# Do you know where your kitchen utensils are? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502 "2019-08-30T22:26:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/1 "2019-08-30T22:26:15Z")
I’m wondering if I’m unusually OCD in knowing exactly where every one of my kitchen utensils is. I’m of the “place for everything and everything in its place” school of organization, especially where tools are involved, like the kitchen and the workshop. If you named any of my kitchen utensils or cookware, I’m confident that I could tell you exactly which drawer or shelf it is in, and in the majority of cases which part of the drawer or shelf, without even being in the kitchen. It seems to me that cooking would be quite tedious if I had to mount a search to find every utensil I need, rather than just reaching for it. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/2 "2019-08-30T22:31:30Z")
When I lived alone, sure, I knew where everything was. But now that there is a lady of the house, who does most of the cooking, she has reorganized things to her own liking. I know where the silverware is, and the martini glasses, but anything else I would have to hunt (or ask her). ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/3 "2019-08-30T22:43:58Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > When I lived alone, sure, I knew where everything was. But now that there is a lady of the house, who does most of the cooking, she has reorganized things to her own liking. I know where the silverware is, and the martini glasses, but anything else I would have to hunt (or ask her). This. For the first 16 years in this house, I could have found any of them, even though she does all the real cooking, and I do 90% of the cleaning, because I end up putting it all away. Last fall, we completely gutted and redid the kitchen, and everything has a new place. Just when I think I’ve gotten it all figured out, I find a new thing-it in the dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/4 "2019-08-30T22:49:47Z")
It’s like a mechanical mise en place. The things I use daily are in one drawer or next to the stove. The less often used things are in a different drawer. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/5 "2019-08-30T22:52:10Z")
The overflow utensils that don’t fit the regular drawers can be hard to find. Shrimp deveiners, odd attachments for the food processor, the crime brûlée torch etc ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/6 "2019-08-30T22:54:55Z")
When I was single, I knew exactly where each one was. Now that I have a wife and 2 kids who all cook and empty the dishwasher, not so much. I know most things will be in one of 3 drawers, and the flatware will always be in the drawer with the flatware tray, and the measuring cups will always be in the deepest drawer. But measuring spoons, the pizza cutter, the meat thermometer, the cheese grater? Those usually involve a brief rummage through up to 3 drawers. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/7 "2019-08-30T22:58:09Z")
I’m alittle anal about stuff being where it’s supposed to be. In theory. Too many hands in my kitchen. I try to keep it semi-organised. I can find pretty much what I need quick enough. I needed to use the blender once. Could not find the lid, anywhere. I opened every door and drawer. Fail. Went out and bought a new blender. I was in the junk drawer looking for a lknife to get the box open and right there in the middle was the blender lid. Gah! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/8 "2019-08-30T23:09:44Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > When I lived alone, sure, I knew where everything was. But now that there is a lady of the house, who does most of the cooking, she has reorganized things to her own liking. I know where the silverware is, and the martini glasses, but anything else I would have to hunt (or ask her). Hello, me. Nicely put. Are we going to get in trouble for having two accounts? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/9 "2019-08-30T23:19:47Z")
I know where they’re \* supposed\* to be. That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where they _are_, especially if my wife emptied the dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/10 "2019-08-30T23:27:37Z")
I suppose one could ask, how big is your kitchen? In my case, there is finite and memory-manageable amount of space and places to put things. I guess if one were living with a number of housemates who could do the cleaning and putting-away, items could get mis-layed. But in my case everyone is within a fairly narrow band of organizational ethics. So, yes, I know where my kitchen utensils are. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/11 "2019-08-30T23:40:51Z")
i know where every thing I own is…If I didn’t life would be Kayos. ymm ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/12 "2019-08-30T23:43:24Z")
When you have an itty-bitty kitchen with only 4 drawers and one caddy, it’s a lot harder to lose things. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/13 "2019-08-30T23:53:47Z")
I cook every day. If I couldn’t find the spatulas/right size wooden spoons/whisks/corkscrews/can openers, I would go insane. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/14 "2019-08-31T00:33:49Z")
3 white terra cotta canisters at the back of the sink under the pot rack to the left of the knife rack, hold everything but smalls like the little whisk, strawberry stemmer etc. I like a kitchen where I can grab quick. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/15 "2019-08-31T00:51:54Z")
My daughter gave me a mortar and pestle for Christmas a few years back. I know exactly where the mortar is, but damned if I can find the pestle. I wanted to use it last January when I was making _Sauerbraten_, but it had just vanished! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/16 "2019-08-31T01:16:03Z")
I cook all the dinners, I have a good memory, and it’s not a big kitchen ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/17 "2019-08-31T02:30:28Z")
In the tetanus drawer. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/18 "2019-08-31T15:35:21Z")
I know which drawer reach utensil is in. Occasionally, finding a particular utensil \*within \* the drawer may be a bit of a challenge, though… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/19 "2019-08-31T18:28:14Z")
Which drawer, but not where in the drawer. The bigger ones are easy, the damn cheese slicer always gets under stuff. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502/20 "2019-08-31T22:06:34Z")
I picked the second option, but sometimes I have to search because my daughter and SIL are occasionally random in where they put things away. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-your-kitchen-utensils-are/839502.md?page=2)