Whats on YOUR kitchen counter??

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp

A question for those who use glass jars or canning jars as canisters...do you find that they are air tight enough? I have plastic (i.e. ugly) canisters for things like rice, brown sugar, baking flours, etc, that I keep hidden in the pantry because they are not pretty. The glass jars are so pretty on the counter, but do they keep things fresh in your opinion?

Yes. Mine are cheap Ikea ones but the metal lids have a built-in fresh-seal so it keeps them fairly suctioned and air-tight. I haven't had any problems. Plus, the things I have in my jars aren't for show, they get used quickly (I refilled my white rice one just 10 minutes ago) so there isn't time to get stale or go bad.

[Beauchamp]

Thanks! Of course, now that I know this, it may tempt me to put *more* stuff out on my counters, which I do *not* need!

[vm9799]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp

A question for those who use glass jars or canning jars as canisters...do you find that they are air tight enough? I have plastic (i.e. ugly) canisters for things like rice, brown sugar, baking flours, etc, that I keep hidden in the pantry because they are not pretty. The glass jars are so pretty on the counter, but do they keep things fresh in your opinion?

i use glass jars as well (they weren't in any of the photos i posted as we just changed that area a bit with the purchase of a new fridge, but i have 2 stainless steel shelves filled with them here) and have never had any issues at all with things going bad or anything. like SAHDS stated, the items are in constant use so there's probably not enough time for them to go bad. i just prefer the jars as they are less messy then dealing with the bags, etc.

[nolansmummy]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp

A question for those who use glass jars or canning jars as canisters...do you find that they are air tight enough? I have plastic (i.e. ugly) canisters for things like rice, brown sugar, baking flours, etc, that I keep hidden in the pantry because they are not pretty. The glass jars are so pretty on the counter, but do they keep things fresh in your opinion?

We use our stuff before it could go stale, and i like that they are right there during baking. One thing i changed was, i moved brown sugar to a tighter sealed container up in my cupboard- it was getting too hard, before i could use it and it was annoying me.

[panamama]

we had that problem with brown sugar too. my mom gave me a disc like this and it works wonders!

on my kitchen counter:

-knife block
-oil drizzler
-vinegar drizzler
-big basket of fruit & veggies
-microwave
-candle

i think that's it. i'd love to have a shelf and an over-the-range microwave so my counters could be almost completely empty!

[Knittin' in the Shade]

my kitchen couters right now have:

stuff that is always on the counter:
senseo coffee maker
toaster oven
my "brain files" inbox (a wiceker basket that has a file folder for each member of my family, along with my household binder)
cordless phone
bowl with fruit (currently, it's grapes)
knife block

stuff that is ont he counter today that should not be there (and will be removed by whichever family member owns it, before bed tonight):
two baseball hats (kids')
a baseball uniform shirt (dh's)
newspaper (dh's)
cooking light magazine + everyday foods magazine (mine)
empty milk jug, empty cereal box (to go out to recycling, but it's raining and I don't feel like it)

[soccermama]

I have:

paper towel holder
take out menu holder
one tall canister
napkin holder
phone

microwave, coffee maker, toaster oven are on a buffet type table and spices, steak knives and cooking utensils are on a shelf above the stove.

[PoetryMom]

I have a lot of counter space so...

To the left of the stove: Spice rack, Bread of Life (daily readings a neighbor gave DS when he was 2 (he's now 21), cool ceramic bowl that my chemistry teacher made and holds my garlic, a cute little salt box.

To the right of the stove: Spoon rest, knife block, sugar and creamer bowls, coffee maker, hand made ceramic teapot, paper towels (on a dispenser), sippy cups that need to be hand washed (because I will need them before I run the dishwasher again).

To the right of the sink: Dish rack with drying dishes ( I just washed them), bottle rack with drying sippy cups (just came out of the dishwasher), four canisters.

The island: My husband's dinner (still at work), a bowl of fruit, a vase with paper flowers DD1 made for me, a dish with "little things" that need homes, two Easter baskets the DDs are still working on, DH's part of today's mail.

[columbusmomma]

I try to minimalize stuff on my counters, esp. b/c the kitchen is pretty small and counterspace isn't that great! To the left of my sink I have a basket I keep fruit in and my knife set. To the right I have another type of basket for fruits and veggies. I also have a decorative box that has the wine opener,bottle opener, etc in it.
By the stove to the right I have the toaster(although I should put that away)and the coffee pot,to the left of the stove I have a small lamp with a beaded shade and a large glass jar with all my cooking utensils.
That's it: but then again I don't have much space! I'm lucky that right outside my kitchen door in the area leading out to the deck I have lots of storage space,shelves with doors. So out there I can hide everything, tupperware and glass storage/canning jars, all my vases, all my cooking stuff like the kitchenaid,waffle maker,blender, etc.
I like simple,non-cluttered counters!! Of course I'm always in the process of decluttering and simplifying more
That means I've put away spices,decorative knicknacks,most appliances,etc.

