Our top picks can declutter even the messiest drawers.
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The junk drawer isn’t the only place in your kitchen that may require tidying. In addition to shelf liners, a drawer organizer for cooking tools, utensils, or flatware is the key to keeping your kitchen efficient and clean. But there are so many options to choose from! Is plastic or bamboo better? Stackable or adjustable? The best kitchen drawer organizers are customizable to the drawers you already have, explains Sharon Lowenheim, a professional organizer and the owner of NYC-based Organizing Goddess.
A drawer with a good ratio of long and short storage compartments is another helpful quality to look for, she explains. "This allows you to store tools or flatware of all sizes in one handy place." But that’s just the beginning. With so many options for drawer organizers, there’s at least one perfectly suited for your specific kitchen storage needs. With the expert guidance of Lowenheim, we've rounded up this list of the best kitchen drawer organizers to make efficient use of your existing space.
This drawer organizer comes from OXO, a trusted name in kitchen products. It’s cleverly designed, with four stationary units that can be customized with inserts (included in the purchase). The slide-out tray can be tucked underneath the unit to accommodate narrow drawers or fully expanded to hold large, bulky tools. The nonskid plastic is durable enough to take a beating and can be washed when dirty.
Material: Plastic | Weight: 2.16 pounds | Dimensions: 18.05 x 9.8 x 2.49 inches at maximum size
There’s nothing fancy to see here, but that’s OK: This unit is meant to be tucked away in your utensil drawer, after all. With six stationary compartments (you could choose five for a slightly lower price), and grippy plastic lining, this is a durable and efficient choice for your flatware. There is one larger compartment on the side, but folks with lots of long-handled cooking tools may want to buy a supplemental organizer or look in another direction altogether.
Material: Plastic | Weight: 1.59 pounds | Dimensions: 13 x 16 x 1.75 inches
This drawer organizer is so pretty we wouldn’t blame you for wanting to display it on your counter. Jokes aside, it’s far more useful in your drawer, where it can expand from 18 to 23.75 inches wide, tacking on an additional two storage compartments made for long-handled tools. The solid ash wood is sustainably sourced, a detail that justifies the high price tag. As the name implies, this unit is primarily for organizing flatware, not cooking tools and utensils. It should be occasionally treated with mineral oil.
Material: Ash wood with matte varnish | Weight: 2.07 pounds | Dimensions: 14 x 23.75 x 2.5 inches at maximum size
You don’t need deep pockets to custom-fit deep drawers: This starter kit comes with seven compartments of varying sizes, all with a generous 3-inch depth. Use the photos as a guide for arranging it in your kitchen, or switch it up to make a design that works perfectly for you. Either way, this organizing unit is made for tall items or stacked utensils. Note that the price will change if you cherry-pick the items in your order. This kit is made specifically for a 16 x 20-inch drawer.
Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 16 x 20 x 3 inches
This bamboo utensil tray can be made larger by sliding compartments on the sides, which grow to reveal two additional storage compartments for a total of eight. This XL unit can handle both flatware and cooking tools: The middle compartments are ideal for forks, knives, and spoons, while the sides and tops can handle long utensils (like spatulas) and short ones, too (like can openers and vegetable peelers). It’s hard to beat the price, and it comes in a few colors.
Material: Bamboo wood | Weight: 4 pounds | Dimensions: 17 x 18.1 x 2.16 inches at maximum size
If your knife collection is larger than just a chef’s knife and paring knife, and countertop real estate is tight, you’ll appreciate a drawer organizer made specifically for your blades. This one from Williams Sonoma is the cream of the crop, made of solid wood with spots for 15 knives of varying sizes; eight small and seven large. (It can accommodate up to a 10-inch blade.)
Material: Solid maple or walnut wood | Weight: 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Dimensions: 7.5 x 17 x 1.5 inches
This organizer was made for the biggest, bulkiest utensils in your collection. With a generous 2-inch height, it can quickly corral tools like whisks and handheld strainers. The steel mesh can be wiped down if it gets dirty, and we particularly like the grippy feet that will keep it from slip-sliding all over your drawer.
Material: Steel mesh | Weight: 1.17 pounds | Dimensions: 11 x 16 x 2 inches
This unique drawer organizer is entirely customizable, with individual blocks that clip together on any side, in any orientation. Choose from a 7- or 10-piece set — both available in shades of gray and charcoal — and snap it together in the best arrangement for your drawer (or drawers). It comes with nonskid feet, so the unit stays put once it’s in place.
Material: Plastic | Weight: 1.17 pounds | Dimensions: 10.43 x 17.28 x 1.97 inches
There are plenty of ways to organize your spice collection, but a unit that sits neatly in a kitchen drawer is one of the most space-efficient we’ve come across. This heavy-duty steel tray slides out to fit a variety of drawer sizes and is tiered so you can easily see every jar without rummaging around. If you don’t fancy an expandable option, this brand also sells stationary in-drawer spice organizers in small and large sizes.
