logo
Smart Kitchen Organization Hacks From A Mom Of 3

Smart Kitchen Organization Hacks From A Mom Of 3

Buzz Feed16-07-2025
A special kind of chaos happens when you cook three meals a day in a kitchen that sees more foot traffic than a Chick-fil-A drive-thru. I've tried it all: the Pinterest-perfect systems, the overpriced gadgets, the clear bins that promise to change your life. But what works? That's what this list is.
These are the real things — the hacks, habits, and budget-friendly products (all under $50) — that make cooking for a family of five every day feel a little less like a juggling act and a little more like a rhythm. Nothing here is just for show. Everything either solves a problem, saves my sanity, or gives me back three minutes I didn't know I had.
Unload your dishwasher first thing in the morning.
I unload the dishwasher first thing every morning before making coffee, or at least while waiting for it to brew. I do this so that as I cook, prep, or toss a spoon in the sink, I can put it straight into the dishwasher. No pile-up, no chaos. Then, after dinner, I run it while I kick back and watch Desperate Housewives. This one habit makes the kitchen feel like it's working with me, not against me.
Create a designated drying spot for kid cups, lunchbox lids, and oddly-shaped essentials.
Don't be fooled by the baby branding. This drying rack is still one of my most-used items, even post-bottle years. I use it for kid water bottles, lunchbox containers, and lids — all the oddly-shaped things that don't belong in the main drying rack. It tucks easily along the edge of the counter, keeping the whole sink area functional and uncluttered.
Keep a scrap bowl on the counter while you cook.
Whether you compost, have chickens, or want to avoid 14 back-and-forth trips to the trash can, this is a game changer. Toss all your peels, scraps, and wrappers into a bowl as you go. Your workspace stays clear, and cleanup is so much faster.
Freeze leftovers into one-cup blocks for easy stacking, storing, and reheating.
These are a freezer dream. I portion leftovers, sauces, and soups into one-cup cubes that stack neatly and thaw easily. Bonus: they fit perfectly in my kids' thermal lunch containers, so packing lunch in the morning is grab-and-go.
Have an "eat me soon" bin in your fridge.
Label a bin in your fridge or pantry with "eat me soon" and toss anything that's on its last leg inside. Open snacks, a handful of grapes, and a yogurt that expires in two days. This one trick helps cut food waste and makes it easier to answer, "What should I pack in lunches?"
Keep your weekly dinner plan front and center with a low-effort kitchen notepad.
This planner lives in my "junk" drawer. I used to believe I could remember what I planned for the week — I can't. This minimalist meal planner lets me write it out, see it daily, and stop opening the fridge wondering what I was supposed to do with those sweet potatoes.
Spin your way to an organized pantry with this underrated shelf-saver.
I have three of these. One for oils, one for vinegars, and one for baking supplies. Instead of digging around in the back of a cabinet, I give it a spin and boom — everything's where it should be. It's one of the few things that genuinely made my pantry feel organized without doing a full rework.
Ditch the stained plastic tubs and upgrade to stackable, glass containers that last.
Stackable. Dishwasher safe. Microwave safe. And no weird tomato sauce stains like the plastic stuff. I dry the lids on another old bottle rack (told you those things were still useful), then stack them in a cabinet. It's just tidy. And it stays tidy.
Store snacks, produce, and pantry extras in baskets that actually look good on open shelves.
These are sleek, sturdy, and actually functional. I use them to hold pantry items, produce, or lunchbox snacks; they're the kind of thing that can live out in the open without looking chaotic. The flat wire frame is clean and minimal, and they stack easily if you need vertical storage.
Use a handled bin to corral jars and sauces without the domino effect.
I use this sturdy handled bin to store all my jarred pantry items — think sauces, jams, salsas, marinades, and dressings. It keeps everything upright, grouped, and easy to grab without knocking over half the shelf. The handle makes it easy to slide in and out when I'm mid-meal and need to pull out that one random condiment that finishes the dish.
Hey, you! Wanna cook 7,500+ recipes in step-by-step mode (with helpful videos) right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now.
Keep knives tucked safely in-drawer with a system that protects both kids and blades.
