Kitchen Tip: Don’t Overestimate Your Counter Space

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Photo: DIY Network

If you stop by my kitchen on any given day of the week, I’m not sure what you’ll find. I do know that you’ll probably find a number of culinary related objects vying for much coveted counter space.

More likely than not, my dishes will be washed but languishing on the counter, dry and ready to be replaced in their proper cabinet habitats.

There will be a bottle of wine (for cooking of course) and probably a handful of spices and condiments that I never put away after last night’s dinner.

Sometimes, I store baked goods in the microwave and forget they are there until I go to reheat something.

My kitchen is clean, but not neat.

Cluttered, but still organized.

I have a fairly decent-sized kitchen considering that I rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city but my counter space is not exactly what I would consider abundant

Kitchen storage and food prep surfaces are often at a premium in rented apartments and starter houses, especially if you’re working with an entry-level salary or living in a shoebox-sized studio.

Here are some tips to help you maximize that space.

Only keep out what you use every day

You don’t need to store every small appliance you’ve ever purchased on your counter for display. If you make toast every morning, keep your toaster in sight – or at least within easy reach. I’m an occasional toast-er and I keep it on the bottom shelf of the cabinet above the outlet where I plug it in. Easy breezy.

Keep your counters as clear as possible

Don’t use your kitchen counters to store your purse, keys, wallet, hat, briefcase, shoes, bras…you get the picture.

Keep your kitchen counter clear for cooking and food prep.

You’ll be surprised by how much bigger your space will feel when you don’t have half of your worldly possessions spilled throughout.

Opt for small appliances

If you have a small bedroom, you probably don’t have a king-sized bed and an armoire the size of small sport utility vehicle. If you have a small kitchen, you probably don’t need a jumbo-sized everything, so be selective and reasonable about what you’ll actually use and what you think looks pretty.

Be creative with your storage space

As I type these words there is a 6-quart dutch oven in my bedroom closet.

If Carrie Bradshaw can store sweaters in her oven, there is no reason why I can’t store cookware where my shoes are supposed to go.

The Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

To help you maximize your counter space, Cuisinart is giving an Elite Collection 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder (which happens to be the one I have in my very own kitchen) to one lucky reader. My favorite use for it is to chop herbs, nuts and sometimes even vegetables for small batch recipes so I don’t have to go to the extraordinary effort of washing both a knife and a cutting board. Life is tough, isn’t it?

The Rules:

• Leave a comment here that answers the following question: What was the last thing you cooked or baked?
• Anonymous comments: leave your email address when you comment so I can reach you.
• 1 random winner will be chosen by Friday, December 10 at 11:59PM CST and announced by Sunday, December 12. I will notify the winner via email and you will have 72 hours to respond before I choose a new winner.
• Contest open to US & Canada Residents only.

For Additional Entries:

• Re-tweet the following message: Keep your counters clutter-free! Win a food processor from In Good Taste (cc @mariscallahan @MyCuisinart).
• Follow me on Twitter @mariscallahan
• Become a fan of In Good Taste on Facebook.
• Suggest that your friends become a fan of In Good Taste on Facebook.
• Please leave one comment for each entry.

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Cuisinart. I was not provided with complimentary product or compensation of any kind. The words and opinions expressed here are my own.

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