Material: Steel with metallic epoxy finish | Weight: 5 pounds | Dimensions: 26.5 x 16.5 x 1.5 inches at maximum size
Simple, streamlined, and stackable is the name of the game here. These units from mDesign are sold in a pack of two, but you could stack them as high as your drawers will allow. Each tray is just one individual compartment, but you can customize your drawers by ordering multiple sizes. There are six different options available, ensuring you’ll be able to find the right set of dimensions for your utensils, tools, and flatware.
Material: Bamboo | Weight: 1.76 pounds | Dimensions: 15 x 6 x 2 inches; other sizes available
Yamazaki is known for its minimalist-chic design, but this item does more than just look good: It’s an entirely customizable option for housing pots and pans, skillets, and lids. Adjust the base to find the right length for your drawer, then fit the dividers in their corresponding slots to create stables for your cookware. It works best in pull-out drawers but could be set up in a lower cabinet as another option, too.
Material: Powder-coated alloy steel | Weight: 2.07 pounds | Dimensions: 7.87 x 17.7 x 6.89 inches at maximum height
"The best kitchen drawer organizer material is — excuse the pun — immaterial,” says Lowenheim. What matters is dimensions: How well the organizer fits your drawer, and stores the utensils you own. But once you’ve found the right size, there are material pros and cons to consider. Plastic is durable and can be washed in soapy water when it gets dirty. But it’s not the most eco-friendly option, and it can sometimes emit a strong odor when first installed. On the other hand, bamboo options are more sustainable and have an attractive visual appeal. Most wood options are not adjustable, although some do come with stackable options.
The best drawer organization inserts don’t just store your utensils; they make it easier to find and grab the right one. Shoving all your knives in one organizer may not be any more helpful than letting them knock around the drawer. Use this rule of thumb from Lowenheim for buying and organizing your drawer inserts: “If the kitchen only has one shallow drawer, that would be a good spot for silverware (in a drawer organizer, of course!). If there are two, use the second one for utensils.”
Lucky enough to have three usable drawers? Lowenheim says that one is the perfect spot for plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and reusable food storage bags.
Don’t get hung up on the aesthetics of the drawer insert. The primary consideration for drawer inserts is their size relative to the dimensions of your drawer. Lowenheim encourages cooks to prioritize a snug fit, so the organizer doesn’t slide around as you open and close the drawer. Once you’ve found an insert that closely matches the size of your drawer, you may find it useful to look into customizable options. Some have removable inserts, which allow you to make smaller or larger storage troughs. Another great option? Small, individual storage inserts you can piece together according to your needs.
Divide your utensils according to length, says Lowenheim. Long utensils, like spatulas and serving spoons, should be grouped. Smaller tools, like can openers or tea strainers, can then nestle together in the shorter storage trays. If you’re having a hard time finding the right drawer insert that can handle the varying sizes of your toolkit, get creative. Lowenheim warns cooks, “It may be necessary to combine two different organizing products to make that happen.”
Not every cooking utensil or tool should go in a drawer. Kitchen drawers, Lowenheim says, are best for items that would get lost in a cupboard, or wouldn’t use that space efficiently. This typically means long, handled tools — like wooden spoons, strainers, and spatulas — or shorter ones, like vegetable peelers. You can also stash neatly rolled-up silicone baking mats. A drawer organizer is a good supplement to a utensil crock. The crock, Lowenheim explains, should only contain your most frequently used tools. However, most cooks overstuff their crocks, making them inefficient. They should also be washed regularly to get rid of dust and grease buildup.
A deep drawer is a great alternative to a traditional cupboard, says Lowenheim. She is a fan of drawer dividers like this one from OXO that creates separate areas. You can also use traditional drawer inserts for deep drawers; a stackable option will be very helpful here.
Group similar lengths together. Long items should live in the same storage unit, and shorter ones should be kept in a separate area. If you have multiple sets of flatware, such as stainless steel and gold flatware, you'll need your drawers to accommodate, that too. And if you have enough room for multiple storage units, you can consider the function of tools, too: For example, stirring items are kept together, and whisking items are kept in another.
The first step is reframing your attitude! Lowenheim warns that the “junk” moniker is a recipe for disaster, and invites further disorganization. Once you’ve adopted a mentality of intentionality, Lowenheim suggests emptying the drawer and scrubbing it clean. Then go through the items one by one, asking yourself, “Do I ever use this? If so, does it belong in the kitchen?” Lowenheim bets you’ll end up moving many of the items to other areas in your house, or tossing them out. The things that remain can then be corralled in an appropriate drawer organizer insert (or two).
Rochelle Bilow is a food writer and editor with over a decade of professional experience. Previously a senior associate editor and social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines, Rochelle is also a novelist, a culinary school graduate, and a former professional baker and line cook. In researching this article, she spoke with a certified professional organizer (CPO).
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