DIY Organization Tips
Saving space can be just as valuable as saving time, because it will increase your overall efficiency in the kitchen. Making slight upgrades to your kitchen such as hanging a dish rack instead of putting it on the counter can be of huge benefit, especially if you have a smaller kitchen – creating more counter space is always a game changer. To this end, you can also DIY floating shelves, hanging mason jars or decorated tin cans to use as utensil holders in your kitchen. Not only do these tips save space, but they also show off your personal style!
Organizing your pantry can also make your life easier in the kitchen: when you reach for those staple ingredients, you’ll know exactly where to find them. Try using special containers to keep items fresh, and get creative with labeling. It’s also a great time to assess if any of the ingredients in your pantry could be kept elsewhere to increase shelf life. For example, did you know walnuts should be kept in the fridge or freezer for maximum freshness? This simple hack will not only free up pantry space but increase the longevity of your walnuts and make your recipes that much more tasty. If you’re planning to use your walnuts right away, keep them in the fridge. If you’d like to keep them fresh for a month or longer, pack them in an airtight container in the freezer.
Unconventional Kitchen Utensils
Now is a great time to reassess the tools you’re keeping in the kitchen and donate any you might not be getting much use out of. Focus on keeping those that are most multifunctional and handy. A few basic tools (even nontraditional tools) can go a long way. Sometimes, household tools are just what your recipe calls for! You can use a hammer to crush walnut halves into smaller pieces, perfect for turning some of your favorite classics into plant-forward meals.
Or, have you ever considered a paint scraper a baking utensil? You can now! They are the perfect unconventional kitchen tool to add to your repertoire. With paint scrapers, you can ice cakes like a professional, and you won’t be afraid to take on masterpieces like this Walnut Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Sometimes creativity just means putting your current utensils to new uses. For those of us who get frustrated chopping herbs and leafy greens, a pizza slicer can be a huge asset. Run it through your ingredients for instantly chopped herbs. Or throw strawberries onto an egg slicer for effortless bite-sized pieces.
Master Meal Prep
The key to staying organized in the kitchen: meal prep. This can save you so much time cooking (and doing dishes) throughout the week. One simple step is to batch prep your ingredients. This means cutting up ingredients – like fruits and vegetables – to be thrown together later in the week for salads and smoothies.
Another hack we love: freezing. Make a big pot of this Creamy California Walnut and Tomato Soup over the weekend, then freeze it in portionable containers for the coming weeks. This maintains the quality and freshness of your food and ensures that you have something quick to defrost in a pinch. The freezing technique is also good for sauces – prep a big batch and ladle your homemade California Walnut Pesto into an ice cube tray, and then pop one out for each meal, making it super easy for individual dishes!
California Walnuts makes it easy to organize and hack your kitchen. Once you’ve got everything in order, put those new systems to use with some delicious recipes.
