The Irish Mail on Sunday

Interiors: Sharpen up your kitchen

Keep your kitchen clutter free with practical solutions to ensure home cooking and baking is as easy as pie

- Emily Westbrooks

Much like the rest of the country, I’ve spent more hours cooking over the last few months than I have in the last decade. And while I can’t wait to sit down in a restaurant sometime soon, I’ve learned quite a lot about my kitchen set-up lately.

I’ve always been more of a fan of baking chocolate chip cookies than whipping up a three-course dinner, so my kitchen is stocked with more baking tins and trays than pots and pans. As it turns out, that doesn’t make a pandemic easier.

With the extra time at home, I’ve put together a few tips for setting up your kitchen in a way that actually works and more efficientl­y.

First and foremost, make sure you have the highest quality equipment in the kitchen that you can afford.

You don’t need complicate­d utensils, but having a cast-iron skillet and durable baking trays will serve you well — both when it comes to cooking or baking, and when you’re scrubbing them at the sink. Second, take a look at your kitchen organisati­on.

Just this morning, I realised that I’ve been wasting considerab­le time taking coffee filters out of a zippered bag several times a day.

I have since moved them to a dish near the coffee maker, which will hopefully save time and energy in the long run.

Investing in a knife block can also help you streamline your chopping situation, and storing pots and pans in a way that doesn’t require a balancing act can also help.

If you’re short on space, a wooden chopping block is as beautiful on the countertop as it is functional for cooking and serving.

 ??  ?? If you have a beautiful backsplash, try not to block it with clutter (Lime Lace)
If you have a beautiful backsplash, try not to block it with clutter (Lime Lace)
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? A strong wall colour can make an open shelf stand out (Annie Sloan)
A strong wall colour can make an open shelf stand out (Annie Sloan)
 ??  ?? Placing artwork on an open shelf adds interest without taking up space (Sophie Allport)
Placing artwork on an open shelf adds interest without taking up space (Sophie Allport)
 ??  ?? Pretty canisters are worth the investment (Dunelm).
Pretty canisters are worth the investment (Dunelm).
 ??  ?? Keeping your countertop clear is easier when you address niggling storage issues (Original BTC). Inset: Consider upgrading appliances that sit on the counter (Next)
Keeping your countertop clear is easier when you address niggling storage issues (Original BTC). Inset: Consider upgrading appliances that sit on the counter (Next)

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland