Every Mexican kitchen has the drawer: tongs for turning tortillas, a couple of wooden cucharas stained orange from salsa, a lime squeezer, a can opener for chipotles in adobo, a molinillo nobody can find and a dozen forks on top of it all. A good drawer organizer does not make that drawer bigger. It gives each tool a place, so you open the drawer and reach for the right thing without digging.
This guide covers nine organizers for different jobs: expandable trays for cooking tools, bamboo cutlery trays, a tiered tray for narrow drawers, a sliding tray for deep drawers, adjustable dividers and an in-drawer knife block. We used the makers’ specifications as stated on each Amazon listing and PureWow’s guide to drawer organizers. Where a listing does not give a size, a material or a fit, we say so.
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Quick verdict: which drawer organizer to buy
For most kitchens, buy the OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Utensil Organizer. It stretches from 15.5 to 22 inches, its five compartments take long cooking tools as well as spoons, and its dividers adjust. For a narrow drawer, the Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Expanding Organizer stacks cutlery in tiers. If you want wood, the Pipishell Expandable Bamboo Organizer was PureWow’s top kitchen pick. For deep drawers, SpaceAid Bamboo Drawer Dividers, and for knives, the Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Bamboo Knife Organizer.
If your tools are still a mixed handful, start with our guide to the best kitchen utensil sets, then organize what you keep.
Five drawer organizers compared
Our five standout picks, one for each kind of drawer, with the material and size each listing states. All nine organizers are reviewed in full below.
| Organizer | Best for | Material | Size (as stated) | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A full drawer of cooking tools | Plastic | Expands 15.5 to 22 in; 5 compartments | View on Amazon | |
Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Expanding Organizer, BambooBest space saver
|
Cutlery and tools in one drawer | Bamboo | 13.2 to 22 in wide; needs 3.25 in height | View on Amazon |
Pipishell Expandable Bamboo Organizer, LargeBest bamboo
|
A wood tray for cutlery and tools | Bamboo | 13 to 19.6 in wide; 6 to 8 compartments | View on Amazon |
SpaceAid Bamboo Drawer Dividers, 4 with 9 InsertsBest for deep drawers
|
Presses, lids and bulky tools | Bamboo, rubber end pads | 17 to 22 in long; 2.35 in tall | View on Amazon |
Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Bamboo Knife OrganizerBest for knives
|
Knives kept off the counter | Bamboo | 12+ knives, blades to 9 in; needs 3.3 in height | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Sizes, materials and drawer-height requirements are as each listing states them; measure your drawer before you buy.
Our picks for the best drawer organizer
These nine organizers cover the main kinds of drawer: the cooking-tool drawer by the stove, the cutlery drawer, a narrow drawer, a deep drawer and a knife drawer. Each pick explains who it suits and gives one honest reason to skip it.
1. OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Utensil Organizer – Room for Long Cooking Tools
The drawer next to the stove holds the awkward things: tongs, a spatula for flipping quesadillas, a ladle for pozole, a potato masher for frijoles. OXO’s large expandable organizer is built for that drawer. It has five compartments, and OXO says it is designed so two sets of utensils can be stored in each one, stacked, so they stay in place when the drawer opens and closes.
The tray expands from 15 1/2 to 22 inches, according to the listing, so it can fill the width of most kitchen drawers instead of leaving a gap where tools slide around. The dividers adjust to fit utensils of different shapes and sizes, and the listing describes the organizer as non-slip. PureWow named an OXO Good Grips expandable organizer its best expandable pick, and its food editor said that after switching to one, “the difference is night and day.”
The listing does not give the height of the tray or say how to clean it. It is plastic, which is easy to wipe down after a splash of salsa or oil reaches the drawer.
Why we like it
- Expands from 15.5 to 22 inches, per the listing
- Five compartments with adjustable dividers
- Designed to hold two sets of tools per compartment
- PureWow’s best expandable pick (an OXO expandable tray)
Key specifications
| Organizer | Large expandable utensil organizer (model 13153400) |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic (type not stated) |
| Size/expandable | Expands 15.5 to 22 in wide |
| Compartments | 5, adjustable dividers |
| Non-slip | Yes (listing) |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Cooking tools by the stove |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want one tray that fills a standard kitchen drawer and holds spatulas, tongs, ladles and whisks without them tangling.
