My Mise en Place is huge Mies in Mess

I tend to use about 15 regular things when making meals at home. Cook about two meals a day. Spices, butters, oils, flours,etc.

Anything handy that is helpful other than walking 3-5 feet and putting things back into cabinets everyday.

My spices are a real mess too in the cabinets.

Hang in there, Kenji! You're cooking every day. You're doing great! --Joy

Messes can be overlooked if you have sausage. I think Hemingway said that.

I like the cast iron. The small skillet looks a bit more exotic than Lodge. What is it?

I see you have tile, so it may be difficult, but here was my solution:

This doesn't seem that bad. A few things:

1. Spice blends. If you're making the same dish (or similar) that requires a lot of spices, make a spice blend and jar it for easy access/use.

2. Fridge some of the items? Seems like some of that stuff could stay in the fridge and not on the counter?

3. Clean up as you go. It makes the whole post-meal cleanup a lot more satisfying.

My eyes! My eyes!

clean as you go

keep spices in freezer, or at least away from the oven

I like your cookspace's enthusiasm

organization is key, or not

bw77 wrote:I like the cast iron. The small skillet looks a bit more exotic than Lodge. What is it?

the big one upside down is a Wagner 1088 think it has been with this house since 1954. The little one is a Wagner also I think I got it maybe 10 years ago new from Sears at Six Corners. I think.

Christopher Gordon wrote:My eyes! My eyes!

Heh. Thanks for the advice. I just can't work that way. the places I'm keeping stuff is too disjointed.

I've always like the Indian tray idea, like a hugeass metal container with trays or slots with no covers with the stuff I always use with a big cover over the whole thing.

If I had the space I'd be doing this:

Pie Lady wrote:Messes can be overlooked if you have sausage. I think Hemingway said that.

that's not just any encased ground meat, that's Ashland's kishka product. I love kishka in the morning. and a black skillet is the perfect cooking vessel if you only turn it once while cooking.

laikom wrote:I see you have tile, so it may be difficult

that's stainless steel, right? I like that, where did you get it from. Nice lip on it.

rtb178 wrote:3. Clean up as you go. It makes the whole post-meal cleanup a lot more satisfying.

My Mrs Kenji chides me all the time saying exactly the same thing. My brain just can't seem to click on that though. I know it's the same amount of time either way but somehow I don't roll that way. I wonder if it would be different if I was getting paid to make yummy food?

kenji wrote:

rtb178 wrote:3. Clean up as you go. It makes the whole post-meal cleanup a lot more satisfying.

My Mrs Kenji chides me all the time saying exactly the same thing. My brain just can't seem to click on that though. I know it's the same amount of time either way but somehow I don't roll that way. I wonder if it would be different if I was getting paid to make yummy food?

To me, it's more of a zen thing. Always be moving; no time or motion wasted. That said, I'm not a very 'social' cook, so maybe it's a little less zen than I think.

kenji wrote:

laikom wrote:I see you have tile, so it may be difficult

that's stainless steel, right? I like that, where did you get it from. Nice lip on it.

Oh hey, I missed this message! My wife told me recently that i never answered you but I didn't know you had asked.

It is stainless and very easy to wipe clean. I purchased it a long time ago, and I think it was somewhere like bed bath and beyond. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help. If you google stainless above range rack or shelf you get a few similar hits. Here's just one, not necessarily the best, just the first one i found on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Over-Range-ULTRAl ... B00WDH2X08

laikom wrote:

kenji wrote:

laikom wrote:I see you have tile, so it may be difficult

that's stainless steel, right? I like that, where did you get it from. Nice lip on it.

Oh hey, I missed this message! My wife told me recently that i never answered you but I didn't know you had asked.

It is stainless and very easy to wipe clean. I purchased it a long time ago, and I think it was somewhere like bed bath and beyond. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help. If you google stainless above range rack or shelf you get a few similar hits. Here's just one, not necessarily the best, just the first one i found on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Over-Range-ULTRAl ... B00WDH2X08

sorry laikom, but i can't support your suggestion to stash herbs and spices over the stove and oven. yes, your stainless shelf is terrific, but heat is the enemy of herbs/spices/oils. this is definitely not where they should go. they need a dark cupboard, preferably, and definitely as far away from the stove as possible.

True. As you see, there aren't many herbs up there, only ones I use and refill on an almost weekly basis. A few of the ones pictured aren't there permanently, only as I'm using them instead of cluttering the counter.

edited to correct phone typos, lol

laikom wrote:True. as you see, there are not many herbs up there, only ones I use and refill on an almost weekly basis. A few of the ones pictured aren't there permanently just as I'm using them instead of cluttering the counter.

i'm relieved to hear it, as i know you're a great/serious cook. i would have been surprised to see you storing herbs there long term.

If it makes you feel any better, I buy my herbs fresh and whole, mill the ones I feel I'll use soon, then I vacuum seal the remainder and keep them in the freezer (when i have space). Some herbs definitely last longer than others, and some I almost always buy fresh no matter what. Szechuan peppercorns are once example of something that really doesn't last long at all, and isn't used often in the house, so I'll buy that each time I make a recipe with it. Sure I do get careless, and when I feel like I've left a spice out above the stove too long I'll just toss it and mill fresh, no sense in trying to salvage $0.50 of a flavorless herb.

It looks to me like some kitchen countertop shelving unit could be helpful in this situation. Ideally something open in the back so you could reach through to plug things into the electrical outlet.