Tray for cutlery drawer

Organizing the workspace in the kitchen is not only increased comfort and ease of use, but also safety. It is for this reason that it is necessary to think through every little detail, the same applies to the question of when choosing a tray for cutlery, which is most often displayed in the furniture in the kitchen.

This article will cover the basic designs of organizers, drying means used in trays, and cutlery fittings. The data can be used when thinking about the best way to store cutlery in the kitchen.

Features of cutlery trays in a kitchen drawer

A tray for spoons and forks is increasingly included in the standard furniture set. But when it is not there, you have to solve this issue yourself. Otherwise, drying and storing cutlery is very inconvenient.

Today, there are 3 most common options for the placement of this retractable structure:

• Upper horizontal layout. In this case, the tray is located directly under the drawer tabletop in the upper pull-out drawer. Most often, it is made quite small in height (flat) - only a drawer with spoons and forks, as well as some other household appliances, fits in it. Thus, this layout does not take up useful free space.
• Lower horizontal – in this case, the pull-out drawer, including the storage structure, is located approximately at a height of 0.3-1 m from the floor. The main disadvantage is that if there are small children in the family, they can easily reach this drawer and take out dangerous devices.
• Vertical pull-out pencil case – here you can arrange a variety of tools in several rows. This insert looks quite original on the external facade of kitchen cabinets.

In today's furniture, especially if it is represented by a fairly large kitchen set, there are several drawers. This allows you to comfortably arrange everything you need, sorting it out as necessary. So, meat knives, mixer whisks, cake spoons and other rarely used tools can be stored separately (in a separate section). While those that are used daily can be placed in a separate compartment.

By its form:

• straight;
• angular;
• carousel.

Cutlery Insert Materials

These products can be made of wood, various types of plastics or stainless steel. Each material has its own distinctive features and prerogatives in use.

For example, a wooden tray may be susceptible to moisture if items are placed there while wet.

When choosing plastic as a material, it is necessary to purchase only high-quality products, since such a tray itself can emit harmful components. To avoid this drawback, it is enough to pay attention to accessories from trusted brands that do not allow themselves to use low-quality plastic.

Metal organizers are susceptible to moisture just like wooden ones, so you should dry the accessories before storing them.

Plastic inserts

Most often, plastic inserts are used in pull-out cabinets. This is due to the fact that such a dryer is not exposed to moisture and does not let it out (if the design is made without holes). In this case, there is no negative impact on the material from which the pull-out element of the furniture is made.

For ease of use, it is necessary that 1 product includes 6-8 compartments of different shapes and sizes:

• a separate, fairly large compartment for storing spoons and forks;
• a separate container for knives and other cutting and piercing items;
• a separate, short section in which dessert items, as well as tea and coffee spoons, are stored;
• another compartment or stand in which it is convenient to store larger items, such as ladles, potato mashers, etc.;
• It is very convenient to have a container for storing small mixers and other hand-held kitchen appliances.

Wooden trays

Wooden trays have simpler shapes. But they look very attractive. Especially if the kitchen cabinet fronts themselves are also made of this natural material.

High-quality wood products are impregnated with special compounds that prevent swelling from moisture. Naturally, this option is the most expensive.

Metal trays

Stainless steel is used as the metal. This is the best option for those housewives who have absolutely no time to dry the dishes before sending them to the storage system.

What is a sliding cutlery tray

The sliding device of the tray is a container with an upper closing part in which holes are made for ventilation.

Can only be used if the dishes are pre-dried. Otherwise, mold will develop.

How to trim a tray

If the tray does not fit into the pull-out drawer of the kitchen furniture, then you will have to cut it. The method of cutting depends on the material. But it is best to use a special hacksaw for metal, wood or plastic. This will give you the smoothest edge possible without nicks.

It is important to take into account that in order to maintain the external attractiveness, you should cut off the far edge of the container, which will be located in the depth of the box.

What are the dimensions of the spoon and fork drawer?

Although the compartments and stands are all different, the main dimensions still fluctuate within certain ranges:

• Width from 0.3 to 0.9 m.
• Height from 20 to 30 cm.
• Depth from 0.4 to 0.6 m.

Cutlery Drawer Options

To install a storage system for cutlery, the following drawer design options are used:

• Retractable ones are the most common and easy to use.
• Corner ones, which have a curved design that allows you to make maximum use of all the space with benefit.
• The carousel system allows you to use remote areas of furniture, for example, those located in a corner, with maximum rationality. The sliding door pulls out a set of drawers and storage systems that allow you to place everything you need. And to do this as safely as possible, from the point of view of access for children.

Hidden drawer for spoons and forks

The hidden structure is like two boxes that are placed one inside the other. But each of them moves along its own guide. Thus, when opening the main box, the internal insert is visible. If you move it deep, the entrance to the lower part of the box becomes accessible.

