Storing plates flat means lifting the whole stack just to reach the one on the bottom, and that is how most chips happen. Standing them on edge, like files in a drawer, fixes both problems.
Stop Stacking Your Plates Like This
Hello Neighbor! My mom's old dinner plates have been in my cabinet for seven years now, and I always dreaded reaching for the one at the bottom of the stack.
One chip later, I finally looked up a better way to store them and found simple racks that hold plates up on their edge instead of flat.
Now I can grab any plate in the stack without touching the rest, and nothing has chipped since. Below is how I set mine up.
Be Well,
Anisa
Stop Stacking Your Plates, Stand Them Up Instead
How to Do It
Clear a shelf or section of cabinet tall enough for your plates to stand up on their edge, then add a simple wire or bamboo plate rack, or just lean the plates against the back wall of the cabinet. Slot each plate in standing up, largest to smallest from one side to the other, then pull out just the plate you need without lifting or shifting the rest of the stack.
More Ways to Use It
The same standing trick works for cutting boards and baking sheets in a cabinet. A rack like this also keeps lids and shallow bowls from sliding around on a shelf.
Ask the Genius: Do I Need a Special Rack for My Plates?
"Do I need a special rack, or can I just lean my plates against the cabinet wall?"
Leaning them works fine in a pinch, just add a folded towel or rubber shelf liner behind them so they do not slide or clink together. A cheap wire rack keeps them steadier long term.
Did You Know?
A stack of ten standard dinner plates can weigh close to fifteen pounds. That is exactly why lifting the whole stack just to reach the bottom plate is one of the most common ways dishes end up chipped or dropped.
Got a handy tip of your own?
Reply back to Anisa, she loves reading your emails.
This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →