more obvious and you might want to try to either soak the pan/plate combination in hot water or even heat water in the pan to boiling. The steam which forms on the bottom of the pan when boiling could help push the plate free while the water makes it easier for the plate to slide out.
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Jun 30, 2006
We put the pot on the stove, on high, for about 30 seconds and when we flipped it over onto a dishtowel, the plate slid out.
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Jun 30, 2006
We put the pot on the stove, on high, for about 30 seconds and when we flipped it over onto a dishtowel, the plate slid out.
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Nov 22, 2005
When plates are exactly the same size as pots and fall in and get stuck, try freezing the pot/plate and then see if it will drop out. Heating will not work, soap and hot water will not work. Take it to a machine shop or sheet metal shop, have them drill a hole in the bottom of the pan and blow out the plate through the hole with an air gun - make sure the plate doesn't break when it comes out! The pan is not usable anymore, unless you have them weld the hole closed. Best to buy another pot of a different size than your plates! There was no charge for this 5-minute procedure, and it made their day.
