If you haven't already read part 1 of this series, you can start here.
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. Help support Tiny Life Gear by purchasing products you need through the links from this page. If you buy something based on our recommendation, we might earn a small commission for referring you.
Part 3: Kitchen Organization
Good organization is not just about fitting your carefully curated set of kitchen tools into your space—it's about making your space easy to use. A kitchen tool isn't worth its weight and the space it takes up if you have to dig for it when you need it. A well organized kitchen will keep everything you need within arms reach while you're cooking, and will make you forget you're working in a small space.
Kitchen Knife Storage
Counter space is at a premium in a tiny kitchen, so a countertop knife block is probably not a practical solution. Magnetic bars are a good alternative knife storage solution for tiny kitchens, since they keep the knives accessible and save drawer and counter space. But knife edges are easily damaged by metal magnet bars.
If you're going to use a magnet bar, use one that that protects your knives from the metal magnet with a layer of wood. Alternatively, you can keep your knives in a drawer and off the counter with a wooden drawer knife block.
Cutting Boards: Plastic vs. Wood
A good cutting board will protect your knife's edge, and provide a good work surface to cut on. As a rule, you'll want at least one cutting board that's big enough for your chef's knife to fit diagonally.
Wood cutting boards are naturally antimicrobial and easy on your knives. In particular, "end grain" cutting boards are very easy on your knife edge, and give you great control, which makes for a "fast" cutting surface. Wood can also be sanded down when the surface becomes worn, making for a longer lasting cutting board. However, wood cutting boards tend to be bulky and heavy, so they may not be ideal for a tiny kitchen.
Plastic cutting boards are cheap, lightweight, thin, and easy to clean. Bacteria tends to sit on top of plastic cutting boards, so running them through the dishwasher or spraying them down with a dilute bleach solution is the best way to clean them. However, over time, as the surface develops cuts and gouges, bacteria can find shelter inside and escape the cleaning solution. Because of this, plastic cutting boards need to be replaced regularly.
The Epicurean cutting board is a happy medium between plastic and wood. It's made with wood fibers to preserve, but it's nonporous and can go in the dishwasher. I like this model that has a channel in one side to catch juices when you're carving meat, and is flat on the other side to make it easy to slide things off the edge when you're cooking.
Flexible plastic cutting mats can be a great addition to a tiny kitchen. Cutting mats are especially useful when preparing food since you can lift the mat and roll it like a funnel to transfer your food to another container. They won't last as long as a real cutting board, but they're easy to clean, lightweight, and take up negligible storage space in your kitchen.
Whatever you do, don't use a glass cutting board. They're heavy, fragile, and they will positively destroy the edge on your knives. I don't know what glass cutting boards are good for, but they're about the worst thing you could use for a cutting surface.
Utensil Storage
Kitchen utensils can take up a large amount of counter or drawer space in a tiny kitchen. For most small spaces, the best option is to get them up off the counter with a wall-mounted utensil holder.
A magnet bar with hooks is a versatile way to store cooking utensils. Simple hanging racks work well for utensils with a hanging hole, but the magnet bar helps organize spatulas, kitchen shears, and other metal utensils.
Tiny Refrigerator Organization
Organization can be a challenge in a tiny house fridge. A few storage strategies can help you make the most of limited fridge space.
Refrigerator bins make it easier to use all the space in your fridge, since you can easily slide bin out to access the items in back. A small bin for meat storage can catch drips, so you don't have to worry about putting raw meat above other items. If you stock your fridge with seltzer, soda, or beer, a soda can bin with will keep your drinks compact and accessible.
A produce keeper bin takes up a bit of space, but it can keep your leafy greens fresher longer. Various sizes are available, so pick the largest one that fits in the space you have available.
These silicone ice cube trays are more compact than standard trays, and they make larger cubes which melt slower in your drinks. Since they make cubes with straight sides, you'll get more ice per cubic inch freezer space than traditional ice cube trays.
Food Storage
Flexible silicone food storage bags beat Tupperware for using up less storage space, both in the drawer and in the fridge. Our favorite are these reusable silicone storage bags, which are dishwasher safe, and can even be used in a hot water bath to reheat food or cook sous vide. They're even available in enormous gallon size, though it's tricky to wash a bag that big in a dishwasher.
Stasher silicone bags are a popular alternative, but we find the integrated zipper to be weaker, less reliable, and wear out more quickly than the type with a separate rigid plastic closure.
Despite our aversion to large tupperware, we do still keep a few Rubbermaid Lunch Blox kits around, since they're so handy for packing lunches. The integrated ice pack is nice for keeping things cool without taking up much freezer space.
For freezing liquids, divide portions into silicone muffin cups. Freeze, then remove the cup and bag for storage. This is a great method for storing frozen soups and stocks, so you can thaw only the portion you need. When not in use, silicone muffin cups nest and compress into very little space. Incidentally, if you feel you need to own a muffin tin, a set of silicone muffin cups and a sheet pan are much smaller to store and work just as well.
Small Pantry Storage
If you're building a small kitchen pantry, consider adding pull out pantry storage cabinets. You can purchase prefabricated storage cabinets (many sizes are available from Rev-A-Shelf), or if you're feeling handy, you can build your own.
Inside the pantry, small canvas storage bins are great for storing foods like onions, root vegetables, and tomatoes. (You're not storing your tomatoes in the fridge, right?) These OXO storage containers are fantastic for storing bulk dry goods, especially if you need containers that don't require a strong grip to open. Just push the button on the lid, and the top pops off effortlessly. They can be a little spendy, but OXO storage containers frequently turn up at TJ Maxx or Homegoods if you keep an eye out.
If you're storing something that doesn't need to be in an airtight container, you can just leave them in the reusable mesh produce bag you used to get them home from the grocery store.
For especially perishable foods like coffee or tea, the Airscape food storage canister can minimize the amount of air in the container to prolong the shelf life of your dry goods.
Skip the aerosol cooking spray and keep some cooking oil in a refillable oil sprayer bottle.
Fresh fruits are usually best kept in the open on the kitchen counter, since that prevents the buildup of ethylene gas. And you're more likely to snack on a fruit if it's somewhere you can see it. Hanging wire fruit baskets are traditional. If you don't have a place to hang a basket, a large bowl or fine wire basket on the counter works well. Keep in mind that some soft fruits like peaches will bruise if they're resting in a wire basket, so you might need to rest them on a paper bag inside the basket.
Spices should be stored in airtight containers out of direct sunlight. Check out our post on salt, pepper, and spices for detailed suggestions.
Keep Reading Part 4: Collapsible Kitchen Tools. The good, the bad, and the ridiculous.
