Lazy Susans
Don't know why I never thought of getting some of these before to organized my pantry/refrigerator. My father (recently semi-retired) decided to organize theirs, and put me on to this. Bought two one-level ones and one double level - my refrigerator has never looked more organized, and I use one in a cupboard for oils and vinegars ... no more rooting around in the back for what I'm looking for. DH was convinced that this would reduce the amount of space available for storage, but as far as I'm concerned, whatever minute amount of space I'm ceding by inserting the round object into my rectangular spaces is definitely worth it. Found some lovely stainless steel ones at our neighborhood hardware store - also saw them on websites, but felt the need for instant organization (or gratification!).
-
Inspired by this idea, I spent a couple of hours reorganizing my pantry. I wasn't too sure how much the lazy susan was going to help, but it forced me to re-evaluate how I organized food, pots and pans. Still a work in progress, but I'm pretty pleased so far. Threw out some awful, ancient foodstuffs and reorganized foods by region. Gosh, I had no idea how much food I had in there! So far, I got stuff like bulk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fish sauce, and rum on my lazy susan. Things like vegetable oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, small bottle of olive oil that I use a lot are on a little tray by the stove.
I found myself opening the pantry a couple of times just to look at it last night and this morning :P
›1 Reply -
toodie jane
Oct 30, 2006 01:56 AM
Genius, pure genius!
as the Imelda Marcos of condiments and sauces, I can never find anything on my fridge shelves. Can you tell me where on the web you found the SS ones?
thanks!
›1 Reply -
jillp
Oct 29, 2006 11:25 PM
I have a corner cupboard with a 2-tier lazy susan and it's so very handy. The top shelf has salt, peppercorns, baking soda, vanilla and so on. The bottom shelf is where we keep booze (not including wine). It's wonderfully handy.
My husband had been worried that things would fall off of it and become lost - not a problem!
›5 Replies-
-
-
re: MMRuth
The Dairy Queen
Dec 20, 2006 11:20 AM
Not a lazy susan, but another way to improve access to those deep, dark cabinets is to install a slide-out drawer or basket. We did that in our kitchen about six months ago and love it. Even though we probably have slightly less space than we did before (the drawers have to be able to clear the cabinet doors, so, you lose that inch or two of cabinet space in the corner behind the door hinges,) we use the space better because we have better access to it.
~TDQ
-
-
re: MMRuth
The Dairy Queen
Dec 20, 2006 12:13 PM
Yes, you definitely need a drill to install them--good point. So, if you have an aversion to putting holes in your shelves, it's not a good choice. (If your aversion to putting holes in your shelves is because you rent and your landlord won't let you, I'd ask--I think you could completely make the case it's a permanent improvement.) If you don't have a drill, you might have to borrow one, or, even, pay a handyman (or woman) to come in and put them in for you. It only takes about an hour. I know it's painful to pay someone for a DIY (do it yourself) project, but if you don't have the right tools... I once paid someone to come in and earthquake proof my cupboards. Something I could have done myself, if I only had the right tools...
~TDQ
-
-
-
-
-
LindaWhit
Oct 29, 2006 03:55 PM
I've used turney-go-rounds (as my mom and grandma used to call them <g>) for my spices ever since moving out on my own 30 years ago. I have one 2-level one for short spices, and two or three 1-level ones for taller spice jars, as well as items like molasses, baking soda/powder containers, Worchestershire and vinegar bottles, etc.
Haven't thought about using one in the fridge, but I can usually find things in there without a problem.
-
Pei
Oct 29, 2006 03:30 PM
I do this in the corner of my deepest cabinet, but haven't thought of it for the fridge! Thanks for taking it to the next level.
My mom's house has two-leveled spinners built into every corner cabinet. I don't know how to explain it, but the previous owners had the cabinets custom built so no one has to crouch down and reach into a deep dark corner to find something. Genius!
›6 Replies-
re: Pei
MMRuth
Oct 29, 2006 08:36 PM
My mom has those things too in the corner cabinet - makes life much easier. I've got a tiny kitchen with pretty basic/minimal storage, and the one thing that drives me nuts is getting out pots and pans - to get to the bigger ones, I have to remove the smaller ones that are nested inside, and then root around for the lids. Agh ... it's amazing I cook at all given how annoyed this makes me sometimes.
-
re: MMRuth
I have to do the nested pots and pans thing too and I hate it too. In one place I used to live in, I put up one of those hanging cookware racks in the laundry room off the kitchen and had bad experiences of things falling in the middle of the night and getting laundry lint on everything. I'm really at a lost what to do except put more shelving in the pantry.
One thing that did work well in previous apartments was to store pot lids in the drawer under the stove. I use to keep small lids on one side of the drawer and big ones on the other.
-
