Top 11 Hong Kong kitchen life hacks

Counter space is always at a premium in any Hong Kong kitchen, so don’t waste it by piling it with your drying pots and plates. Hang your drainer over the sink so that it drips straight down and keeps your counter clutter free.

This one’s a classic. Simply place your chopping board over the sink if you don’t have the counter space for it. Secure it with a wet cloth under the edges.

It’s tempting to keep your most often used oils, seasonings and condiments out on the surface where they’re always to hand. However, this look messy and takes up valuable counter space. Place them on a tray instead and just bring it out when you plan on cooking, then stash the whole thing back when they’re not being used.

If Hong Kong is a lesson in anything, it’s that there’s space to be found by building up. With this in mind, take a look around your kitchen and maximise its vertical potential. Put up rails, hooks and shelves wherever you can and get over your hang ups.

Look for your kitchen’s hidden pockets of space. The sides of cabinets, the insides of cabinet doors, backs of the door. Anywhere there’s a spare inch, hang something or stick a shelf on it.

A good trick is to stash your plastic bags in an empty tissue box, keeping them organised and out of the way.

A magnetic knife rack can free up drawer space and also helps keep your knives sharper for longer. Leaving knives bouncing around in a drawer, rubbing up against other utensils blunts them extremely quickly. They’ll look great stuck to the wall and are always to hand too.

Rather than a bulky spice rack taking up room in one of your cupboards, why not invest in some magnetic spice jars and stick them to the fridge. You can also get creative with other magnetic storage solutions.

Adding a portable element provides more flexibility to kitchen space. A storage cart can be wheeled into a cubby hole for storage or brought out as another surface when the kitchen is in use. Or hey, pretend you live in a hotel. Simply cover your kitchen trolley with a bedsheet and serve yourself breakfast upon it.

Similar to above, add another counter that can be folded away when not in use. If you wish to continue your fantasies from the previous tip, now pretend that you own a bar and climb under the counter to serve friends’ drinks.