Kitchen Needs

Open the cupboard under your worktop. Now close it again, quickly, before something falls out.

Small kitchens have a storage problem, and a bigger cupboard is rarely the fix. Kit that squashes down when you’re not using it is. So here are three sets that nest or stack away neatly, and still do a proper job when they come out.

1. Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus

Nine pieces that live as one. Two mixing bowls, a colander, a sieve and five measuring cups all slot into each other, and the whole stack measures 14.5cm high and 28.5cm across. That’s one shelf, or one corner of a shelf.

You get a 4.5L bowl, a 0.5L bowl, a 3L colander and a 1.65L sieve with a stainless steel mesh. The big bowl has a non-slip base so it stays put while you whisk. The smaller bowls have measurements marked inside and a spout for pouring.

Good to know: it’s dishwasher safe but not microwave safe, so you’ll want a separate bowl for reheating.

2. Tefal Ingenio Preference On, 4-piece set

The clever bit here is the handle. It clicks off, which means the pans stack flat inside each other instead of sticking out at awkward angles and taking over the cupboard.

This set has three stainless steel saucepans (16, 18 and 20cm) and one removable handle, and it works on induction hobs. Tefal say the Ingenio range can save up to 50% of your storage space, which is a big claim, but it’s easy to see where the saving comes from once the handles are off.

Good to know: there’s one handle in the box, so it moves from pan to pan. If you often have two pans on the hob at once, a spare handle is worth having. Check the Amazon listing for what’s covered by the current bundle.

3. Joseph Joseph Nest Lock, 5-piece

Leftovers, packed lunches and the half an onion nobody wants to think about. Five containers, from 230ml up to 3L, each with its own lid. The lids snap together and the bases have colour-coding, so you can find the right lid without playing a game of matching socks.

Stacked, the set is 24.5cm high, 16.3cm wide and 20cm deep. They go in the freezer, and in the microwave with the lid off for reheating. In the dishwasher, keep them on the top rack.

Good to know: Joseph Joseph warn that oily, sugary or strongly coloured foods like tomato sauce can stain or wear the plastic if you overheat them.

Where to start

If your cupboards are full of bowls and pans that don’t go together, start with the Tefal pans. If baking and pasta nights are your thing, the Nest 9 Plus does the most in the least space. And if the fridge is where the clutter really lives, the Nest Lock set is the tidy one.

We haven’t cooked with these ourselves. Everything above comes from the makers’ own details and the Amazon listings, so check the current listing for sizes and what’s in the box before you buy. The pictures are illustrations of each type of product, so the real thing will look a little different.

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