9 Tools to Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro

The Container Store Stackable Drawer Organizers (from $6 at the time of publication)
Wüsthof 14-Slot In-Drawer Knife Block ($50 at the time of publication)

“Just throwing things in a drawer is selling yourself short,” says Bennett, who lines her drawers with grids of rectangular boxes, usually bamboo, that keep her cutlery and other utensils separated. Although her go-to supplier is The Container Store, similar styles are available in the office-supply section of many major retailers.

And while many home cooks store their knives in traditional butcher blocks, Bennett prefers the space efficiency that a slotted knife block affords. “In a butcher block,” she says, “you don’t know what size a knife is,” which leads to a tedious guessing game that involves pulling knives out one at a time. The slotted version, on the other hand, fits multiple sizes of knives and keeps their differences visible. It also lies flat in a drawer, freeing up what Bennett calls “the precious real estate” of counter space. Wirecutter’s kitchen team also uses several in-drawer knife blocks in its test kitchen and has found that many of these blocks perform similarly. The most important thing is to find a block that fits the particular dimensions of your drawer.

Muuto The Dots Wall Hooks (from $24 at the time of publication)

Bennett is a fan of these round wall pegs by the Scandinavian brand Muuto. They come in handy for oft-used aprons and bags, and with their bright colors and glossy finish, they are decorative elements in their own right. Bennett has installed her pegs on the wall next to her fridge, a convenient place to hang her still-full shopping bags when she comes back from the market. That way, she can unload her groceries quickly and easily while keeping them out of reach of Oliver, her 300-pound pig. For a similar look with a deeper hook, try Vitra Coat Dots, which we recommend in our guide to wall hooks.

The Container Store Rectangular Canisters (from $3 at the time of publication)

Bennett transfers her dry goods into clear, rectangular containers that keep their contents visible—so she knows when her stock is running low—and stack efficiently inside her pantry. She favors a Container Store version that has a silicone seal, which she has found maintains foods’ freshness, and comes in a variety of colors. We found that Rubbermaid’s Brilliance Pantry Food Storage Containers, which have a similar look, performed best in testing for our guide to the best dry food storage containers.

Marvy Uchida Chisel Tip Bistro Chalk Marker ($5 at the time of publication)

Bennett labels everything, noting both the type of food being stored and the date that it was purchased. In the fast-paced environment of a professional kitchen, chefs avoid fiddling with a label maker and instead use a Sharpie marker on a strip of painter’s tape. At home, however, Bennett prefers the look of a chalkboard pen, an opaque, water-based pigment that works well on a variety of surfaces and wipes off easily with a damp cloth.

Bamboozle Pastel Nesting Bowls ($70 for a set of seven at the time of publication)

Space-saving, multipurpose, and pleasing to the eye: Colorful nesting bowls check multiple boxes for Bennett. “You want products that are universally adaptable, that you can use in more than one instance,” she says. These bowls can work for both serving and mixing, for instance—and the different sizes cater to different functions. As Bennett puts it, “You don’t need to use a giant bowl for small dressings.”

CB2 Stairway White 72.5″ Wall-Mounted Bookcase ($350 at the time of publication)

Bennett has collected quite a few cookbooks over the years and arranges them according to color. It’s not the most practical system, she admits, “but it looks pretty.” The volumes stand out against the glossy white of her powder-coated aluminum CB2 bookcases, which she likes for their simplicity. “They were easy to install,” she says of the wall-mounted construction, which she can rely on to stay standing in earthquake-prone Echo Park, California.

The Container Store 3 oz. Glass Spice Bottle with White Lid ($2 at the time of publication)
Berlin Packaging 4 oz Clear Square Glass Spice Jars ($11 for a case of 12 at the time of publication)

A fan of buying her spices and seasonings in bulk, Bennett stores the main containers in her pantry while keeping smaller, more manageable amounts inside these 3-ounce glass bottles. Although she uses cylindrical ones, they do tend to roll around inside the drawer, so she also recommends a stay-put rectangular design. A good jar also has a secure screw top that won’t accidentally pop off.

The Container Store Stackable Wire Basket with Handles ($13 at the time of publication)

“Knowing there’s a zone for different items makes them easier to find,” says Bennett, who has divided her kitchen according to categories. She has separated her tools by function—prep, cook, serve, and store—and her foods by type. In the pantry, wire baskets are a great way to keep like items together, especially bagged things that don’t stack neatly. You can quickly grab the whole basket, remove the item that you need, and then slide the basket back in place without disturbing the overall system.