Knife blocks make me nervous with little kids in the house. This in-drawer dock keeps all my knives secure, easy to grab, and out of sight. Plus, it protects the blades. Form and function.
Air out your kitchen rags with a sleek little upgrade that actually works.
If you know, you know. That mildew-y smell from towels draped over the faucet? Gone. This little towel bar sits neatly on the counter and keeps your rags dry and aired out. Feels like a grown-up move.
Turn your spice drawer into a well-oiled machine.
My spice drawer is directly next to the stove because that's where I use my spices. I store everything in matching rectangular containers and label the lids with a label maker so I can read them at a glance. Then I alphabetize them, because if I'm cooking and need paprika, I want to grab it, measure it, and put it away without thinking twice. Bonus: I keep my measuring spoons in that same drawer, so it's one seamless motion.
Simplify grill prep with a collapsible tray that handles the mess and carries the load.
This is one of those things you don't realize you need until you have it. I use this collapsible tray with a lid for marinating meats, prepping skewers, or carrying ingredients out to the grill. It keeps everything contained, folds flat when you're done, and is so much cleaner than juggling random plates or bowls.
Turn outdoor cooking into a one-trip experience with an all-in-one carry caddy.
Outdoor cooking used to mean seven trips in and out of the house. Now I toss everything I need in this caddy — tools, sauces, paper towels — and carry it all out in one go. This has made summer cooking 10 times simpler.
Store flour, sugar, and dry goods in containers that seal tightly but scoop easily.
These live in my pantry for flour, rice, sugar, and brown sugar. Airtight, but super easy to scoop from when I'm mid-baking. They feel functional but clean and visually calming.
Stop soggy sponges from sitting in the sink and give them a tray of their own.
I use this as my sponge and scrubber tray. Instead of things dripping all over the counter or hiding soggy in the sink, they rest on this ceramic tray. It looks styled but is 100% practical.
Transfer juice and milk to sleek glass bottles to tame the fridge and calm the chaos.
These sleek glass bottles replaced my mishmash of juice cartons and half-empty drink containers. They're slim, uniform, and actually fit the fridge shelves the way you wish everything would. We use them for milk, lemonade, orange juice — whatever we've got going — and they make even a chaotic fridge feel calm. Plus, they pour like a dream and go in the dishwasher when we're done.
Have lunch-packing supplies live in one zone.
Everything — lunchboxes, baggies, napkins, cute little picks, even sauce containers — lives in one lower cabinet and drawer. I don't want to open five doors before 8 a.m. This keeps everything we need in one place, so packing lunches feels less like a scavenger hunt and more like a system.
Only decant what you actually use.
I only decant what I use. Flour? Yes. Sugar? Absolutely. But I'm not decanting novelty snacks just to make my pantry look good on Instagram. I use matching airtight containers for the things I scoop regularly, and leave the rest in their original packaging, grouped in baskets.
My kitchen is zoned for how we live, not how it 'should' be.
Everything is placed to make movement easy. Spices and measuring spoons are next to the stove. Lunch stuff lives near the microwave. Cutting boards and Tupperware are under the coffee station, right across from the island where I prep. Mugs and tea are above the coffee machine by the back door with sunscreen, because that's where we grab them. There's even a drawer of art supplies next to the baking pans because my kids love to draw while I cook. It's not Pinterest-perfect. It's real-life efficient.
None of this is complicated. It's just what I've figured out from cooking in the same kitchen, every single day, with real kids, real messes, and real hunger at 5:02 p.m. These aren't Pinterest ideas; they're systems that actually work when you're the one doing the cooking.
Got a kitchen hack that saves your sanity? Comment below; I'd love to steal it. (And I mean that in the friendliest way.)
Ready to try out these organization hacks in your kitchen? Download the free Tasty app to browse and save thousands of recipes — no subscription required.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Number of people saved from burning Indonesian ferry rises to 575, rescuers say
Number of people saved from burning Indonesian ferry rises to 575, rescuers say

