How do I Choose the Best Pantry Drawers?

To choose the best pantry drawers for you, give a lot of consideration to their depth, whether they are custom or ready-made. Choosing all deep drawers can make smaller items difficult to find and access. Cooking pots and pans are often best to store in deeper drawers since they can be stacked, plus there is likely to be sufficient room for their lids. However, sliding rather than unmovable pantry drawers can usually provide the easiest accessibility to bulkier supplies, as this way you can better reach the back of each drawer. Shallower drawers, whether pull-out or stationary, are best for small bottles of spices, kitchen utensils and other little items.

Planning efficient drawer storage for even the tiniest goods you have can make your pantry really work for you. Labeling pantry drawers can help others in your household keep your organized storage system intact. As an alternative to expensive, custom-made pantry drawer systems, ready-made units in plastic, wood or metal can be added to make the most of shelving. For a neat look, you could purchase the same type of three- or four-drawer freestanding storage units and line them up in rows on your pantry shelves. Be sure to measure the dimensions of the units and compare them with the space between your shelves to figure out the maximum capacity for food or kitchen supply storage.

If you decide to have custom or ready-made drawer sections that are multi-sized, deep drawer sizes are best on the bottom, while shallower ones should be at the top. If you're going to be storing canisters of food items in the pantry drawers, determine the best way to label the containers so they can be read as soon as each drawer is opened. Efficient pantry drawer systems of any depth should prevent the need to rummage around in the drawers to find supplies. Everything should be ready to access when needed.

Your pantry design will help you determine the exact drawers you need. For example, if you plan to store your most often used items at about eye level and a little lower, you'll be able to have a good idea of the size and depth of these pantry drawers. Drawers on higher shelves probably aren't going to work as they'd likely be too awkward for accessing supplies. Large, deep drawers below eye level pantry shelves can be ideal for housing cookware and heavier canisters of foods.