A cluttered utensil drawer slows you down every single time you cook. The right storage keeps your tools clean, easy to grab and in good shape for years.
The short answer
Store utensils clean, completely dry and where air can move around them. At home, that means drawer dividers, a countertop crock, hooks or a magnetic strip for the tools you use most. In a restaurant, health codes add a few rules, like keeping clean utensils off the floor with handles facing up.
Storage ideas for home kitchens
Countertop crock
Keep your daily tools (spatulas, spoons, tongs and a whisk) standing upright next to the stove. A crock is especially good for wooden and bamboo utensils, since air reaches them and they dry fully. Don't overstuff it, or you'll be wrestling a spatula out every time.
Drawer dividers
Dividers or a custom drawer insert give every tool a home, which means no digging. Put long or bulky tools like ladles and tongs in their own section, and store tongs locked to save space.
Rails, hooks and pot racks
Getting tools off the counter frees up workspace. Hang utensils from a rail under the cabinets, add S-hooks to a pot rack, or mount hooks inside a cabinet door.
Pegboard
A pegboard isn't just for the garage. Paint it to match your kitchen and you get flexible, easy-to-change storage for utensils, pans and boards.
Magnetic strip
A wall-mounted magnetic strip holds knives and stainless tools like whisks, ladles and tongs where you can see and grab them.
A family crock or heirloom
An old stoneware crock or pitcher makes a great utensil holder and brings a little family history into the kitchen.
If you have to dig for it, you won't use it. Give every tool a home.
How to store wooden and bamboo utensils
- Make sure they're completely dry before you put them away
- Store them upright in a crock or on hooks so air can circulate
- Keep them away from dishwasher steam and direct stove heat
- Don't pack them into a closed drawer while they're still damp
More care tips here: how to care for wooden utensils, tongs and cutting boards.
How should utensils be stored in a commercial kitchen?
Restaurants and caterers have a few more rules to follow. Most health codes are based on the FDA Food Code, which generally calls for:
- Clean utensils stored in a clean, dry place at least 6 inches off the floor
- Covered or inverted so dust and splashes can't land on food-contact surfaces
- Handles up so staff grab the handle, not the part that touches food
- Clean and dirty utensils kept completely separate
For in-use utensils between uses, common options include leaving them in the food with the handle sticking out, on a clean and sanitized surface, in running water, or in a container of water held at 135°F or hotter. Rules vary, so check with your local health department.
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Quick answers
How should utensils be stored?
Clean, completely dry and where air can circulate. In commercial kitchens, off the floor, covered or inverted, with handles up.
How do you store wooden spoons?
Upright in a crock or hanging, only after they're fully dry.
Where should in-use utensils be stored in a restaurant?
Common options are in the food with the handle out, on a clean sanitized surface, in running water or in water held at 135°F or hotter. Check your local health code.
Organized kitchen, branded tools
Outfitting a restaurant or catering kitchen?
Tell us your stations and volume. We'll recommend utensils that hold up and put your logo on them.
