You probably use your kitchen counter as a catch-all for odds and ends. But there are some things you might not want to keep there.
10 Things You Shouldn’t Store on Your Kitchen Counter
Updated on Jan. 16, 2025
1
/
10
Appliances You Rarely Use
Your kitchen counter may seem like the obvious place to keep toasters, blenders, mixers and other appliances—they’re kitchen tools, after all. But if you only use them every once in a while, there is no sense in having them take up space on your countertops.
A good rule of thumb is: If you don’t use it every day (or every time you cook), it shouldn’t be taking up space on your counter. And if you’re not sure where to put these things instead, these kitchen storage solutions will help.
2
/
10
Papers
It’s a lot easier to toss day-to-day papers onto your counter than to read through and sort all of them. Whether it’s magazines, newspapers, junk mail or not-so-junky mail like bills, papers can accumulate fast.
A messy look isn’t the only reason to keep papers out of your cooking space. If papers, especially magazines, get wet while sitting on your countertop, “the ink can easily get transferred onto your countertop’s surface,” cautions Stephanie Cooper of Energy Cleaning. “After that, it is a nightmare to clean.”
3
/
10
Serveware
As with appliances, there’s no need for fancy china and dinnerware that you only use on holidays to sit on your counter. “From a cleaner’s point of view, it is a nightmare to properly wipe each thing every week,” Cooper says. “From a health perspective, it is not advisable to keep dusty objects near the place you prepare your food or eat.”
Instead, consider storing them in a glass-front cabinet or, if you’re feeling particularly decorative, hanging them on a wall. The same goes for trinkets and other non-functional items; especially if they’re small, there are probably plenty of places you can store them that won’t take away from your cooking space.
4
/
10
Canisters
We won’t fault you for wanting to keep the often quite decorative canisters containing your sugar, flour and other such ingredients in plain view on your counter. But you can’t deny that they are sometimes bulky and take up a good deal of room.
This one’s really a matter of personal preference, but it’s still pretty convenient to keep them in an upper cabinet or in your pantry.
5
/
10
Spices
It may come as a surprise, but your counter isn’t the best place to keep your spice collection. In particular, make sure you’re not storing spices near your oven or stovetop, where accumulated heat can weaken flavors over time. Stephanie Bostic, PhD, a registered dietician and food safety expert, explains that “light and heat from sunlight or cooking surfaces, can degrade the flavors faster than if you store them in a cool, dark place.”
6
/
10
Knives
Fancy knife blocks do look nice, and as such, you may want to keep them in a prominent spot. Just be aware that it’s not the safest place to store your knives, especially if you have young children in the house. Bostic recommends keeping your sharp knives in a drawer with a lock to keep them out of sight (and reach) of little ones.
Safety aside, you may just rather not have a large knife block taking up lots of room on your counter, especially if you don’t regularly use most of those knives. By the way, here are ways you’re abusing your knives without even knowing it.
7
/
10
Olive Oil
Here’s another food that you’ve probably been storing on your counter and inadvertently lessening its quality. Just like spices, olive oil can go bad more quickly if it’s stored in direct light and heat. The same is true for other types of oil as well; they will keep better in a cool, dark place. “Inside a cabinet or pantry works well for most oils,” Bostic suggests.
8
/
10
Junk Food
The more visible and accessible your guilty-pleasure snacks are, the more likely you are to grab them. Keeping desserts and snacks in less convenient, less accessible places will allow you to be less tempted by them. The same goes for anyone else in your household, too (looking at you, kiddos).
On top of that, baked goods and candy can leave stickiness and crumbs on your counter, which, well, isn’t the best, most sanitary kitchen aesthetic. Check out these cleaning tips from the professionals.
9
/
10
Cleaning Products
Put simply, food and chemical-packed cleaning products don’t mix. You don’t want to risk spilling any of these inedible substances onto your food or the areas where you prep it. Even more kitchen-friendly products, like dish soap and disinfectant, should be stored in a closet or a cabinet, especially once they’re open. This way, they’ll have a much lower chance of spilling into your kitchen prep space.
10
/
10
Electronics
With the popularity of home devices that can be helpful while cooking, like Alexa, it’s tempting to keep them handy on your kitchen counter. But considering the amount of water-pouring, dishwashing and accidental spillage that happens during meal preparation, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Keep your phones, laptops and smart speakers off your counter and out of range of any potential water damage. Now that you know what not to keep on your counter, find out how to fix more of the common kitchen mistakes almost everyone makes.
Originally Published on Reader's Digest
