5 great ways to store pot lids without drawers or racks

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Raise your hand if that pot lid rack you bought, thinking it would solve your storage problems, actually made your kitchen mess worse. Some racks are simply not up to the task and are very light weight, so they fall down with the height of the lid stack. Some end up taking up more precious cabinet space, which you definitely don’t want in a small kitchen. Putting the lids in their own drawer seems like a good solution, unless you need to grab them quickly and find the right one.

However, there are efficient, space-saving ways to store pot lids that don’t involve buying a special rack or dedicating an entire drawer to them. Some use up unused cabinet space, while others allow you to attach your lids to their respective pans. And some simple storage solutions don’t even require you to buy special materials.

A pot rail is a great way To show off your copper cookware Or other attractive pans in the kitchen. The space between the rail and the wall, above where pots and pans are hung, can also be a convenient place to hide a few pot lids. Lids stay within easy reach and are never far from their corresponding pans. Hang the rail next to your stove or on the wall so you can easily access the cookware you need.

Alternatively, leave pots and pans hanging from the rails and devote them entirely to lids. Try hanging two rails on the wall, one above the other, and arrange two rows of lids. This will work especially well if you have something nice looking like copper or enameled cast iron. Make sure the rail is firmly attached so that it does not buckle or stretch under the weight of the lid. Use anchors if necessary or attach to studs if possible.

Hang a pegboard in your kitchen (if you don’t already have one) and use vertical wall space to store utensil lids. This works best for lids and cookware that you don’t mind seeing every day, as they will be on display. There are two options for using pegboard to store lids. Or store them on their own using pegboard hooks to hang them. Or, keep the lid together by sliding the lid handle over the pan handle. This option only works with those that have a large enough loop handle at the top.

Hanging pegboard A relatively easy DIY, but it does require some woodworking skills. An easy option might be to buy pegboards that are ready to hang on the wall, eg Wall Control Pegboard PackWhich is also available in a rainbow of colors. To help you remember which lid goes where, consider tracing the shape of the lid directly onto the pegboard using a permanent marker or paint pen. Write a description of the lid in the center, such as “8-inch glass lid” or “10-inch cast iron lid.” Including a description will make it easier for anyone to put the lids away while cleaning the kitchen.

Even if you have a roomy cabinet, storing your lids with their matching pots and pans makes perfect sense. When the lid is always on top of its respective pot, it’s ready to go. No need to hunt around for it or use one that isn’t the right size. Depending on the shape and height of the lids and the height of your cabinet shelves, you may need to place them upside down on pots or pans, so that the handle is tucked inside.

Storing lids directly on pans also helps you avoid a common kitchen storage mistake – stacking or nesting your pans. This makes them vulnerable to scratches and other damage, which is bad news in general, but especially for non-stick pans. Once the coating on a non-stick pan is scratched, your best option is to replace it.

If you decide to store your lids and pans together, keep one thing in mind. Always dry the inside of the pan thoroughly before putting the lid on. Otherwise, moisture can get trapped inside, leading to water spots and other problems.

What’s going on behind your kitchen cabinet doors? If the answer is “none”, you can make good use of the surface by storing pot lids there. You can buy pot lid racks that are meant to hang over cabinet doors. Or use adhesive hooks like command hooks Store pot lids without clutter. Choose functional over decorative for this project, ie Command medium wire toggle hookswhich can hold up to two pounds. While the inside of a cabinet door might be a good place to hang your pot lids, it’s not your only option. You can also attach the lids to the wall if you want.

Adhesive hooks provide a completely customizable storage solution, as you can adjust them to accommodate the size of the lid. Use multiple hooks spaced to match the diameter of the lid. You should also pay attention to the size of the hooks. They should be large enough to support the thickness of the lid so that it does not slip.

While command hooks let you store pot lids on cabinet doors or other flat surfaces, you can opt for a slightly less DIY option. In that case, adhesive pot lid holders, ie Joseph Joseph Cupboard Wall-Mount OrganizersThere may be a quick fix. Like command hooks, these attach to surfaces using adhesive tape and allow you to store lids behind cabinet doors (or on the wall).

Keep in mind that adhesive pot lid holders are less flexible than hooks, since you can’t adjust their width. However, they can be easy to install, as you don’t need to measure or worry too much about their position. Once they are installed, slide the lid in and out of the holder as needed. Just make sure to pay attention to the size of the holders and buy one that fits your lid size.