This part is most often used to store either dangerous cutting and piercing items, or items that are used quite rarely.

Double drawer for cutlery

This design is two compartments when pulled out, one above the other. This is convenient only if there is regular cooking in the kitchen with a lot of cutlery.

Other cutlery fittings

In addition to the tray for storing spoons, forks, knives and other cutlery, there is a whole range of different accessories. They are designed not only to organize the space in the kitchen, but also to make the housewife's work easier.

Spoon and fork container in a drawer

If the furniture you buy does not have a built-in compartment with dividers for convenient storage of cutlery, you will have to buy it yourself.

There are a variety of containers and organizers from different brands that will help you “get everything in its place.”

A wide range of products allows you to choose these accessories based on your needs. These can be the simplest dividers-limiters, as well as quite complex systems that include numerous compartments for tools of various sizes.

Such containers are made from the same materials – that is, wood, plastic, metal.

An interesting feature exists in some wooden structures. In order to organize safe storage of knives, a tray is made, part of which is made in the form of a solid depression. And the second part is a solid block of wood, in which narrow cuts are made. This is done specifically so that the knife blade fits into this cut, while the handle folds into the main container.

Tray for cutlery in a drawer

There are other options for substrates. These are simpler designs and therefore cheaper in price.

There are options for silicone mats that have limiters along the edges. It is convenient to place spoons or forks on them.

But it is worth considering that the durability of such a substrate is significantly inferior in comparison with a stationary tray made of more durable materials.

Organizer

Organizers are fairly large trays, which by their design provide for storing everything necessary in the kitchen. Their internal division is organized in the most convenient way, taking into account the ergonomic needs of a person. When purchasing such a product, the hostess will no longer have questions such as:

• Where to store forks and spoons, and sort them by caliber.
• How to safely arrange knives in a storage system so as not to accidentally cut yourself on them.
• Where to put ladles, potato mashers and other related kitchen utensils.
• Where is it convenient to place the salt and pepper shakers so as not to break them by accident.
• Often, such organizers provide space for everything at once. There are compartments where you can store jars of spices.
• There are even boxes for napkins and towels.

It is worth noting that such organizers take up quite a lot of space in the interior cabinets. Most often, they are made in the form of several elements, each of which is inserted into its own separate compartment. But as a result, this gives an excellent effect - everything in the kitchen becomes orderly. There are no scattered kitchen utensils and utensils.

Features of the cutlery dryer in the drawer

A cutlery dryer is needed when the storage system does not provide for placing wet spoons, forks, etc. in its compartments.

The dryer can have several design options:

Metal frames on legs. There are compartments not only for plates, pots and saucers, but also special elements, which are most often made in the form of a cylinder, for drying spoons, forks, knives and other cutlery. Such a design is placed next to the sink. To prevent water from flowing onto the countertop, the design of the dryer includes a special tray. All the moisture flowing from the dishes is collected in it.

There are also dryers that are built into the cabinet. Most often, they can be found in vertical pull-out cabinets. When the front (door) of such a compartment rolls out along the rails, a metal structure made in the form of a wire grid is pulled out behind it. The distance between the two wires is provided in such a way that it is convenient to insert plates, pots, spoons, knives, forks, ladles, etc. for storage and drying. Moreover, the shape of the bend is made in such a way that it is possible to lay out all the necessary kitchen utensils with comfort and convenience, without breaking them.

Each type of dryer has its own pros and cons.

For example, a free-standing dryer placed on the work surface, although it may not look aesthetically pleasing enough, and besides, it takes up free space on the countertop, still has its advantages. These include quick drying of dishes, since wet items are provided with constant access to running air. It is also worth noting that it is quite convenient to put everything you need in such a dryer. After all, it is located directly next to the sink. Therefore, the housewife only needs to make a slight movement of her hand and place the dishes or cutlery on the dryer.

While pull-out drying systems create greater aesthetics in the kitchen. Since there is nothing unnecessary in sight. But with all this, it is not very convenient to put dishes in such a drawer. After all, even if it is located in close proximity to the sink, you have to bend over to it every time to put something there. In addition, it is important to consider that even if moisture collects in the lower tray, it simply has nowhere else to go. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically ventilate such a cabinet so that mold and mildew do not form there.

Best Manufacturers of Drawer Inserts for Spoons, Forks, and Knives

Naturally, in order for such a storage system to serve as long as possible and please its owners, it is necessary to choose products from proven manufacturers. These include Blum, Tandembox, Orgaline, Movento. These are manufacturers who value their name, so their products are high-quality, convenient and serve for a long time.

VIDEO: How to make a cutlery tray with your own hands.

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