I understand OK. You desire some fresh fruit readily accessible yet your kitchen could use a shoebox worth of counter space. I was there–making a mess of balancing a bowl of apples over the top of my coffee machine, and missing bananas which always fall down to be bruised.
Having improperly stored fruit in many a cramped kitchen year, I have found the key to maximum fruit performance when faced with limited real estate. These are seven genius ideas on how to store and display your produce that will change the way you store items even in the smallest areas.
Wall-Mounted Wire Baskets: Your Vertical Fruit Paradise
Who told you to keep the fruit storage hogging your counter top? Wire baskets on the walls already are something extraordinary in the small kitchen. Three years ago I now have three of these babies on my kitchen wall and in all honestly it is as though I had an entirely new counter.
Wire baskets are beautiful because of their high level of airflow. Your fruits live longer, why? Because they breathe better, so we all know how quickly bananas to perfection to mush :/
And here are the reasons they are genius: • There is multiple basket design which enables you to sort the fruits in pairs according to the ripeness of fruit • The visibility of fruits is easy unlike before there were lost fruits after installation was done • It is simple to set up with the use of normal wall anchors • The design is attractive with the industrial look that can actually complement your kitchen rather than spoil it
My tip: put them up at various heights. I also keep my grab and go fruits (apples, pears) at eye level with much slower ripening citrus stored above.
Tiered Hanging Fruit Baskets: Triple the Storage, Same Footprint
Those beautiful tiered hanging baskets are really decorative but do they even work? As of a spoiler alert, of course they do. I was sceptical initially- sounded like I would just keep it out of the way in dust.
Boy, was I wrong.
Three tier hanging baskets offer you triple the storage of fruit using no counter space. It depends on where you put it, mine is tied on a ceiling hook over my breakfast bar, and has become the central feature of my kitchen.
What I love most about this setup:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Gravity-fed rotation | Fruits naturally move as you take from bottom |
| Different sized tiers | Perfect for various fruit sizes |
It has a natural rotation system so your oldest fruits are within reach and younger ones are piled on the top. It is like a fruit vending machine which actually makes sense!
Under-Cabinet Fruit Hammocks: Genius or Gimmick?
Now wait! hear this out. Fruit hammocks under a cabinet are hectic to say the least, until you use them. I purchased one as a novelty present to myself (yup I am that dude) and it has turned out to be one of the smartest gadget purchases I have made in my kitchen.
These elastic netting shelving hooks under your shelves and support your fruits in their own mini-produce hammocks. The soft cushioning does not cause bruising and all this is easily reached.
Why they are the bee?s knees: • No counter space needed • Air circulates freely around all sides • Ideal on round fruits such as oranges, apples and stone fruits • Surprisingly durable ā v notably, mine can take about 3-4 pounds comfortably
FYI those do not do well with bananas (bendy) and extremely soft fruits, but normal apples/citrus? Pure genius.
Rolling Cart Solutions: Mobile Fruit Command Center
There are times you want your fruit storage as supple as you are. In comes the rolling cart solution which essentially, is a travelling fruit command center that can take you wherever you want it.
I purchased a small rolling three-shelf cart that cost me roughly thirty dollars, and it has completely changed the way I did work in my kitchen. Get-the-day-started-smoothie? Next to the blender roll it. Cooking on Sunday? Put it next to the cutting board.
Multi level storage is available so that you can organize by fruit type: • Top shelf: ready to eat fruits • Middle shelf: got a few more days left • Bottom shelf: backup storage, back up containers
The skinny profile (my is only 6″ wide) fits neatly in that odd space between my fridge and counter. When I need the space it fits away in the pantry closet.
Magnetic Fruit Holders: Because Physics is Cool
Here is where you get a bit of sci-fi. Refrigerator magnetic fruit holders are stuck on to your refrigerator and individual fruits rest upon them in perfect suspension. Sounds crazy? Maybe. Is it my e-mail? Absolutely.
This powerful magnetic basis with flexible slice can hold astonishingly huge spoon. I use mine to juice my daily apple and whatever citrus I am using at the time of week. The adjustable petition frees me to modify the set up depending on what I have actually stored.
Super use of magnetic holders: • Convenient; grab-and-go grab single servings • Daily use fruit you eat everyday put front and center • Pretty decor that also has a utilitarian purpose • Kids at their eye level; access on lower shelves of the fridge
I think they are suitable to individuals who consume fruits regularly and cannot wait until they are available.
Stackable Produce Drawers: Organization Meets Functionality
Produce drawers that stack on top of each other may seem like an organizational fetish but, boy do I have a story to tell you they are literally magic in a small kitchen. These vinyl clear plastic drawers slide out separately, and are stacked vertically. These are the drawers that are used to house the files in binding machines.
What makes them brilliant for small spaces:
This modular design works such that you can begin with what you want and as you increase your consumption of fruits you can increase the size of your modular. I began with two drawers and now possess 4- drawers each with specific types of produce.
Benefits of individual drawer: • Contained ripening prevents overripened fruit from spoiling others • Quick and easy clean up when that inevitable fruit spoils • Crystal clear visibility so nothing gets left behind • Stacked up efficiency maximizes vertical room use
The pull-out design allows you to have complete access to what is within unlike in the traditional basketball baskets where items are buried under at the bottom.
Corner Carousel Systems: Spin Your Way to Fruit Paradise
Small kitchens have their equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle corner spaces; hard to use and frustratingly poorly utilized. The corner carousel fruit systems is what does the trick changing dead storage zones to storage gold mines.
These multi level turning platforms fit well in corner areas and turn 360 degrees to have full access. Installed a two tier in one corner of my kitchen and it is very useful and takes up a very small amount of floor space and can hold a lot of fruit.
Being able to rotate access would also entail ending the need to dig through fruit to get what you want. All this remains in sight and within reach by just spinning.
Design benefits: • The design of a Lazy Susan puts everything in reach • Multiple tiering of uses different types of fruit apart • It utilizes corners that would usually be wasted space • It has a stable bottom to avoid tipping when full of products
The rotation is very smooth and can almost be described as fun to retrieve your fruit. Almost.
Making Your Choice: What Works Best for Your Space?
So, of all these solutions, here is truthfully what I think is the best system, and it all comes down to your particular kitchen setup and what your eating habits are.
Are you habitually picking fruit out of the fridge? Central baskets attached to the wall will allow immediate access to the contents of the fridge or magnets will conveniently hold the fruit. In a family that buys items in bulk quantities, a hanging system with tiers or corner carousel gives you the space you require.
Damage-free options such as rolling carts or under-cabinet hammocks would be the recommendation since space-strained renters would be tempted to favor them. Stackable drawers have a nice systematic way, which organization buffs will appreciate.
The magic is seen when you mix solutions. My everyday fruit I use baskets mounted on the wall, extra supplies I keep in a rolling cart and my morning apple in magnetic holders. I feel as though I have a perfectly produced fruit symphony in my little kitchen.
The fact that your kitchen is small does not mean that you have to compromise on fresh storage and access of fruits. Choose the option that talks to you and your space and lifestyleand your future self will appreciate it any time you grab that perfectly stored, perfectly ripened piece of fruit 🙂
As a reminder, the most effective fruit storage device will be the system that you will probably use on a regular basis. Choose one solution, test it out and replicate based on how successful it is in your routine. Your small kitchen needs a lot of improvement: now it will be much less cramped and — even more delicious.