[Kim Allen]

I would post pictures but that would be totally embarrasing. lol Im spring cleaning today but this is what was on them before I started. In all Fairness.
Microwave,
dish drain full of dishes,
a few dirty dishes waiting to make it to the sink,
Dish soap
Dr. Bronners
plant that I intend to move to a better spot
DS "pumpkin plant" hes growing.
husbands junk from his pockets when he comes home from work
bread box
Ds bubble blowing machine.
can opener
mixer
soapnuts? (what are they doing in here anyways?lol)
ya its cluttered. Not for long because I have big plans today!

[Bunnyflakes]

Toaster oven, crock that holds a ton of utensils and the drying rack for the dishes. That takes the entire counter, sadly

[Neuromancer]

Re: Hard brown sugar

I throw half a slice of bread in with the brown sugar. This keeps it soft for a really long time. The bread doesn't get moldy, but once it's super-hard I replace it.

[laohaire]

Oh, gosh. We're slowly decluttering our house but the kitchen counter is still a mess.

- Vitamix
- Juicer (which I rarely use and just haven't managed to put away anywhere)
- Pasta maker (ditto juicer)
- 9 tray Excalibur dehydrator (another ditto, but I don't expect to put that thing away, it will just stay there)
- Coffee maker, despite the fact that DH quit coffee months ago
- Hot water dispenser
- Toaster (rarely used)
- Some books, including my binder with recipes
- Some toys... yup, toys
- A big hurricane candle holder, that MIL gave to us, which I rarely use and can't fit in any cupboard because it's too big (I think that's gonna go bye-bye at some point)
- A small jar of local honey

It could be worse... I recently found a home for my somewhat large crock pot. I also have a narrow cupboard that I put spices into, so they aren't on the counter. I don't use sugar and flour goes into another cupboard (I just keep it in the bag).

[hottmama]

Right now, too much. Haven't straightened up today.
Usually, though:
-bowl of fruit
-espresso machine (with coffee stashed behind it)
-knife block
-ceramic pitcher with kitchen utensils
-cookbooks
-drying rack

[PenelopeJune]

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...ysroom1676.jpg

Here's mine. This is actually how it looks now, except there is also a tablecloth on the table and a jar of irises in the center.

So:
knifeblock
Coffeepot
utensils in holder
spice rack/spinny thing
Salt and pepper shakers and cutting board

[Paxjourney]

Phone

Two mason jars with the kids' names on them, we throw our spare change into them and then once filled count them with the kids and put it in their savings account. We mostly use cash so this adds up.

Toaster oven

Basket with bread in it

dish drainer

coffee pot, that we only use when MIL comes over... I think she has purchased every coffee pot I've ever owned. I just like tea. Need to find someplace in the storage area for this.

Sugar, Tea, Flour in jars

Basket with cloth napkins

Basket with fresh fruit

candle that I like to burn while in the kitchen.

[frontierpsych]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/counter1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../countner2.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/counter3.jpg

[sadean]

My kitchen counters are a mess. I have three counters, two small and one slightly larger. On them are:

Small left:
Microwave, cookbooks, basket of empty spice bottles and misc. crap. I have about a 12 x 24 inch space to work on.

Stove

Larger counter:
Toaster/oven, blender, food processor, marble cutting board (1/2 covered by the appliances), dirty dishes

Double Sink, with one with a an in-sink dish drainer

Small right:
dish drainer
bowl w/garlic, ginger, bananas, plastic bag container

I also have a rolling rack, which has the bread machine, a junk basket and misc. debri (keys, etc.)

[Danidama]

right now:

Flowers from mothers day (on top of the fridge atm actually)
Box of tissues
Coffee maker
Basket of coffee stuff and cloths
1" Buddha figure
Gigantic Sigg bottle
Kettle on stove
Hand soap
Dish soap
Sponge
Basket of fruit
iPhone charger cable dealy

[425lisamarie]

I have a pretty big kitchen and it's hard to keep it un cluttered. On the large penninsula i have an Espresso maker, kitchen aide and a huge board. A dish rack next to the sink above the dishwasher. to the right is the stove area with a huge knife block, toaster, oil dispensers salt/pepper and a food processor which gets put away often. to the right of the stove is a small counter with my vitamix which i use several times a day and to the right of that the fridge. I cannot put too much away because i'm just using it all the time and always in the kitchen making something. When we moved in here I took my old stove which is a double oven and cooktop (like the regular slide in kind just a double oven with gas top) but the microwave was a different color. I keep meaning to replace it but it's like one of those things that works it just doesn't match. I'm going to get a space saver microwave and a better quality ventilation system for above the stove. Maybe I'll take pictures later. I also tend to catch clutter on the bar because I'm just always running in and out of the kitchen and setting something down.