Kitchen drawer organizer ideas for utensils and gadgets
Six drawer organizers for a crowded kitchen, each matched to a problem such as shallow trays, deep drawers or odd widths, with the sizes that decide fit.
Most kitchens have one drawer where everything lands: the spatula that does not fit anywhere else, the peeler, the box-grater lid, a whisk with its handle caught in a ladle. Opening it means rummaging, and closing it sometimes means pushing something back down. The drawer is not too small. It is simply one big open box with no rooms in it.
The ideas below give a drawer rooms. Each one names a problem, the product that answers it and the measurements that decide whether it fits. Before you buy any of them, measure the inside of your drawer: width, depth and height from the floor to the underside of the countertop or the drawer above.
For long utensils that roll around: an expanding tray
Problem: Spatulas, rolling pins and whisks of different lengths slide around in a deep, wide drawer.
The DrawerFit Expandable Utensil Tray, Large stretches from 13.5 in to 21.6 in deep (34 to 55 cm) and is 13.0 in wide (33 cm) and 2.2 in tall (5.6 cm). The maker says its SlideLock design keeps the tray extended once set. It has 8 slots and is described as holding 72 or more utensils.
Fit check: the tray’s 13.0 in width means a drawer needs at least that much inside width. Depth is the flexible dimension, so measure front to back and pick a setting inside 13.5 to 21.6 in.
For a deep drawer with a second layer: a sliding bin
Problem: A deep drawer wastes its upper half, and the things you reach for most are at the bottom.
The DrawerFit Sliding Drawer Bin creates what the maker calls a second level of storage. It expands from 15 in to 23 in (38 to 58 cm), and its locking teeth keep it extended so it sits on the drawer’s frame. The maker says the bin glides across the drawer, which gives access to what sits underneath. It measures 7.1 in wide (18 cm) and 2.7 in tall (6.9 cm), so a drawer needs enough height to clear the bin with the items below it.
Fit check: add the height of your tallest bottom-layer item to 2.7 in. If that total is less than the clear height inside the drawer, the bin works.
For cutlery in a standard drawer: a silicone tray
Problem: Forks, knives and spoons are in a tangle.
The HEXA 6 Divider Expandable Silverware Tray measures 16.4 by 13.4 by 2 in (41.7 by 34 by 5 cm). The maker describes it as silicone with defined compartments, an open top and a shape that holds through daily use.
Fit check: the tray is 16.4 in long, so the drawer’s inside depth must be at least that. Where a drawer is shorter, this model will not fit and a smaller tray is the better choice.
For cutlery in a narrower drawer: a steel tray
Problem: Forks, knives and spoons are in a tangle, and the drawer is narrow.
The Grid 5 Divider Silverware Tray is made of steel, which the maker says resists rust. It measures 16 by 11.5 by 2 in (40.6 by 29.2 by 5 cm), so it fits a drawer that is slightly narrower than the HEXA tray’s 13.4 in. It has 5 dividers.
Fit check: its 11.5 in width leaves room in a drawer that is 12 in wide, with about half an inch to spare.
For odd-width drawers: adjustable dividers
Problem: Your drawer does not match any standard tray’s width, and fixed trays leave a gap.
The Sorbus 8 Pack Adjustable Drawer Dividers adjust from 10.5 in to 16.9 in (26.7 to 42.9 cm) and lock in place with tension. The maker says the clear acrylic lets you see contents at a glance, and lists kitchen utensils, cutlery and gadgets among the things to organize. Set the dividers where your own gadgets need the sections.
Fit check: measure the drawer’s inside width. If it is between 10.5 and 16.9 in, a divider will span it.
For small gadgets: nesting trays
Problem: Small items such as bag clips, thermometers and cookie cutters drift to the back of the drawer.
The Sorbus Drawer Organizer Set (3 Pc) is a set of three plastic trays that nest together or work separately. The maker gives two measurements: about 3 in tall by 12 in wide by 4 in deep (7.6 by 30.5 by 10 cm), and for the wide organizer about 3 in tall by 12 in wide by 8.25 in deep (7.6 by 30.5 by 21 cm). They are polystyrene with a white finish and rounded corners.
Fit check: because the trays are about 3 in tall, make sure the drawer has at least that much clear height, or the trays will stop it from closing.
Choosing between them
Start with the drawer’s width, since that is the one dimension most trays cannot change. Use the adjustable dividers for any width from 10.5 to 16.9 in, the Grid tray for a drawer at least 11.5 in wide, the DrawerFit Utensil Tray for one at least 13.0 in wide, and the HEXA tray for one at least 13.4 in wide. Check depth next, then height. Check the current price at the retailer before you buy.