Skip it if you want a wood look; this is a plain white plastic tray.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wide expansion range
- Adjustable dividers
- Takes long, bulky tools
Cons
- Height not given in the listing
- Plastic only
- No care instructions listed
2. Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Expanding Organizer, Bamboo – Tiered Cutlery in Half the Room
Joseph Joseph’s DrawerStore organizer uses what the maker calls a split-level design: forks, knives and spoons sit in tight tiered rows in the middle, while the side sections slide out to hold larger tools such as spatulas, whisks and tongs. Joseph Joseph says the tiered compartments hold a full set of cutlery in half the room of a basic flat tray.
The listing gives the tray as 15.8 inches long, 12.6 inches wide and 2.7 inches high, expanding smoothly from 13.2 to 22 inches wide, with non-slip feet. It fits cutlery up to 8.5 inches long and needs a drawer at least 3.25 inches tall, so measure the inside height of the drawer, not the front. Joseph Joseph also warns not to overfill it, since that affects how the tiers work.
That makes it a good fit for a kitchen with only one useful drawer, where the table cutlery and the serving spoons for a pot of arroz have to share. PureWow chose a Joseph Joseph organizer as its best small-drawer pick.
Why we like it
- Tiered rows save width, per Joseph Joseph
- Expands from 13.2 to 22 inches
- Side sections for tongs and whisks
- Non-slip feet
Key specifications
| Organizer | DrawerStore expanding organizer (model 851696) |
|---|---|
| Material | Bamboo |
| Size/expandable | 15.8 x 12.6 x 2.7 in; expands 13.2 to 22 in wide |
| Compartments | Tiered cutlery rows plus expanding side sections |
| Non-slip | Non-slip feet |
| Drawer height needed | At least 3.25 in |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Cutlery and tools sharing one drawer |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you have a small kitchen and need cutlery and everyday cooking tools to live in the same drawer.
Skip it if your drawers are shallow; it needs 3.25 inches of clearance.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact tiered design
- Wide expansion range
- Bamboo finish
Cons
- Needs a deeper drawer
- Maker warns against overfilling
- Cutlery limited to 8.5 inches
3. Pipishell Expandable Bamboo Organizer, Large – A Wood Tray That Grows
PureWow chose a Pipishell bamboo organizer as its best kitchen drawer organizer, saying the design “checks all of our boxes” and is “both sleek and functional.” This large version expands from 13 to 19.6 inches wide, according to the listing, and has six to eight compartments depending on how far it is pulled out.
The fixed compartments in the center take forks, spoons and table knives; the side sections that slide out are wider and suit serving spoons, a wooden cuchara or a small whisk. Pipishell says the compartments keep cutlery from shifting and tangling.
Care is simple: wipe it with warm water or a damp cloth. Pipishell also recommends letting the tray air out in a well-ventilated place for 72 hours before first use, which suggests a new-wood smell out of the box. The listing does not mention non-slip feet or give a height.
Why we like it
- PureWow’s best kitchen drawer organizer
- Expands from 13 to 19.6 inches wide
- Six to eight compartments
- Wipe-clean bamboo, per Pipishell
Key specifications
| Organizer | Expandable bamboo tray, large (model PIBCT) |
|---|---|
| Material | Bamboo |
| Size/expandable | Expands 13 to 19.6 in wide |
| Compartments | 6 to 8 |
| Non-slip | Not stated |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated |
| Care | Wipe with warm water or a damp cloth; air out 72 hours before first use |
| Best for | Cutlery plus serving spoons |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want a warm wood tray for the cutlery drawer that stretches to fill the space.
Skip it if your drawer is wider than about 20 inches; it stops at 19.6.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Independent pick from PureWow
- Expandable
- Easy care
Cons
- Needs airing before first use
- No non-slip feet mentioned
- Height not stated
4. Royal Craft Wood Bamboo Organizer, 9 Slot – Deep Slots for Big Utensils
Royal Craft Wood’s bamboo organizer is a little longer and has deeper walls than most cutlery trays. The listing gives it as 17 by 13 inches closed, expanding to 17 by 19.6 inches, with slots 1.9 inches deep. Pulled apart, it has nine main compartments; closed, seven.
The maker describes the walls as deep enough for large utensils such as spatulas, serving spoons and ladles, as well as cutlery, so this is a tray that can handle both. In a Mexican kitchen that means the long wooden spoon for stirring mole, the slotted spoon for lifting beans out of the pot and the table forks, each in its own row.
The listing does not mention non-slip feet or give care instructions. Like any bamboo tray, it is best wiped clean rather than soaked.
