WWYD for storage of these pots and pans?

5 years ago

We are in the beginning stages of planning a new build. I love to cook and have many large and small (heavy) cast iron Staub pots. I'll need to plan for accessible storage for most of these pots.

I'll have some kind of a walk in Pantry. I was thinking custom open cubbies, in the pantry, at just the right height so as not to have to reach overhead for the heavy ones. I'll also make sure there are drawers, in the kitchen, for my most used pots and skillets.

I've not been able to find any photos of what I'm thinking of and I'm open too other suggestions for pot storage.

I have a lot of pots and pans!! They have been collected over many years and still cook like a dream. I guess you can tell I don't like just one color. ;-)

Featured Answer

User

5 years ago

This is what I did with blue Le Creuset in a white and grey kitchen. I think it supplies a nice pop of color. And is dust free versus open shelving.

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Comments (36)

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
5 years ago
You are a person after my own heart!! I love all your colorful cocottes and the great finials. I have a very small collection in comparison ;-)

I don't have an answer for you, but I will start looking and noodling.
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
Rita, It's an obsession ;-)

While you are noodling (I love that term) around and if you should come across something that I may be interested in, I failed to add in my OP that I want this storage to be closed. Even though I love the pots I don't want them on display.
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zmith
5 years ago
Open shelving for your fabulous, enviable, colorful cookware collection. :)
wilson853
5 years ago
What a beautiful collection! I've always admired these cubbies around a doorway. It's a way to utilize space that is often overlooked.
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bossyvossy
5 years ago
While I am anti-shelving, a setup as shown by wilson853 would be perfect for your collection. And if you have 3-4 that you truly use daily, I’d keep in a drawer in the kitchen, close to the stove.
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
zmith, Thank you! It's a fun collection.

wilson853, Wow! That's a display I haven't thought of. This is definitely going into my ideas book.

Bossyvossy, I'm kinda anti shelving too. Hence, the problem I'm having coming up with a solution.

Of course, I'm just in the planning stages. I was thinking of a whiteish kitchen with color dispersed around in certain areas. But I wasn't thinking of displaying the pots and pans. I'm interested in exploring cubbies in a pantry, maybe?
friedajune
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Here are some photos of KD Mick de Giulio’s ideas for pots and pans storage. The first two pics show floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets (I believe they are lit), and the next two have them in undercounter open shelving - which may be a problem for collecting dust, and having to bend to get to them, but they do allow a great deal more storage area. Me, I love the glass cabinets idea. You don’t have to have all the hanging rods; you can have shelves in there instead.

(The last two pics are in a showroom, not a home)
friedajune
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Oh, I didn’t see your second post where you said you don’t want them on display. Oh well, the pics I posted are still great eye candy anyway. Perhaps it will make you think that having them on display isn’t such a bad idea.
Nidnay
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Why not put cabinetry in your pantry similar to what wilson853 posted only with solid doors and rollout shelves. There they would be hidden, and, depending on the depth of the cabinet, you could potentially put two or even three pots on one rollout and they would be super easy to access.
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
friedajune, Whoa! That really does have me rethinking the storage. Love love those ideas. The first picture is a little too industrial for me but I could just change out the frame of the doors. 3rd picture is just wowza! They are really big kitchens. So beautiful!

nidnay, Great idea about the rollout shelves behind doors. I didn't think of that either.

This is what I love about this forum. People can come and ask a question and get all kinds of helpful ideas. I really wish I could think outside the box when it comes to storage. Just not my forte'. ;-) Thanks to all! I'm up for any other ideas.
PRO
Anglophilia
5 years ago
Those suckers are heavy. I would not want to have to lug them from the pantry to the stove and later, the reverse. I'd want them in drawers very near my stove. That's what I have done with my Le Creuset big casserole and all my cast iron skillets.
abbycat9990
5 years ago
We keep our Le Creuset pots and pans in two drawers by the range. If I had a large pantry, I would have an excuse to buy (and store) more...
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
Question for those of you that keep heavy pots and pans in drawers. What type of hardware (drawer slides) did you use?
skmom
5 years ago
What a nice collection! My first thought was open shelves too but I see you weren't planning on displaying them. You might find a custom built, lazy Susan type of storage in a corner of your pantry to be helpful for most of them and then keep a few of your most used close to your range.
skmom
5 years ago
I have some heavy cast iron in a large drawer... we used Blum hardware.
Karla Tamez
5 years ago
These could also work and and your beautiful cookware would be on full display
weedmeister
5 years ago
They do make heavy duty slides for drawers. It's been discussed here before.
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
skmom, "You might find a custom built, lazy Susan type of storage in a corner of your pantry to be helpful for most of them and then keep a few of your most used close to your range." That's a great idea!

karla, Who da thunk that there was a cast iron cookware stand. Thanks!

weedmeister, Thank you! Off to search for heavy duty drawer slides.
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
abbycat9990, Yes, that's what got me in the predicament I'm in now. Large pantry. LOL
Nidnay
5 years ago
I have an ideabook with lots of pantry pics. You might get some ideas...

