10 Best Pot and Pan Organizers in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)

Before buying a pot and pan organizer, there are a few points you should take into consideration, such as size and style. To help you with this, we’ve put together this handy buying guide!

Before buying an organizer, check how many pots and pans you have. Getting that count can give you an idea of what kind of organizer you'll need in order to be able to store them all. Make sure to take your lids into account, although there are dedicated lid organizers if you want to store them separately from your pots and pans. 

Aside from tallying up your cookware, you should also consider what types of pots and pans you own. An organizer with side-by-side hooks or small racks works perfectly for shallow pans. However, if you have a lot of deep pans and pots, an organizer with shelves or wider racks may serve you better. Of course, an organizer with a variety of storing options is best for pots and pans of different shapes and sizes.

Once you have an idea of the number and types of pots and pans you need to store, it will be easier to decide on the style of organizer that fits your needs best.

Freestanding organizers usually take the form of racks and tiers. They give you easy access to your pots and pans but can take up large amounts of space. They usually consist of wire racks, made from materials such as stainless steel, so they are typically strong and durable.

If you opt for this style, make sure the racks are high enough for your pots and pans to fit and that they’re sturdy enough to carry the weight. Some freestanding organizers may have the option to be screwed down, especially those designed for cupboard interiors, to make them more secure.

Typically, freestanding organizers can carry every type of pot or pan, as well as any lids or accessories you may want to store with them, but it's worth looking for ones that have adjustable tiers. With those, you can set your own heights and ensure that every pot fits, no matter how small or large. 

To make the most of a deep cabinet or drawer, we often place pots and pans behind each other. Even if you put the most commonly used ones at the front, there will be times you’ll need to move them to get to those at the back. Instead of emptying half of your cupboard, you can look for organizers that can be pulled out.

Think of a pull-out organizer as placing a drawer in a cupboard; when you need something, you pull it out, and when finished, it glides back in. These organizers are perfect if you don't want to see them out in the open, and they are great for storing lids as well. 

Some of these organizers will need to be affixed to your cupboards, whereas others can be placed without the need for any screws. It’s important that the organizer slide is smooth and not jerky, and you should look for slides that have a full extension. They may not be able to hold the largest pots, but it will depend on your space.

If you don’t have any counter, cupboard, or drawer space, then consider making use of your walls instead. There are many options for securely hanging your pots and pans on your wall, but make sure you check the manufacturer's guidelines and weight limits before you buy.

Pegboards are highly flexible, as you can choose exactly where you want to place your hooks. However, make sure your pots and pans have holes in their handles to hang them!

Fixed shelves provide an open space for storage, and can be made from stainless steel, glass, MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or wood. They may even come with a row of hooks to hang items from. Regardless of whether you choose pegboards or shelves, make sure you can firmly affix them to the wall to avoid accidents and damage to your kitchen.

One final option worth considering is a rack that hangs from your ceiling. These ceiling racks come in many different sizes and are flexible in their placement, as they can be hung anywhere that won’t interfere with light fittings.

They usually consist of a flat surface with hooks around it, from which pots and pans can be easily affixed. The flat surface can also be used for storage or as a place for decorations. Of course, you'll want to check the rack's weight limit to ensure it can hold everything you want, and as with any fixture, make sure it's securely installed before use.

You should also consider how high your ceiling is and how low the rack will hang. You'll want to be able to easily take down any pots or pans, but you don’t want them hanging so low that they're a danger in the kitchen, which is a reason why ceiling racks are commonly hung over islands and tables.

When thinking about how to store your pots and pans, it can be easy to forget many of them come with lids which need to be stored too. With flat shelving or tiers, lids can simply be placed on top of the pot they belong to, but if you’re hanging your pots, then storing lids becomes something to consider.

Fortunately, there are organizers specifically designed for storing lids. There are racks that allow you to stand lids up like they are plates, and there are even options that make use of the insides of your cupboard doors.

Other organizers for pots and pans may also come with space reserved for lids. Wire baskets can have a combination of large and small compartments, and wall shelving can include brackets or pockets to secure the lids.

The weight of pots and pans really adds up quickly when they're stored together in one place. As such, you'll want to consider the weight of your collection and select an appropriate organizer. Ones made out of sturdier material like metal or wood can support more weight than organizers made out of a material like plastic, which may bend or break under pressure.

For some organizers, such as those that lie horizontally, weight isn't as much of a concern, but for organizers that stand vertically or are mounted to walls and ceilings, weight limits become very important and should be checked before purchase.

Many wall and ceiling mounts have high limits, with 70 pounds being the typical limit, and will usually be able to hold all of your pots and pans. Correct installation is key to getting the most out of these racks. Make sure you follow the instructions and only install organizers in suitable places.

Features that are good to look out for include having versatile placement, non-slip grips, and parts you can adjust. Should you want to move or rearrange your organizer, having one that works both horizontally and vertically allows for more placement options.

Adjustable parts keep an organizer future-proof. Common examples include dividers and moveable hooks you can slide or move around to better fit bigger or smaller pots and pans. Not only do they give you the ability to store a wider variety of items, but they can be tailored to fit whatever pot or pan you might find yourself buying in the future.

You may also find that organizers with non-slip feet, which make it so your organizer doesn't slide around when placing or removing items. Some organizers even come with silicone pads on their dividers and racks to keep pots in place even when tilted, and prevent scratches.

Here are our 10 best choices for pot and pan organizers. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast. For more on our selection process, check out our editorial policy. Prices were gathered from respective EC sites on July 8, 2022.

It's not just pots and pans that need to be sorted when you're trying to organize your kitchen! We have some more recommendations for products that will help tidy your kitchen.

If you still want to check out what other organizers are out there, or if you want to get an idea of what other people are choosing, check out Amazon's best selling list of pot racks.

Author: Kellie Lacey

Updated by: Rui, 7/8/2022

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