Supplies
Use sturdy small and medium boxes, dish boxes with thicker walls if you can get them, plenty of plain packing paper and strong tape. Newspaper can leave ink on dishes. Avoid very large boxes for kitchen items; they get too heavy and are more likely to fail.
Start with what you use least
Begin with serving dishes, special-occasion glassware, small appliances you rarely use and cookbooks. Leave everyday dishes and a few pans for the last couple of days.
Plates on edge
Wrap each plate in paper and pack plates standing on edge, like records, rather than flat. Plates are much stronger on edge. Put a layer of crumpled paper at the bottom of the box and fill gaps so nothing moves.
Glasses and stemware
Wrap each glass individually, stuffing a little paper inside, and pack glasses upright or on their side with plenty of padding. Stemware is fragile at the stem, so give it extra paper. Dividers help if you have them.
Bowls, mugs and odd shapes
Nest bowls with paper between them, and wrap mugs individually. Odd-shaped items such as gravy boats and teapots get wrapped individually and placed in the gaps between other items.
Pots and pans
Pots and pans are sturdy and can nest, with paper between them. Lids go in separately, wrapped, or upside down inside the pot with paper. Cast iron is heavy, so pack it in a small box.
Knives
Wrap knives in several layers of paper or a dish towel, taped closed, and label the bundle clearly so nobody gets hurt unpacking. A knife block can travel in its own box.
Small appliances
Clean and dry small appliances, tuck cords inside or tape them to the appliance, and pack them in their original boxes if you have them. Remove glass carafes and pack them separately.
Pantry and the refrigerator
Use up perishable food before the move, and give away opened pantry items you do not want to move. Sealed, unopened items can be packed upright in small boxes. Empty and defrost the refrigerator a day or two ahead and leave the doors open to dry.
Label clearly
Label kitchen boxes on the top and two sides, mark fragile ones clearly and note the contents, such as plates, glasses or pans. It makes unpacking much faster.
The open-first box
Pack one box with a few plates, cups, cutlery, a pan, a kettle or coffee maker, dish soap, a sponge, towels and paper towels. Mark it open first and keep it with you or load it last. It gets you through the first night and morning.
When to get help
If you are short on time, kitchen packing is the most common job people hand off. Our packing services include kitchen-only packing, and our San Jose packing and unpacking can have the kitchen working on day one.
How many boxes a kitchen takes
Kitchens almost always need more boxes than people expect. Count your cabinets and drawers, and plan on at least one box for most of them, plus extra for appliances, pantry items and serving pieces. It is easier to return unused boxes than to run out on the last night.
Box weight
Keep each box to a weight one person can lift comfortably. Heavy kitchen items, such as cast iron, small appliances and cookbooks, go in small boxes. Light items, such as plastic containers and dish towels, can fill larger boxes or the gaps around heavier ones.
Spices, oils and liquids
Tighten lids, tape them closed and pack liquids upright in a box lined with a plastic bag. Some people prefer to use up or give away opened oils and sauces rather than risk a leak.
Using towels and linens
Dish towels, oven mitts and table linens make good padding between pots and around bowls. They save paper and they need to be packed anyway.
Unpacking in order
At the new home, unpack the open-first box, then everyday dishes, then pots and pans, then everything else. Wipe shelves before you fill them, and put the most-used items within easy reach.
Fridges and dishwashers
Large appliances that stay with the home do not need packing, but check that they are empty and clean. If you are moving a refrigerator, it should be defrosted, dry and secured so doors cannot swing open.
Glass cookware and ceramics
Glass baking dishes and ceramic cookware are heavier and more fragile than they look. Wrap each piece individually, stand them on edge where possible and keep them away from heavy pots in the same box.
Labeling the kitchen boxes
Mark each box with what is inside, such as everyday plates, baking dishes or spices, rather than just kitchen. When you unpack, you can open the boxes you need first and leave the rest for later in the week.
A two-day plan for the kitchen
On the first day, pack everything you will not use before the move: serving pieces, baking dishes, special glassware and rarely used appliances. On the second day, pack the rest except the open-first box. Splitting it this way keeps the job manageable and leaves you a working kitchen until the end.
Leaving the old kitchen clean
Once the boxes are out, wipe the shelves and drawers, clean the refrigerator and check under the sink and above the cabinets for anything left behind. It is easy to forget the top shelf above the refrigerator.