If your kitchen is like most, it’s filled with all sizes and types of pots and pans. From Large, cumbersome Dutch ovens, skillets, and saucepans to roasting pans, griddles, or a wok – pots and pans are especially challenging to pack due to their varying sizes and weight. Follow this step-by-step guide that takes the guesswork and frustration out of packing up your pots and pans.
Moving Supplies You’ll Need to Pack Your Pots and Pans
- Medium and large moving boxes
- Packing paper
- Packing tape
- Permanent black marker
Steps for Packing Pots and Pans for a Move
1. Set up your packing station
Be sure to have a variety of box sizes ready to go. As tempting as it may be to use extra-large boxes for the largest and heaviest pots and pans, these boxes will be too heavy to lift when they’re full of cookware. Create a clean cleared-off space to pack and gather all of your supplies.
2. Make sure all of your pots and pans are clean and dry
Before packing, ensure each piece is dry, so rust and mold won’t develop during the move. Check your dishwasher or drying rack for pots, pans, lids, and removable handles than can easily escape notice.
3. Prepare your box
Tape the moving box closed along the bottom seam. Fortify it with a second layer of tape. Cushion the inside bottom of the box with crumpled packing paper.
4. Organize pots and pans that can nest inside of one another
Remove all lids. Select three or four pans that will nest together. Lay a sheet of packing paper over the top of the largest pan. Put the next size smaller pan on top of the paper and push the paper down as you gently push one pan into the other. Repeat this process with three or four more pans, pulling the paper up as you go.
5. Wrap the entire stack
Place the nested group on your pile of packing paper and pull up several layers of paper around it. Tape the paper down to ensure the stack is wrapped securely.
6. Wrap the lids
Wrap each lid separately with several layers of packing paper. If lids nest together, you can use the same wrapping method as in Steps 4 and 5.
Wrap each sheet and griddle separately. Once wrapped, stack smaller sheets on top of larger sheets. Place the cookie sheets and griddles on their sides (so they are vertical), up against the sides of the box. If you have several sheets and griddles, balance the weight by placing a few on each side of the box.
8. Place the wrapped groups of pots and pans in the box
Place the most substantial wrapped pots and pans in the bottom of the box. Fill spaces around the wrapped groups to prevent shifting during the move. Leave about two inches of space at the top of the box. Place crumpled paper on the top of the wrapped pots and pans to fill any empty spaces.
9. Repeat this process with the remainder of your pots and pans
As mentioned in Step 1, you don’t want to make your boxes too heavy to lift, or so full that they tear, so be sure to pack heavier items, such as cast iron skillets, in smaller boxes.
10. Close and seal the box
Tape the box closed and label the contents, ‘Kitchen: Pots and Pans.’