Why we like it
- 1.9-inch deep slots, per the listing
- 17 inches long, longer than many trays
- Seven to nine compartments
- Expands to 19.6 inches wide
Key specifications
| Organizer | Luxury bamboo drawer organizer, 9 slot |
|---|---|
| Material | Bamboo |
| Size/expandable | 17 x 13 in, expands to 17 x 19.6 in |
| Compartments | 7 to 9 |
| Non-slip | Not stated |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated (slots 1.9 in deep) |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Long serving spoons and ladles with cutlery |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your drawer is deep enough and you want long spoons and ladles held upright in a wood tray.
Skip it if your drawer is shorter than 17 inches from front to back; the tray will not fit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep compartment walls
- Generous length
- Up to nine sections
Cons
- Needs a 17-inch-deep drawer
- No care instructions listed
- No non-slip feet mentioned
5. madesmart Classic Expandable Utensil Tray – A Plain Plastic Tray That Stays Put
madesmart’s Classic tray starts with three compartments and expands to five: extra sections on each side pull out and snap into place, according to the listing. It has a soft-grip lining on the bottom of the compartments and non-slip rubber feet, so neither the tray nor the tools inside slide when the drawer is yanked open mid-recipe.
madesmart says the tray is made from BPA-free plastic and has rounded corners, which make it easier to wipe out crumbs and the odd spill. PureWow picked a madesmart organizer as its best plastic drawer organizer, noting it is “easy to wipe down when it starts to get scuzzy.”
The listing does not give the tray’s dimensions or expansion range, so check the product images and measure your drawer before ordering.
Why we like it
- Expands from three to five compartments
- Non-slip feet and soft-grip lining
- Rounded corners for cleaning
- PureWow’s best plastic pick (a madesmart tray)
Key specifications
| Organizer | Classic expandable utensil tray (model 29305) |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic (maker) |
| Size/expandable | Dual-side expansion; dimensions not stated |
| Compartments | 3 to 5 |
| Non-slip | Rubber feet and soft-grip lining |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated (rounded corners for cleaning) |
| Best for | A simple tool drawer on a budget |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want an inexpensive, grippy tray for cooking tools and do not need wood or extra features.
Skip it if you need exact dimensions before buying; the listing does not give them.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Grips the drawer and the tools
- Easy to wipe
- Expandable
Cons
- Dimensions not listed
- Only five compartments at most
6. OXO Good Grips Expandable Long Tool Organizer – Open Space for Tongs and Spatulas
Some tools do not fit in compartments. Tongs, fish spatulas and long wooden spoons need length more than divisions, and that is what this OXO tray is for. OXO describes it as an open design for long-handled tools like spatulas and tongs, with one adjustable divider to keep them contained.
It has square corners, which OXO says eliminate gaps in the drawer, and non-slip feet. Because it expands, it can run the length of a drawer and sit beside a cutlery tray, so the long tools you use at the stove stay separate from the forks. For anyone who keeps a pair of tongs for turning tortillas on the comal, this is the tray that holds them flat. Our guide to the best kitchen tongs covers which tongs suit that job.
The listing does not give the tray’s dimensions or its material type, so measure before buying.
Why we like it
- Open design for long-handled tools, per OXO
- Adjustable divider
- Square corners leave fewer gaps
- Non-slip feet
Key specifications
| Organizer | Expandable long tool organizer (model 13322400) |
|---|---|
| Material | Not stated |
| Size/expandable | Expandable; dimensions not stated |
| Compartments | Open tray with 1 adjustable divider |
| Non-slip | Non-slip feet |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Tongs, spatulas and long spoons |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your cutlery tray is already sorted and the long tools are the ones that make a mess.
Skip it if you want one tray for everything; it is meant to work beside another organizer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Holds long tools flat
- Fits flush in the drawer
- OXO Better Guarantee, per the listing
Cons
- Few divisions
- Dimensions not listed
7. YouCopia DrawerFit Sliding Drawer Tray – A Second Level in a Deep Drawer
YouCopia’s DrawerFit tray does something the other trays here do not: it adds an upper level. The tray expands from 15 to 24 inches and rests on top of the drawer’s side frame, held at length by locking teeth, with tabs that sit on the frame. A gentle push slides it across the drawer so you can reach what is stored below.
Two adjustable dividers create seven compartments, according to YouCopia. The tray measures 7.1 inches wide and 2.7 inches high, so it suits small things: measuring spoons, a garlic press, a lime squeezer, bottle openers, a thermometer. Underneath, the drawer stays free for bulkier tools such as a tortilla press or a stack of comal-size lids.
