The Best Utensil Holders

Buying Guide for Utensil Holders

Why buy a utensil holder?

Utensil holders are designed to hold common kitchen utensils such as whisks, tongs, spatulas, wooden spoons, and other similar items. A utensil holder not only saves you drawer space, but allows you to keep your essential kitchen tools right on hand and within arm’s reach. This saves you the time and trouble of digging around in the drawer until you find the utensil you’re looking for. you can easily find them and grab them to stir your scrambled eggs or sauteed onions before they burn. Plus, they will allow you to keep your kitchen drawers as well as your kitchen countertop better organized.

Besides these very functional purposes that utensil holders serve in your home, they double as kitchen decor as well. Whether your kitchen is sleek and modern or rustic and homey, there are utensil holders designed to match your kitchen’s aesthetic. Or, if you prefer, you can match it to your utensils and buy one made of the same material, like stainless steel, wood, or silicone.

What should you look for in a utensil holder?

• Material: Kitchen utensil holders can be made of several different materials. Ceramic, marble, wood, silicone, and stainless steel are the most common choices. Stainless steel has a nice, sleek look, is easy to clean, and is durable. Ceramic’s heavy weight makes it great for heavy utensils, and ceramic holders come in many different colors. It may or may not be dishwasher safe, depending on the brand. Wood is both aesthetically pleasing and sturdy and will look great paired with kitchen tools of almost any kind. Silicone is also durable, can withstand hot and cold temperatures, and is usually dishwasher safe. Marble is nice and heavy, so it almost certainly won’t ever tip over on you, even if your utensils are heavy, and it will make your kitchen look more elegant.
• Design: For such a simple tool, there is actually quite a bit of variation in designs for your kitchen utensil holder. Most will be round or cylindrical in shape, but there are square models as well. Oval is considered the best for holding your utensils upright, while your might prefer a more elliptical shape if you have limited countertop space. The holder itself can be solid or have an open latticed style. Inner storage compartments or removable inserts can be handy to keep your kitchen tools from sliding around and tangling together and to distribute their weight evenly across the holder to prevent it from tipping over. Some are rotating canisters that allow you to spin the holder and make it easier to find the right tool. Others have nonslip bases that keep the utensil holder in place and prevent accidental scratches to your countertop.
• Size: You’ll want to consider the height, weight, and overall size of a kitchen utensil holder before you buy it. It should be large enough to fit all of your kitchen tools and still have room to prevent overcrowding. Too tight, and the utensils will get stuck together and make them hard to remove or insert individually. You’ll also want to make sure the holder is tall enough to keep your utensils from falling out over the side but not so tall that they fall down into the holder beyond reach. A model with a wider, heavier base is ideal for preventing the holder from tipping over. The heavier the holder itself, the less chance it has of becoming unbalanced or outweighed by the tools inside and falling over.

What type of utensil holder should you purchase?

This depends on the aesthetics of your kitchen and home. If you’re looking for a decorative piece, you might want to go with a wooden or latticed design, depending on the vibe of your home. If your preferences are more utilitarian, a stainless steel option would work well for you.

Our Picks for the Best Utensil Holders

Pros: This durable and affordable wooden utensil holder will complement a variety of different kitchen decors, styles, and countertops. Made entirely of sturdy, sustainable, double-layered bamboo, this model is fine-grained with an attractive light brown color. The smooth bamboo will be gentle and anti-scratch on your utensils and other kitchenware. The wooden design ensures that it’ll match more rustic and pastoral kitchens, while the square shape and wavy edges will suit more contemporary looks as well. At 6 inches tall, it can be used to hold various utensils and implements, while the 4-inch by 4-inch base ensures that this utensil holder will take up minimal room on your countertop. It weighs only 1 pound so that it can easily be carried to a different part of the kitchen or into another room if needed. And it’s easy to clean and care for; simply dampen a soft cloth with a nontoxic, non-abrasive cleaner, give it a quick wipe down, and pat it dry with a soft, dry cloth.

Cons: This utensil holder’s packaging includes a California Proposition 65 warning, alerting users to a harmful chemical identified as a carcinogen in California. Pregnant women and mindful consumers might want to take a second look before purchasing. Plus, it might not be the sturdiest option.

