How to Best Use Corner Lazy Susans

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Things You'll Need

  • baskets or shallow boxes

  • 12" to 18" bungee cords

Well-organized kitchens simplify cooking chores.

A Lazy Susan is a circular shelf that rotates to allow easy access to all of the items stored on it. When properly loaded and organized, a Lazy Susan can be a useful accessory for a corner kitchen cabinet. Proper planning, and some baskets or boxes to group stored items, can streamline storage. Lightweight, bulky items such as plastic storage containers and lids, cereals and snacks, kitchen towels, paper products and seldom-used baking tools are all good candidates for a Lazy Susan storage system.

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Step 1

Storage needs vary with your age and cooking style.

Consider your "work triangle" or the paths that you use when you move between appliances, and select the Lazy Susan contents based on proximity to your main work areas. You may, for example, wish to create a "baking center" near the area where you mix and roll out dough, or create a snack center for children to help themselves to snacks while you prepare a meal. Take into account the traffic created by the entire family, and consider Steve Thomas' suggestion in "This Old House Kitchens" that you "make it as easy as possible for noncooks to get in and out without causing disruption."

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Step 2

Lazy Susan shelves vary in strength.

Assess the sturdiness of the Lazy Susan unit. If the shelf seems to bend easily when you press on it, limit its use to lightweight items. A heavier gauge shelf may be appropriate for storing cans or seldom-used appliances such as a blender or food processor.

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Step 3

A shallow container holds kitchen tools.

Group like items and place them in open baskets or boxes to keep them from falling off the rotating shelf. Plastic storage containers and their lids should be divided by size and shape. Small lightweight food packets such as salad dressing mixes, drink mixes and gelatin are best contained in small baskets. Snack bag clips can be fastened to the front edge of the shelf for easy access.

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Step 4

Seasonal items can be stored at the back.

Place infrequently used items at the back of the Lazy Susan, and load heavier items toward the center spindle.

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Step 5

Clear tops can help with identifying contents.

Label items such as spice jars on the top of the lid so you can see the contents easily, and place them in a basket so they are easy to remove from the shelf.

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Step 6

Bungee cords can be used to create shelf dividers.

Use short bungee cords to create dividers on wire-shelved Lazy Susans to support tall, top-heavy items such as cereal boxes. Wrap one end around the center spindle and fasten the free hook around the front edge of the wire shelf.

Tip

Clean the interior of the cabinet with a vacuum wand and/or a damp sponge prior to loading the shelves.

Sort and reorganize the cabinet periodically to avoid overflowing baskets from spilling their contents into the unreachable cabinet back.

Do not store fragile items on a Lazy Susan.

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