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If you dream of having the ultimate kitchen organisation – and let’s face it, who doesn't? – then a trusty cutlery storage tray is one of the most vital components in the fight to keep your drawers tidy. They'll separate your silverware and large utensils, making them easier to find. Plus, if bought to fit, they should not only help keep the space orderly but clean too.
While the humble cutlery drawer insert may seem a simple purchase, there are some small factors to consider that will ensure you get the ideal one for your kitchen. In this article, we’ll quickly cover these before going on to show you our favourite wooden bamboo, plastic and expandable trays, all ready to order from Amazon and John Lewis.
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Table of Contents
With specifics differing from kitchen to kitchen and family to family, so too do the various cutlery tray options available. To ensure that your drawers are organised how you like, this buying guide will touch on the pertinent considerations – dimensions, sections, materials and expandability.
It’ll be no surprise to anybody that a cutlery tray that's too big or too small will be of no use. Therefore, measuring the space within your drawers is essential.
One feature that people often forget is to measure the height, as this can cause the cutlery to get stuck – which soon becomes extremely frustrating. Most cutlery trays are between 4 and 5 cm high, meaning they will work best with a drawer that's at least 8 cm deep.
Of course, getting the partition to fit lengthways and widthways is also important. Otherwise, you’ll have it rattling around in there with more space for debris and other bits of junk to clutter up around the sides. Some options give you the chance of expanding to fit the drawer snugly, but more on that later.
Next, you’ll want to consider what you aim to store and how many sections you’d like for that. Some people may prefer to dedicate the space to silverware and keep their utensils hanging up or on the counter, while others may want to store a bit of everything in there.
Thankfully, companies provide a range of choices from as little as three sections to as many as 12! The majority offer around four or five, which give you space for full-sized silverware, smaller cutlery like teaspoons, and then a section for utensils.
If you’re planning on storing a lot of utensils, it might also be worth considering the size of the compartments as well. Sadly, brands don’t provide the dimensions for these, but they are easy to recognise as large, medium or small, so it’s worth taking this information into account.
When it comes to the material of the cutlery trays, there are two clear front runners – plastic and bamboo. Plastic is slightly more popular, though, because the material is easy to keep clean, sturdy enough for the drawer and not susceptible to growing mould or mildew (as long as you put the cutlery back clean and dry).
However, in recent times, more people are opting for wooden bamboo trays. This is generally because it's a much more eco-friendly choice. Therefore, if you want to do your part for the world, this is a great option. That said, it is more susceptible to mould, so you need to be sure that your cutlery is dry before returning it to the tray.
Finally, you might want to keep an eye out for trays with expanding qualities. The first thing to understand, however, is that this doesn’t mean that the tray expands to fit more in – that isn't how it's been designed. Instead, this expansion is so that the tray will fit perfectly within the drawer.
This is a simple mechanism that usually works by pulling the width to elongate it. Therefore, if your trouble comes from the object being too small lengthways, then sadly, this isn’t going to help. Having this extra mechanism also means that there is something more likely to break, so you’ll want to be careful when using it to ensure that doesn’t happen.
We think it's fair to say that Joseph Joseph changed the cutlery tray game with this option. You see, instead of laying your silverware down flat, each piece is angled, with the other compartments then layered on top of one another. The result? You can get much more in even a smaller cutlery drawer.
With this style, you could save plenty of space to fit more utensils or buy a couple of the trays and have more than your fair share of silverware. It's innovative, space-saving, stylish and affordable, and what's not to like about that?
Here, we have another attractive bamboo option. If you're creating a natural-looking living space, then there's no doubt that you'll prefer organic finishes throughout your home – and this cutlery tray from Relaxdays offers just that. However, it's far more than just its appearance.
The tray design is expandable, meaning that it will securely fit into almost any drawer, and there are a good amount of sections at seven in total. These sections are split into two large and five small, so there should be a space for every utensil and piece of cutlery you own.
If you're looking for something classic that isn't necessarily a style statement but will do exactly what it says on the tin, then look no further than the WHAM Kitchen Cutlery Organiser. The beauty in this design is that it's as simple and affordable as they come.
You will find that the sections are all of a decent size and capable of fitting large, chunky cutlery and utensils. Additionally, the plastic is said to be durable and robust, meaning you'll not be needing to replace it any time soon.
Joseph Joseph is one of the nation's favourite brands when it comes to all things kitchen related. So, it's no surprise they've stepped up and made a cracking cutlery tray. This has the most sections of any in our ranking, so if you've got loads of different utensils and silverware, this could be right up your street.
Not only is the tray practical, but it's also a modernist dream, full of gentle curves and subtle but well-considered colours. It's not cheap compared to some, but you get a lot of cutlery space for your money so we think it does balance itself out.
The Addis Premium Cutlery Organiser has an ideal six sections to separate your cutlery, utensils and other kitchen equipment. The tray itself is made from plastic, but the inside is fitted with a rubber lining to stop things from moving around. Not only that, but the lining also adds a pop of colour, which some may find appealing.
If the green is a little too much for you, then there is also a grey-lined option, so that shouldn't hold you back if you like the sound of the tray. Our favourite part, though? Despite being from a dependable brand, it's an absolute steal.
This MadeSmart expandable tray combines contemporary aesthetics with top-of-the-line functionality, making it ideal for those growing homes. It has a total of eight sections, with two large, one medium and four smaller options. The small parts still look like they could fit your regular silverware comfortably, though.
Furthermore, within each partition, you'll find the brand's soft-grip lining that stops the contents from sliding around, and underneath there are rubber feet to ensure it stays put. Again, it's one of the pricier options, but there is a lot to like about it.
What's interesting about this offering from KitchenCraft is that it looks very different from the other bamboo options, even though it is still made from bamboo fibres. With this one, you get the best of both worlds – the Scandanavian, minimalist-inspired aesthetic, and the planet-friendly aspect.
Moreover, there are an average amount of sections with several different sizes, so you've got space for all sorts of cutlery. Our only concern is that the sections aren't quite as partitioned off as others, so you could get bits mixed up pretty easily.
This offering from Mass Dynamic is made from premium bamboo, making it eco-friendly, durable and stylish too. Furthermore, the tray is expandable, giving you that little bit more flexibility in terms of it fitting within your drawer.
There are seven sections in total, two large and five medium-sized options. However, a different configuration of three large and four medium is available if you would prefer. As we mentioned earlier, the sliding mechanism can be a little fragile, so you'll want to be careful of this.
Getting the ball rolling is a tray that is a little bit different to the rest. This is, in fact, more of a utensil tray, but if you're short on counter space or you just like to store your kitchen tools in a drawer, this could well be your perfect match.
As you can see, all the sections are large and wide, meaning you'll be able to fit everything from mashers and fish slices to chopsticks should you wish. Sure, it's not quite the cutlery tray everyone is looking for, but you have to admit it's a clever option.
Feeling inspired to banish the clutter and organise your kitchen once and for all? We've got lots more helpful tips, tricks and recommendations below to maximise your available space and make storing, prepping and cooking that little bit easier.
So there you have it – our quick-fire guide to finding the perfect cutlery tray. We hope that the information in the buying guide helped illuminate some of the subtleties that separate the options, and fingers crossed there's something that tickles your fancy in the ranking. Here's to kitchen organisation!
Author: Lewis Clark
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The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications