***Kitchen Organizers to Make a Home Chef's Life Simpler

The size of the American household is shrinking, according to the results of the latest census. At the dawn of the twentieth century (1900), four people occupied the average home, but today that number is down to just 2.6. There are several logical explanations for this. Increased wealth, a slowdown in the birth rate, and fewer families living within three generations under one roof has resulted in smaller households. What is a bit confusing, however, is that the size of the average home continues to grow even as the number of occupants dwindles.

Over the past forty-one years (since 1970), the size of the average American home has grown by nearly one-third. Again, it might seem a bit counter-intuitive, but if you consider the social and economic transformation the country has experienced, it makes perfect sense. First and most importantly is the fact that dual-income households are now the norm in the U.S. The percentage of women who work outside of the home has grown from just 57 percent in 1970 to 77 percent in 2011. What are Americans doing with all this extra income? Obviously, they are putting it into their homes.

Once again, this makes perfect sense. The home is the biggest investment most families will ever make; and since the housing market typically appreciates over time, it is a relatively safe investment. But today we want to focus on one particular room in the home. Often called the heart of the home, the kitchen has expanded at an unprecedented rate since 1970. While the size of the average single-family home has grown by nearly 1/3, the size of the average kitchen has doubled! Why is the kitchen growing faster than any other room?

This statistic might sound a little confusing. After all, Americans are eating out much more often than they did in the past. The average household orders take out or goes to a restaurant three times each week. That leaves just four home-cooked meals per week. Why do families need larger kitchens if they’re using them less?Once again, it isn’t an easy question to answer. But the experts tell us that it has a lot to do with the influence of television cooking shows. What we mean is that home cooks are far more likely to prepare more exotic and complicated dishes than they were in the past. It is also important to mention that the number and size of kitchen appliances has grown as well. The average modern refrigerator could eat the fridges of old for a light snack. Then there are food processors, microwaves, dishwashers and espresso machines—all of which were relatively rare in America circa 1970.

One thing we can say for sure is that storage space is more important than ever in the modern kitchen, which is why kitchen organizers can be found at any department store or home improvement center in the country. In the next few paragraphs, we will discuss the most popular kitchen organizers and how they can help home cooks create and save valuable space.

Spice Racks and Stacks

Every chef needs his or her spices and herbs . But these pesky, often messy little bottles are sometimes hard to find a place for. Many cooks simply end up storing them in a drawer, a rollout rack, or in a Lazy Susan. The only problem with storing spices out of sight is that it easy to lose track of what you have. Perhaps you are almost out of garlic salt or sage. Few amateur cooks remember to gather everything they need before they begin. More often than not, they just start cooking and add the spices later because they are pressed for time. Storing spices and herbs on a spice rack or on a stack will ensure that you’ll never run out of a vital ingredient again.

Which is superior? The rack is mounted to the wall over the stove and the stack sits on the counter next to it. Though models do vary, most spice stacks are a bit more commodious than the average spice rack. It is also important to note that mounting a spice rack may get in the way of putting up a spacing-saving pot and pan rack. It is for this reason that we prefer the spice stack to rack.

Wine Rack

Wine is an important ingredient for amateur home cooks. The only issue is finding the proper place for it. Not only do wine bottles take up a lot of room, but their contents can stain almost any surface. A countertop wine rack is a simple and affordable solution to this problem. These organizers safely support five to eight bottles of wine and they won’t deprive you of valuable counter space.

Pot and Pan Racks

Only the appliances and the furniture take up more kitchen space than the pots and the pans. Most home cooks have several cabinets and drawers that are packed with cookware. Pot and pan racks are arguably the most ingenious space-saving device since the Mini Cooper. Mounted on a wall or hung from the ceiling, pots and pans can be hung from a series of hooks and lids can be stored on the top of the rack.Kitchen organizers are a simple and effective way to free up valuable kitchen space. Find the perfect solutions for your kitchen now!