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riverrat1 thanked Nidnay
Nidnay
5 years ago
You could do something like this (with wider drawers). Still out of sight for the most part, but doesn’t need a cabinet door.
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riverrat1 thanked Nidnay
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
nidnay, I've coveted your new kitchen from day one. Thank you for the link to your pantry ideas.

John, Your cabinet is very nice looking. One of the reasons I'm wanting to have the pots in a pantry, in linear cubbies or drawers, is because I'm trying to not have upper cabinetry which will limit storage. I'm also vertically challenged. ;-) But, if I had height on my side I would feel a little more comfortable grabbing a heavy pot from overhead.
User
5 years ago
Very true. I'm 6' 5" so I didn't think of that. A pull out drawer would work much better
riverrat1 thanked User
cpartist
5 years ago
What about pull out drawers with glass fronts so they can be displayed?

I love the idea of the display behind doors too.
riverrat1 thanked cpartist
Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
5 years ago
I like the pots in drawers best as well, though I don't think I would like to have to keep the glass at that level spotless all the time. If it were me, I would keep the most used ones in drawers close to the range and the rest in a above the counter cabinets, like a hutch, but with solid doors if you don't want them on display.

My LC and Staub are in drawers. I have no idea of the glides. But the drawers do not suffer from the weight at all.
riverrat1 thanked Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
cpartist, Soon I'll be vetting my kitchen space, that I have available, through this forum. There are so many talented people, that I have a lot of respect for, that have helped countless people have a better kitchen. You are one of the many helpers. I've read and have seen this happen for many years on this forum. I'll also be on Building a Home forum too. I'm looking forward to all insights and ideas. It'll be fun to see what we come up with!
zmith
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Well, I understand not wanting to maneuver the heavy pots from a shelf. My shoulders wouldn't like it either. I keep my cast iron in base cabinet rollouts below and to one side of the cooktop. The ROTs have 1/2" ply sides, 1/4" melamine bottoms and Blum Euro slides. They're plenty sturdy.
riverrat1 thanked zmith
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
5 years ago
If displaying your trove of cast iron gorgeousness is not what you want, what is your objective? I would think drawers would be the easiest place to sore the pots.
riverrat1 thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
zmith, Thanks for the info on your base cabinet ROTs. The more I read the more I'm liking melamine bottoms and Blum Euro slides.

Zalco, My main objective is to have the heaviest of the pots at chest or waist level so I have more of a chance of safe ergonomic handling. I like my toes and head and would continue to like enjoying my pots:-) If you asked my oldest daughter she would say "Just give them all to me and problem solved!" Drawers are perfect for the smaller pots that are not so heavy and I do plan on some drawers in base cabinets at the cooktop.
Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
5 years ago
If your concern with the drawers is weight, I would not worry about that. My biggest cast iron pots are in my drawers and it poses no problem at all to the glides. IDK the brand of glides I have. The cabinets are Crown Point and we did discuss whether or not I could put my largest oval and round pots in there, so I may have upgraded glides.
riverrat1 thanked Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
abbycat9990
5 years ago
riverrat1 We tried a few different slides, but ended up using these - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-22-in-Soft-Close-Full-Extension-Ball-Bearing-Side-Mount-Drawer-Slide-Set-D94222E-ZP-W/302867630 We were replacing builder grade side mount slides, so Blum undermounts were not an option. We also converted two base cabinets to drawers. These slides are a HUGE improvement to my quality of life. And now all the cookware is easily accessible
riverrat1 thanked abbycat9990
salex
5 years ago
Drawers and drawer slides can definitely handle it. I have my cast iron stored in 36" drawer bases (each drawer is actually 33"). You need to make sure your cabinetmaker understands the weight you plan to put in them. Three main things they can do to increase the weight capacity of your drawers, if they are willing to really customize, is 1) use the heavy duty slides (ideally Blum Tandem), 2) use a thicker drawer bottom (standard is 1/4"; mine are 3/4"), and 3) add hardwood struts to the bottoms (which will be hidden). Make sure you know the capacity of the drawers before you load them up with your beautiful cookware.
riverrat1 thanked salex
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
abbycat, Thanks for the visual. I love your heart shaped pot!

Salex, Great info you've shared! Thanks!
Chessie
5 years ago
Whoah. You have an addiction! I love Staub too, but wow that is a lot of pots! Good luck finding a solution - personally I would sell most of them and help pay for the new build LOL!
riverrat1 thanked Chessie
riverrat1
Original Author
5 years ago
Chess, LOL! If I don't come down to reality I may have to sell them. Funny!