Cutlery storage: ideas and useful tips

The kitchen is a kind of office for an experienced housewife. It should not only be clean and fresh, but it is important to think through every little detail in the interior from the point of view of practicality. Especially when it comes to small items. For example, about cutlery. When the place where they are stored is thought out correctly, the life of all household members becomes easier, and putting things in order will take less time.

How to properly store cutlery

Many of us have a very simple approach to storing cutlery: we put clean items in different compartments of one plastic tray according to their type. That’s why an aluminum spoon often “lives” next to a cupronickel silver one, and a silver fork becomes a neighbor to a rootless stainless steel one.

Such storage is incorrect, as it can cause the cutlery to darken and lose its brightness. Therefore, it is important to consider the material from which they are made.

So, aluminum spoons, forks and knives do not require special storage conditions. After each use, just wash them, wipe them dry and put them in a plastic tray.

Important! Aluminum products should not be left in food for a long time. In small quantities, this metal does not harm human health. However, aluminum is covered with an oxide film, which dissolves upon prolonged contact with food, as a result of which the dish can acquire a characteristic metallic taste.

Stainless steel appliances They also do not require special storage conditions. They need to be carefully placed in the compartments of the tray.

It is rightfully considered more “capricious” cupronickel tableware. Cutlery made from this noble alloy is especially valued by thrifty housewives, but can quickly lose its presentable appearance if operating and storage conditions are not followed.

To prevent this from happening, it is important to follow the following rules:

1. Store nickel silver products separately from other dishes.
2. It is recommended to wipe each cutlery dry, wrap it in a paper napkin, and then in cling film or foil. This is necessary to protect cupronickel from the negative effects of oxygen and moisture. Spoons, forks and knives packaged in this way will not tarnish, even if stored for a long time.
3. Dishes made from this alloy should not be placed in a drawer without drying. From such negligence, stains will appear on the devices and they will lose their shine.

Silver plate It is considered a luxury item, and therefore it should be stored like a king. So, after each use, the devices should be washed by hand, wiped dry and packed in paper (each item separately).

Then they need to be carefully folded into a box specially designed for this. Do not use string or rubber bands to tighten paper-wrapped devices. This may cause unsightly marks to appear on them.

By the way! It is also not recommended to place silver items on the glass shelves of a sideboard. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause silverware to turn black.

Ideas for convenient storage

We use cutlery every day. They should always be at hand, but not create a mess in the kitchen.This can be done using different storage systems:

1. Drawers. They are installed in a regular cabinet. The devices are folded into the compartments of the tray designed for these purposes.
2. Separate containers. They are placed on the table. This can be either one large container with compartments or several small ones. The good thing is that the devices can be stored with their handles facing up, as they should be.
3. Using a work apron. Ideal for a small kitchen where every centimeter is important. Storage containers are hung on the railing using hooks.

Important! When using plastic containers and trays, you must ensure their integrity. Containers with scratches and cracks must be replaced with new ones in a timely manner.

You can approach the issue more creatively. For example, make containers yourself. So, storage systems made from plastic cans wrapped in fabric look original. Straw, wooden or metal containers will decorate the kitchen.

Organizing proper storage of cutlery is not difficult. It is only important to take into account the characteristics of the material, the dimensions of the kitchen and your own preferences. And if you add a little imagination and patience to this, the result will exceed your wildest expectations.