New York Post

time3 days ago

  • New York Post

Number of people saved from burning Indonesian ferry rises to 575, rescuers say

MANADO, Indonesia — Rescuers in Indonesia responding to a ferry that caught fire and killed at least three people said Monday they had rescued 575 people — far more than originally reported — and that two people were still missing. The KM Barcelona V-A caught fire Sunday in the sea off North Sulawesi province, and initial reports said five people were dead and about 280 rescued, based on the ship's manifest. However, by Monday afternoon officials updated the death toll to three, with two missing, and said many more people were aboard than were listed, and that 575 of them were rescued. 7 The KM Barcelona V-A caught fire Sunday in the sea off North Sulawesi province, and initial reports said five people were dead and about 280 rescued. INDONESIA'S NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY (BASARNAS)/INDONESIAN COAST GUARD/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 7 Rescuers assisting passengers onto a rescue ship after a ferry fire. BAKAMLA/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock 7 By Monday afternoon officials updated the death toll to three, with two missing, and said many more people were aboard than were listed, and that 575 of them were rescued. Kantor sar Manado via Storyful It is common in Indonesia for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry to differ from the manifest. Such discrepancies can reflect overcrowding and complicate search and rescue efforts, said navy First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing. Advertisement The KM Barcelona V-A was making its regular half-day journey between the ports of Melonguane and Manado when it caught fire about midday Sunday, Sihombing said. A coast guard ship, six rescue vessels and several inflatable boats were deployed in the rescue operation, Sihombing said. The crews pulled many people from the sea and took them to nearby islands, and local fishermen also saved some survivors wearing life jackets as they were drifting in the choppy waters. 7 It is common in Indonesia for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry to differ from the manifest. AP 7 The KM Barcelona V-A was making its regular half-day journey between the ports of Melonguane and Manado when it caught fire about midday Sunday, Sihombing said. William Edson Apena via Storyful Advertisement 7 A coast guard ship, six rescue vessels and several inflatable boats were deployed in the rescue operation, Sihombing said. AP Three bodies were recovered, including a pregnant woman, and rescuers were searching for two passengers reportedly still missing, the Manado city Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. The ferry's manifest initially registered only 280 passengers and 15 crew members, but by Monday afternoon the search and rescue agency confirmed that 575 survivors had been rescued, including a 2-month-old baby whose lungs were filled with seawater. The baby is now in a stable condition at a hospital. 7 Three bodies were recovered, including a pregnant woman, and rescuers were searching for two passengers reportedly still missing, the Manado city Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. BAKAMLA/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock Advertisement The ferry had a capacity of 600 people. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries are a common method of travel. Disasters occur regularly, with weak safety enforcement often blamed. A speedboat carrying 18 people capsized during a storm July 14, and all its occupants were found rescued by the next day. Earlier in the month, a ferry sank near Indonesia's resort island of Bali, leaving at least 19 dead and 16 others missing. A two-week search operation involved more than 600 rescuers, three navy ships, 15 boats, a helicopter and divers.

Ship carrying hundreds catches fire in Indonesia as frightened passengers were seen jumping into ocean to escape deadly blaze
Ship carrying hundreds catches fire in Indonesia as frightened passengers were seen jumping into ocean to escape deadly blaze

New York Post

time3 days ago

  • New York Post

Ship carrying hundreds catches fire in Indonesia as frightened passengers were seen jumping into ocean to escape deadly blaze