Bottom Line: You can’t beat this reliable product, especially for the price! It fits most kitchens’ needs and is easy to clean. Many shoppers will be happy with this lovely bamboo utensil holder in their homes.

 

Pros: This compact and sturdy caddy is nonetheless large enough to contain all your kitchen utensils, from spatulas to ladles to can openers and more. It smoothly rotates a full 360 degrees at no more than the touch of a finger, allowing you to conveniently access a tool you need at a given moment. The plastic and foam base will keep the utensil holder firmly in place so that it won’t slip or wobble, whether it’s resting on the countertop or rotating. The stainless steel body provides a sleek, modern look that’s completely shatterproof. The divider sections inside the caddy create three different compartments to let you organize your utensils to your liking. The divider can be removed at will to fit more tools or for easy cleaning.

Cons: This product is not dishwasher safe. Luckily, it’s easy to clean with a quick wipe down.

Bottom Line: This modern holder fits your 21st-century demands by rotating and dividing utensils as you please!

 

Pros: Made of rust-resistant steel, this decorative wire utensil holder provides convenient access to spatulas, spoons, and whisks. The open design allows users to put away utensils while they’re still wet without worrying about rust or mold. With a 6-inch by-6-inch base, the holder is spacious but fits in most kitchens or pantries.

Cons: This utensil holder is bigger than you might expect, so make sure you have enough kitchen tools to fill the space and enough counter space to keep it on. It should hold an estimated 8-10 large wooden spoons for reference.

Bottom Line: This spacious utensil holder is another choice that looks good in many kitchens. You’ll save time with this model since you won’t have to wait for utensils to dry before putting them away.

 

Pros: If you prefer an open, latticed utensil holder to a more typical solid, closed one, this is the model for you. It’s available in four different latticed metal design options in three different color schemes, so you can pick whichever style best fits your kitchen and combines style and functionality in one product. All four styles have a wide mouth that makes it easier to remove and insert whichever utensil you need, and the small holes along the bottom drain away excess water after your kitchen tools have been recently washed. The steel base is sturdy and level to ensure the utensil holder will rest evenly on your countertop while also being strong enough to support the weight of all your kitchen tools, flatware, and cutlery. The base is also designed to distribute your utensils’ weight evenly throughout to help prevent it from becoming overloaded on one side and tipping over. To clean and prevent dirt buildup, simply wipe down this utensil holder with a damp cloth, and then dry it with a clean towel.

Cons: The construction perhaps isn’t the best, as some people found that it didn’t rest level on the countertop.

Bottom Line: This beautiful utensil holder comes with several style options and provides great countertop access to kitchen tools. If you’re a fan of the lattice look, this holder is for you.

 

Pros: If you want a utensil holder that is stovetop safe, consider this pair of silicone utensil holders. The food-grade silicone material is sturdy, flexible, and dishwasher safe, which makes it easy to clean and resistant to shattering, breaking, and cracking. They’re also easy to rinse or wipe clean if you don’t own a dishwasher. Since the silicone is resistant to heat and cold, it’s stovetop safe, so you can use it to rest wooden spoons and other utensils on it while cooking or in between uses. The unique, low, square design is a great way to keep utensils from dripping all over your kitchen countertop, and the raised edges prevent spills. Each holder can grip four tools at once and support just about any type of utensil, from tongs to ladles to spatulas and more. You can use both utensil holders at once or swap them in and out for each other when one is dirty. Choose between black, gray, or red utensil holders to best complement your kitchen decor.

Cons: If you’re looking for daily storage for many utensils, this product isn’t for you. The holder can grip up to four utensils at once, and some larger tools won’t fit. This product would best work in addition to another organizational method.

Bottom Line: While this silicone tool is easy to clean and convenient, it won’t work as a primary utensil holder. If you’re just looking for something extra, it’s the ideal tool to help out during meal prep!

Final Thoughts

A kitchen is made complete without a utensil holder, so you may as well have a quality one! As long as you keep cleaning considerations, kitchen aesthetics, and size in mind, you’ll be on your way to choosing a utensil holder that gives the right finishing touch to your kitchen.