YouCopia says it is made from BPA-free recycled plastic. It only works in a drawer with side frames to rest on and enough depth below, so check your drawer’s construction first.
Why we like it
- Adds a sliding upper level, per YouCopia
- Expands from 15 to 24 inches
- Seven compartments
- Fits a drawer lengthwise or crosswise
Key specifications
| Organizer | DrawerFit sliding drawer tray (model 50848) |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free recycled plastic (maker) |
| Size/expandable | 15 to 24 in long x 7.1 in wide x 2.7 in high |
| Compartments | 7, with 2 adjustable dividers |
| Non-slip | Not applicable; locks at length and rests on the drawer frame |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated; needs room below the tray |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Small gadgets above bulky tools |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you have deep drawers where small tools sink to the bottom under larger ones.
Skip it if your drawers are shallow or have no side frame for the tabs to rest on.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Doubles usable drawer space
- Wide expansion range
- Slides out of the way
Cons
- Only 7.1 inches wide
- Depends on drawer construction
8. SpaceAid Bamboo Drawer Dividers, 4 with 9 Inserts – Custom Lanes for Deep Drawers
Trays work in shallow drawers. In a deep drawer, the kind that holds a cast iron tortilla press, a stack of lids and the molcajete brush, spring-loaded dividers usually work better. SpaceAid’s set has four bamboo dividers that expand from 17 to 22 inches and press against the drawer sides, plus nine small inserts that fit between them to make smaller sections.
Each divider is 2.35 inches tall and 0.6 inch thick, according to SpaceAid, with non-slip rubber pads on the ends to hold them in place and protect the drawer. The set includes 30 label stickers you can write on with a chalk marker, which helps if more than one person puts things away.
Because the dividers run front to back, you can make lanes as wide as you need: a wide one for the tortilla press, a narrow one for a rolling pin, another for tongs and long spoons. If you are still choosing a press, see our guide to the best tortilla press.
Why we like it
- Spring-loaded dividers expand 17 to 22 inches
- Nine inserts for smaller sections
- Rubber end pads protect the drawer
- 30 writable labels included
Key specifications
| Organizer | Bamboo drawer dividers, 4 dividers with 9 inserts (model zzb-kc4+9-l) |
|---|---|
| Material | Bamboo, rubber end pads |
| Size/expandable | 17 to 22 in long, 2.35 in tall, 0.6 in thick |
| Compartments | Set by you: 4 dividers, 9 inserts |
| Non-slip | Rubber pads on the ends |
| Drawer height needed | Not stated; dividers 2.35 in tall |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Deep drawers with bulky tools |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you have deep drawers full of large tools that no tray will hold.
Skip it if your drawer is narrower than 17 inches from front to back; the dividers will not compress that far.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fully customizable lanes
- Labels included
- Protects drawer sides
Cons
- Only for drawers 17 to 22 inches deep
- Low dividers in a very deep drawer
9. Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Bamboo Knife Organizer – Knives Stored Safely in Two Tiers
Loose knives in a utensil drawer dull their edges and cut fingers. An in-drawer knife organizer holds each blade in a slot. Joseph Joseph’s bamboo DrawerStore organizer holds 12 or more knives in two tiers, according to the listing: small knives on the top tier, large knives on the bottom.
It takes blades up to 9 inches long, which covers most chef’s knives, and needs a drawer at least 3.3 inches (8.5 cm) tall. It has non-slip feet. For a Mexican kitchen, that is room for a chef’s knife for onions and chiles, a serrated knife for tomatoes and bolillos, a paring knife for limes and a set of steak knives for carne asada night.
If you would rather keep knives on the counter, our guide to the best knife block compares countertop blocks.
Why we like it
- Holds 12 or more knives, per Joseph Joseph
- Two tiers: small knives above, large below
- Blades up to 9 inches
- Non-slip feet
Key specifications
| Organizer | DrawerStore knife organizer, large (model 851695) |
|---|---|
| Material | Bamboo |
| Size/expandable | Fixed size; blades up to 9 in |
| Compartments | 12+ knife slots in 2 tiers |
| Non-slip | Non-slip feet |
| Drawer height needed | At least 3.3 in (8.5 cm) |
| Care | Not stated |
| Best for | Knives kept off the counter |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want knives out of the utensil jumble and off the counter, in a drawer that is at least 3.3 inches tall.
