Drawer inserts

Drawer inserts for cutlery, knives, spices, and foil

The intended use is the first filter through which you filter your selection, because only then does it make sense to compare dimensions. The cutlery insert has fixed dividers and keeps forks, spoons, and knives separate, so nothing shifts in a drawer that opens dozens of times a day. The knife holder separates the blades so they don't lie loose with the rest of the cutlery. The spice holder collects jars in one place instead of spreading them across the cabinet. The foil and baking paper holder holds rolls that always tend to get misaligned in a regular drawer. There are separate containers without separate compartments, which replace the mat at the bottom of the drawer, and you remove them for cleaning along with their contents. The category has no subcategories, so you choose in two steps: first, purpose, then size. The rest of the drawer and countertop accessories are in the kitchen accessories section.

How to measure a drawer and choose a drawer insert

You need three dimensions. You measure them all from the inside, with the drawer empty. The first is the width between the side walls, the second is the distance from the front wall to the back wall, and the third is the wall height, because the container can't protrude beyond the edge if a countertop or another drawer slides over it. Leave a few millimeters of slack on each side, as the runner and drawer sides are rarely perfectly parallel. Compare the measured values with the numbers in the product name, not with the photo: the depths come in three values: 473, 523, and 623 mm, while the widths start at 148 mm and reach 725 mm. Depth is the dimension that most often determines a return, because a seemingly spacious drawer can be shorter than it looks due to the back wall of the cabinet.

Cutlery insert for drawers 60 and 80: what does this number mean?

Cutlery insert names return to the designation of the built-in module: 400, 500, 600, or 800 mm. This number describes the width of the cabinet, while the drawer itself is narrower. Therefore, some items have a second dimension next to it, 75 mm smaller, and this is what you compare it to with the measured drawer. Subtraction doesn't work everywhere: some names immediately provide the outline of the container, while others specify the depth twice, once as the length of the drawer body, and once as the actual space left inside. When the name contains two numbers, and neither is a module designation, both are read directly as the container's dimensions. If the cabinet is sixty centimeters wide, you're looking for the 600 mm module designation, but order after checking the outline, because the runners and side thicknesses take several centimeters off this width.

Drawer inserts in kitchen cabinets

In the kitchen, drawer inserts are divided into four sections, each with its own group of containers. The top, shallow drawer next to the sink takes the cutlery insert, because you use it most often and nothing should slide around in it. Knives have separate containers, so the blades don't touch the rest of the tableware. Spices and foil get their own inserts, because both get lost in the general-purpose drawer. In a deep drawer under the countertop, several smaller containers work better than one large one, because then you can rearrange them depending on what you have on hand. If you want to remove some items from the drawers onto the wall, a separate solution is kitchen hangers mounted above the countertop.

Wooden drawer inserts and colors for light fronts

You see the color of the drawer every time you open it, so you match it to the interior of the furniture, not the front. Wooden drawer inserts complement light, matte cabinetry because the warm grain softens the cool look of the board; You'll find cutlery containers in this form here. Drawer inserts in white and two shades of gray are unobtrusive and fit under any shade of built-in cabinetry. White shows crumbs more quickly than dark gray, but it's immediately obvious when the container needs cleaning. If you're also changing your fronts, you can choose the handle color in the Furniture Handles section.

How to Clean Drawer Inserts

Remove the drawer insert from the drawer and wash it separately. This leaves the bottom of the furniture dry. The plastic can withstand warm water and dish soap, but scouring powders dull the surface and leave scratches where grease can collect. Wipe the wooden insert with a damp cloth and dry it immediately, as prolonged contact with water raises the fibers. Before inserting the container back in, wipe the bottom of the drawer dry to prevent moisture from remaining underneath.