Does this product exist? Standalone countertop cutlery drawer

May 1, 2023 8:36 AM

The kitchen in my new apartment does not have any drawers. Does a standalone pull-out cutlery organizer exist? My search for countertop cutlery storage has yielded flip-top boxes and open caddy-type containers, but I would really like a low-profile drawer that either has a cutlery organizer built in, or is large enough to accommodate a small organizer like this one (12.75" x 9"). Please assume other options for storage (e.g. installing a drawer in a cabinet, storing the cutlery at the table) have already been investigated and discarded for various reasons. Thanks!
posted by btfreek to Home & Garden (16 answers total)

Maybe search for desktop drawers instead of kitchen drawers. Would something like this or this work?
posted by greta simone at 8:43 AM on May 1, 2023

Response by poster: I have been searching for desktop drawers, but it seems like most of them are sized for holding pens and other small items.. Happy to be proven wrong, though! The one you linked to is sized to accommodate letter-sized paper, which is slightly too small for my needs.
posted by btfreek at 8:46 AM on May 1, 2023

Response by poster: OH I just realized you probably mean desktop drawer + organizer that fits that drawer, instead of trying to cram a kitchen organizer in there. Could be a good option if I can find an organizer that doesn't have annoyingly small compartments. OK I'll stop threadsitting now!
posted by btfreek at 8:50 AM on May 1, 2023

Best answer: What about a coffee pod drawer? They are standalone and are divided inside at a size which should accommodate silverware. Examples.
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:51 AM on May 1, 2023 [2 favorites]

What about a rolling island with drawers (example)?
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:59 AM on May 1, 2023

I have an idea to hack this:

Ikea makes a bamboo cutting board on legs. A lot of people have been coming up with hacks for it because of the legs, including using it as a tiered tray and sliding a box underneath to make the very kind of thing you're looking for.

I have one, and I think the gap wouldn't be quite enough to slide a cutlery organizer in lengthwise....but WIDTHWISE you could do it, and you could probably get a second board to completely cover over the organizer. And then the top of the cutting board could be used for whatever you wish.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:18 AM on May 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

Sterilite makes both single countertop drawers and small multiple-drawer units that might fit the bill.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:25 AM on May 1, 2023

Another consideration that may open your options: I own this Joseph Joseph compact cutlery organizer and I LOVE IT. It fits my full set of flatware tidily and in less than half the space. I'll never go back.

Edit to add, I just took a pic because I feel so strongly about it. So many more drawer options will be available to you.
posted by phunniemee at 9:26 AM on May 1, 2023 [8 favorites]

I searched adjustable cutlery drawer insert. Countertop drawer gets less satisfying results. If you can find a tray that's a good size, you can put a cutting board on top, and use sliders underneath the tray to make it drawer.

Ikea sells lots of varieties of drawers for stuff, and they might be available to get separately, because people sometimes need replacements. Also, the traditional thing is a silverware chest.
posted by theora55 at 10:02 AM on May 1, 2023

An inherent problem with this idea is that metal cutlery is heavy, so a drawer full of it will tip forward when opened unless it’s mounted in a very heavy or fastenened-down enclosure. If the container needs to sit on a counter but not be attached to it, a box with some kind of lid is likely to work better.
posted by jon1270 at 10:40 AM on May 1, 2023 [2 favorites]

Searching for stackable storage drawer gets you better results. Things like these:
Amazon bamboo

amazon

plastic amazon white

Clear container store
posted by CleverClover at 10:47 AM on May 1, 2023

This one might be large enough to meet your needs (13.5 w x 11.5 d x 2.75 high)
posted by drlith at 5:54 PM on May 1, 2023

IRIS USA plastic drawer, 19.63"D x 15.75"W x 7"H, stackable, would take interior drop-in dividers
Creative Deco Large Wooden Chest of Drawers | 12.99 x 9.84 x 5.31 in stacks
Upper cabinet tilt down drawer, cutlery divider add-on; upper cab knife storage block
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:29 PM on May 1, 2023

Flatware storage
posted by Ideefixe at 6:49 PM on May 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks all. I hoofed it to an office supply store after work last night and found the perfect coffee pod holder for my purposes. It's a little cheap and plasticky feeling but inoffensive enough. No tipping issues since the drawer is low to the counter. Here it is (along with other victims of Drawerpocalypse 2023)
posted by btfreek at 10:28 AM on May 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

phunniemee, thanks for the link! Not the OP, but that's exactly what I've been looking for!
posted by xedrik at 11:02 AM on May 2, 2023 [1 favorite]