Types of Modular Kitchen Baskets and Their Uses
Cutlery, plate, cup and saucer, plain and partition baskets, pull-outs, pantry and corner units: what each one stores and where it goes.
A modular kitchen works well when every cabinet has a clear job. The basket or unit inside it should match what you store there and how often you reach for it. This guide lists the main types of modular kitchen baskets and units, what each one holds, and the cabinet where it works best.
Plan by zone first
Before choosing baskets, divide the kitchen into zones. It makes every later decision easier.
- Cooking zone: the hob and the cabinets on both sides of it.
- Washing zone: the sink and the cabinets beside and above it.
- Preparation zone: the counter between the sink and the hob.
- Storage zone: tall units, corner cabinets and the far ends of the counter.
Baskets for base cabinets
Cutlery basket
A shallow top drawer with sections for spoons, forks, ladles and knives. Place it in the preparation zone, where you reach for it most. See the cutlery basket options.
Plate and thali basket
Holds plates and thalis upright between dividers. Keep it in the washing zone so plates go straight in after washing. See the plate and thali basket range.
Cup and saucer basket
A shallow basket with holders that keep cups, saucers and small bowls from knocking against each other. It fits well as the middle drawer near the sink. See the cup and saucer basket range.
Plain basket
The open, general purpose basket for cookers, kadhai, pots and big containers. Use the deepest size as the bottom drawer in the cooking zone. See the plain basket range.
Partition basket
A plain basket with fixed partitions, useful for bottles, jars and containers that need to stay upright. See the partition basket range.
Narrow pull-outs beside the hob
Bottle pull-out
A slim unit, usually fitted in a narrow cabinet next to the hob, for oil bottles, sauces and spice jars. Everything you need while cooking is within one pull. See the pull-out range.
Units for bulk storage
Grain trolley
A deep unit for rice, flour and pulses in bulk. Because it carries a heavy load, it needs strong channels or wheels. See the grain trolley range.
Pantry and tall units
A tall cabinet with several pull-out shelves stores a month of groceries in a small footprint. When the unit is pulled out, every shelf is visible from both sides. See the pantry unit and tall unit ranges.
Corner cabinets
Corners in L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens are hard to reach and often wasted. Corner units bring the stored items out to you. Common choices are carousel units that rotate and magic corner units that slide out in two stages. See the corner solution range.
Wall cabinets and above the sink
A dish drainer inside the wall cabinet above the sink lets washed utensils drip dry out of sight. Pull-down units bring the contents of a high cabinet down to counter level, which helps in kitchens with tall wall units.
Which basket goes where
| Cabinet | Basket or unit | What it stores |
|---|---|---|
| Top drawer near the counter | Cutlery basket | Spoons, ladles, knives |
| Beside the sink | Plate and thali basket, cup and saucer basket | Daily crockery |
| Below or beside the hob | Plain basket | Cookers, kadhai, pots |
| Narrow cabinet beside the hob | Bottle pull-out | Oil, sauces, spices |
| Corner cabinet | Carousel or magic corner | Large vessels, appliances |
| Tall cabinet | Pantry or tall unit | Groceries and dry storage |
| Wall cabinet above the sink | Dish drainer | Washed utensils |
Three planning tips
- Store things where you use them. Cookware near the hob, crockery near the sink, cutlery near the counter.
- Put the heaviest items lowest. Deep plain baskets and grain trolleys belong at the bottom.
- Decide the baskets before the carcass is built. Basket sizes fix the cabinet widths, so share the technical drawings with your carpenter early.
For sizes and materials, read how to choose wire baskets for a modular kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of modular kitchen baskets are there?
The main types are plain, cutlery, plate and thali, cup and saucer, and partition baskets, along with bottle pull-outs, grain trolleys, pantry units, corner units and dish drainers.
Which basket is best for heavy utensils?
A deep plain basket on a channel rated for the load. Keep it as the bottom drawer.
What can I fit in a small kitchen?
Use a three drawer base unit, one bottle pull-out beside the hob and a dish drainer above the sink. These three cover most daily needs in very little space.
Are corner units worth it?
If your kitchen has an L or U shape, a corner unit turns a hard to reach space into usable storage for large vessels and appliances.