How to Pack Your Kitchen in 10 Easy Steps

Kitchens are an integral part of everyone’s home and your kitchen is no different too. So when it comes to moving your house, you want to make sure you pack your kitchen items properly and with care so you can continue your awesome cooking and delicious meals in your new home, without any hassles.

Chances are that most of the utensils and appliances you use for cooking those great meals that makes your family smile happily during dinner are tucked away in different cabinets, drawers and cupboards in your kitchen. So when you are moving your home, it’s no surprise that you’ll want to make sure all your kitchen utensils are packed and moved appropriately. But kitchen items are often one of the toughest to pack because of the several small items in different drawers, cupboards and cabinets.

Some of these kitchen utensils can damage easily if they are not packed the right way. Considering the cost of moving your entire household items, you shouldn’t be bothered about spending an extra cost on your kitchen utensils after arriving at your new home.

So today I’ll try and give you a step-by-step guide to make it easier for you to pack all your kitchen items the right way and be able to get cooking right away in your new home.

Packing Your Kitchen In 10 Easy Steps

Step 1: Get organized

Before you start packing your moving boxes, it’s important to have a plan. Assess your kitchen items, and make a list of all the things you intend to move. Leave out things you don’t intend to move from your list.

Check each cabinet, cupboard, drawers, and carefully select things you want to move. Consider donating things you don’t need to schools, hospitals, local community etc. or hold a garage sale.

Step 2: Get your packing supply

If you own a family-sized kitchen, you will need the following packing supply for your move:

5 Large Boxes (18 x 18 x 24): this moving box size can be used for packing lightweight and items that are difficult to pack like baking tins, small appliances, plastic kitchenware and dish racks.

10 Medium Boxes (18 x 18 x 16): this box size is suitable for packing heavier items like silverware, pots and pans, cook books, contents of drawers, and pantry items.

Heavy Duty Boxes (18 x 18 x 28): you should consider having up to 5 heavy duty boxes. Heavy duty boxes have thick double walls suitable for packing fragile and delicate items like wine and canisters, glasses, stemware, and plates.

Unprinted news wrap: you can purchase a 4-5 lbs bundle of unprinted news wrap. Use the unprinted news wrap to pack delicate and fragile items such as small appliances and food items.

Bubble wraps: you will need a reasonable amount of bubble wraps to prevent fragile items from tarnishing or shattering while in transit.

Cell Kits (18 x 18): you may get about five to ten cell kits. Cell kits are absolutely useful for packing wine and liquor bottles, glasses and stemware. Also, cell kits may be used to pack canisters, vases and figurines. But it’s important to check the sizes of your cell kits to make sure they are the appropriate sizes of the boxes you have.

Sealing/Packing tape: purchase sealing and packing tape from a moving supply store. You will need the tape to secure many things so buy in bulk.

Label/markers: you need to label all your boxes to indicate the items they contain. Some boxes should be labeled “fragile” and the side to be up should be indicated as “this side up.”

Step 3: Pack an essential box   

Your essential box should contain useful items you will need in the last few nights before your move, and the first few days at your new destination. Items in the essential box should include food

items, appliances (coffee toaster/maker), dishes, cutlery, cleaner, and soap, dishtowel, dish cloth and toiletries.

Step 4: Pack pans and pots

Before you pack pans and pots, take at least one pan or pot and pack it in your essential box. All other pans and pots should be packed appropriately in a box. Do not forget to label the box as “Pans & Pots”.

Step 5: Pack rarely used items

Start packing your kitchen items by packing items you rarely use. Check your drawers, cupboards, and cabinets and carefully select items you use less frequently. Some of such items may include the following:

• Pie pans, cookie sheets
• Wall hangings and pictures
• Cookbooks
• Special-event dishes like cream and sugar containers, serving plates, condiment dishes etc.
• Food storage containers
• Extra dish cloths, dish towel and oven mitts
• Crystal, vases
• Special-event utensils like meat mallets, ladles and spatulas and barbecue tongs
• Mixing bowls
• Wine glasses
• Small appliances like blenders, mixers etc.

Step 6: Pack items in shelves and drawers  

Start by packing items in the nastiest drawers and avoid packing things you no longer need. If you haven’t used any items for about a year, it’s probably not worth packing. Pack items in the cutlery drawer; ensure you pack one set per family member.  Keep the cutlery set in your essential box.

If you intend to pack your cookbooks, pack the books flat inside a box to avoid bending the spine. The less frequently used books should be placed at the bottom of the box while the frequently used ones should be placed at the top.

Step 7: Pack wine, liquor and any other bottled item

Before you pack your wine, liquor or any other bottled item, select the ones you may need any time before or during the move. Pack all other bottled items and food in sealed glass bottles.

Bottled food items such as fine vinegars, cooking oils, and specialty oils should be packed if needed. Nonetheless, you may consider not packing items whose weights are not worth the cost of the move.

Step 8: Pack the pantry

Before you move any pantry item, consider its weight and make sure it’s worth the cost of the move. Start by packing spices then gradually pack larger items. Most canned foods aren’t worth

moving, except you intend to move yourself. Opened food packages should be taped and get rid of perishables except you’re making a very short distance move.

Step 9: Pack appliances if you can

Before you pack any of your large kitchen appliances, see the user manual if there are instructions on how to pack them.  If you can’t pack any of the appliances, let the moving company handle it or ask them to recommend a third party, or find an expert by yourself.

Step 10: Pack dishes

All dishes must be packed appropriately to prevent damage while loading, in transit, during unloading and unpacking. Put together the cell boxes for stemware and glasses. Also, carefully pack plates and bowls carefully, place the heavier ones at the bottom and the lighter ones at the top.

Make sure you label all your boxes on all sides. This will make it easier for you to unpack and find any item when you arrive at your new home. Now that you know how to pack your kitchen the right way, see how you can pack your dining room easily.