How to Find More Preparation Space in the Kitchen

Space in the kitchen at a premium and the dinner party dishes are not leaving any spare room for cooking? What to do?! Help is at hand with this really simple fix. It isn't a permanent fix but it does create a handy extra space when the need is really there.

Get a sturdy chopping (bread) board.
Open up a kitchen drawer at the top level. Make sure that the draw is sitting steadily and is not wobbling or threatening to fall on the floor.
Rest the chopping board across the drawer. Make sure that it fits across the space snugly and is not going to slip or fall into the drawer or off the drawer.
Use your newfound preparation space. When you need to move it, it's as easy as lifting it up and either washing it or putting it somewhere temporarily.

Be sure that the drawer is sturdy and able to take the weight of the board and your food preparation movements.
If desired, you can substitute a chopping board with a sturdy cookie sheet/baking tray or even a serving tray. Anything flat, strong and wide enough is fine, provided it is also clean.
Another possible extra area is the sink. If you have a double sink, think nothing of covering up one sink with a board and using it as extra space. You can still use the water and wash dishes in the other sink as you go.
If you don't have a bread board or other item that fits the size of your drawer well, cut a piece of wood that does fit the drawer size. Keep this in an accessible place to pull out whenever you need the extra preparation area.

This is unlikely to work on old, wonky drawers. Which probably means it is time to fix your drawers!
Get the necessary utensils out of the drawer before using this method!


Drawer, sturdy, upper level
Chopping board or tray/cookie sheet