Kitchen Hacks: Upcycled Organization

Rather than purchase a caddy to keep cooking utensils within reach on the countertop, try repurposing an empty gallon-size olive oil tin by removing its top with a can opener. You can also use it to store knives.

Try this ingenious new way to store knives.
1. Glue wine corks together, side by side, and place the strip in a drawer.
2. The knife blades rest in the crevices between the corks, which keeps them upright and protected.

Fondue forks, paring knives, corn holders, skewers, and all manner of small, sharp objects can present a danger when tossed haphazardly into a kitchen drawer: the next time you reach into the drawer, you’re likely to get poked. Try securing all those pointy tips in leftover wine corks, which not only protects hands but also keeps sharp edges from getting dull.

A rasp-style grater can nick fingers when it is left unprotected in a drawer. Store your grater safely by slipping it into an empty paper-towel tube before sliding it into the drawer.

Stacking glass measuring cups can result in chipped and broken edges. A small square of wax or parchment paper placed between the cups prevents them from chipping and makes them easier to separate when needed.

Glass measuring cups and drinking glasses sometimes get locked together, with one cup stuck tightly inside the other. Rather than risk breaking the glass, try this novel way to release the seal.
Fill the top measuring cup or glass with ice cubes, then place the bottom cup in a bowl of warm tap water. The contrast in temperatures between the cups will cause the seal to loosen, so the cups can be gently pulled apart.

Opened boxes of aluminum foil and plastic wrap often catch on the kitchen drawer frame, causing it to jam. Avoid this annoyance with this simple tip: when you return a box of foil or plastic wrap to its storage drawer, turn the box lid side down. The next time you open the drawer, there won’t be any lids to stick up and prevent the drawer from opening.