A passenger ship carrying hundreds of people caught fire in Indonesia on Sunday — as terrified passengers were filmed jumping into the ocean and desperately treading water as the vessel burned. At least three people, including a pregnant woman, were killed and two others were still missing after the KM Barcelona V-A caught fire while hauling 575 passengers from Melonguane to Manado around midday Sunday, authorities said. Harrowing video shot by sobbing passengers in the water captured scores of people, mostly wearing life jackets, plunging into the water as flames engulfed the vessel and huge plumes of smoke billowed into the sky. Advertisement 4 The KM Barcelona V-A caught fire around midday Sunday while making its regular half-day journey between two ports in North Sulawesi province, from Melonguane to Manado. 4 Photos and videos circulated on social media showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel. William Edson Apena via Storyful 4 This screen grab taken from video released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) and the Indonesian Coast Guard shows the KM Barcelona 5 ferry after a fire broke out while on its way to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province. INDONESIA'S NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY (BASARNAS)/INDONESIAN COAST GUARD/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement One video captured a man trying to stay afloat as he cradled a small child, while another showed a woman screaming as fellow passengers bobbed in the water nearby. Rescue crews and local fishermen scrambled to pull survivors — including a two-month-old baby — from the choppy waters. 4 Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire that began in the ferry's stern and was extinguished within an hour, Sihombing said. Kantor sar Manado via Storyful Advertisement Authorities are still probing the cause of the fire, which began in the ferry's stern. The blaze took an hour to extinguish, local authorities said. With Post wires

China Reveals Encounter With Western Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters
China Reveals Encounter With Western Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters

Newsweek

time6 days ago

  • Newsweek

China Reveals Encounter With Western Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military reported encountering a foreign aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, where the East Asian power maintains sweeping sovereignty claims over most of the waters. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment via email. Why It Matters China and neighboring countries—including the Philippines, a United States mutual defense treaty ally—are involved in ongoing territorial disputes over maritime features in the energy-rich South China Sea, often leading to standoffs and clashes between rival maritime forces. Encounters between Chinese and foreign military aircraft and vessels are not uncommon as Beijing has accused foreign militaries of conducting "close-in" operations by approaching its territorial airspace and waters, both of which extend 13.8 miles from the country's coastline. What To Know The Chinese military—officially known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA)—published a news story on Thursday about flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong. While the article focused on the Shandong's fighter jets launching from and landing on the flight deck, it also said that during an unspecified summer in the South China Sea, a foreign aircraft carrier was spotted approaching the Shandong and its naval task group. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet during the open event of the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong in Hong Kong on July 4. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet during the open event of the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong in Hong Kong on July 4. Dai Menglan/China News Service/VCG via AP It further said that the unidentified foreign aircraft carrier frequently launched aircraft that flew toward the Chinese carrier at high speed, prompting the Shandong to enter what it described as "combat status" and launch J-15 fighter jets armed with weapons in response. According to the article, the Chinese fighter aircraft "successfully drove away" the foreign aircraft after dogfighting—a term that refers to close-range maneuvers between two aircraft. This was the second encounter between Chinese and foreign aircraft carriers publicized by China this year. In April, Chinese media aired footage showing a J-15 fighter jet flying close to a fighter aircraft that appears to be an F/A-18, operated by the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier fleet. In early July, both the U.S. and China deployed aircraft carriers in the South China Sea—USS George Washington and the Shandong, respectively. The former was operating in the Timor Sea, north of Australia, as of Tuesday, according to photos released by the U.S. Navy. Open-source satellite imagery spotted the Shandong at its home port on China's southern island of Hainan—north of the South China Sea—on Thursday. The warship was one of two Chinese aircraft carriers simultaneously deployed in the broader western Pacific in June. 🔍 🇨🇳PLAN Naval Watch: Recent imagery shows the bulk of the South Sea Amphibious Fleet back in port at Zhanjiang. However, the activity doesn't stop there! We're tracking a Type 075 LHD inbound to Longpo/Yulin, alongside a flurry of movements just outside Longpo/Yulin… — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) July 18, 2025 What People Are Saying The U.S. Pacific Fleet told Newsweek in April: "We don't have a comment on specific operations, engagements, or training, but we routinely operate in the vicinity of foreign aircraft and ships in international waters and airspace in the Indo-Pacific." Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said in May 2023: "[T]he U.S. side has frequently sent aircraft and vessels to conduct close-in reconnaissance on China, seriously threatening China's sovereignty and security. Such provocative and dangerous moves are the root cause for maritime security issues." What Happens Next It is likely that close encounters between Chinese and foreign forces—particularly those of the U.S.—will continue as both sides maintain their presence in the western Pacific.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store