Skip it if you own a long bread knife or slicer over 9 inches; it will not fit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Protects edges and fingers
- Space-efficient tiers
- Holds a full set
Cons
- 9-inch blade limit
- Needs a fairly deep drawer
How to choose a drawer organizer for a Mexican kitchen
Measure three ways
Measure the inside of the drawer, not the front: width, depth from front to back, and height from the floor of the drawer to the bottom of the counter frame above it. Several listings here give a minimum height (3.25 inches for the Joseph Joseph tray, 3.3 inches for its knife organizer), and a tray that is a quarter inch too tall will catch every time you close the drawer.
Expandable beats fixed
A tray that fills the drawer from side to side does not slide around. Expandable trays such as the OXO, Joseph Joseph and Pipishell pull out to close the gap, and their extra side sections are usually the right size for serving spoons and tongs.
Sort by job, not by type
Keep the tools you use at the stove (tongs, spatulas, the cuchara for beans, the ladle for soup) in the drawer nearest the stove, and the table cutlery in a different one. If you only have one drawer, a tiered tray or a sliding second level saves room.
Bamboo or plastic
Bamboo looks warmer and tends to be sturdier; makers such as Pipishell recommend wiping it clean rather than washing it in water. Plastic trays are lighter and easier to rinse. Either works; the fit matters more than the material.
Non-slip feet
Drawers get pulled hard when something is about to burn. Rubber feet or a grippy lining, as on the madesmart and OXO trays, stop the tray and the tools from sliding to the back.
Plan for bulky tools
A tortilla press, a molinillo, a citrus press and a box grater do not fit trays. Give them a deep drawer with spring-loaded dividers, and keep the tray drawers for cutlery and long tools.
How we chose these nine organizers
We started with PureWow’s guide to drawer organizers, which named a Pipishell bamboo organizer its best kitchen pick, an OXO Good Grips expandable organizer its best expandable pick, a madesmart tray its best plastic pick and a Joseph Joseph organizer its best for small drawers. PureWow says its editors selected the products; it does not say it tested every one. We then added organizers for jobs those trays do not cover: long tools, a second level in deep drawers, adjustable dividers and an in-drawer knife block.
Specifications come from each Amazon listing; we wrote “Not stated” where a listing was silent. Every pick was in stock on Amazon when we checked. We have not used these organizers ourselves. Serious Eats and America’s Test Kitchen pages on drawer organizers were not available to us, and we did not read Wirecutter, so we do not quote them.
Drawer organizer questions, answered
What is the best drawer organizer for a kitchen?
For most kitchen drawers, an expandable tray with adjustable dividers, such as the OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Utensil Organizer, is the most flexible choice. It fills drawers from 15.5 to 22 inches wide and holds long cooking tools as well as spoons.
Which drawer organizer does Wirecutter recommend?
We did not read Wirecutter’s drawer organizer guide for this article, so we cannot say. The independent source we did read, PureWow, picked a Pipishell bamboo organizer as its best kitchen drawer organizer.
Are bamboo drawer organizers better than plastic?
Not necessarily. Bamboo looks better and is usually rigid, but it should be wiped clean rather than soaked. Plastic is lighter and easy to rinse. Choose the one that fits your drawer and the tools you keep in it.
How do I organize a deep kitchen drawer?
Use spring-loaded dividers, such as SpaceAid’s bamboo set, to make lanes for bulky tools, or add a sliding upper tray like YouCopia’s DrawerFit so small gadgets do not sink under large ones.
Should knives go in a drawer organizer?
Only in one made for knives, with a slot for each blade. Loose knives in a utensil tray dull quickly and are a hazard when you reach in. An in-drawer knife organizer such as Joseph Joseph’s keeps them separate.
Our final pick for the kitchen drawer
Buy the OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Utensil Organizer for the drawer by the stove. Choose the Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Expanding Organizer for a small kitchen, the Pipishell tray for bamboo, SpaceAid dividers for deep drawers and the Joseph Joseph knife organizer to get knives out of the jumble.
More kitchen organizing guides: spice racks, lazy Susans, pantry organizers, cabinet organizers, fridge organizers, under-sink organizers, kitchen carts.
Deep drawers? See our guide to the best kitchen drawer dividers.
Just sorting forks and spoons? See our guide to the best silverware drawer organizers.
Related guide: Best drawer liner.
Once the drawers are sorted, our guide to Mexican cooking tools covers what is worth keeping in them, and the best wooden spoons covers the cucharas that end up in every drawer. If you would rather we did the cooking, see our menu or call to order.