Are you seeking to maximize kitchen storage space? We recommend metro shelves, particularly those from Whitmor.
After a period of remote work in a compact studio, my spouse and I decided to relocate to a larger residence to enhance our living conditions and well-being. We found a place that not only provided the desired space but also offered a significant kitchen upgrade. With more room to cook and natural light from two windows, we needed to address the loss of cabinet space—a common issue in urban areas like New York City.
Metro shelves can be a huge help in the kitchen storage department, thanks to their adjustable shelf height design.
Units are sold unassembled. They come with four legs, the shelves, plastic shelf supports, and leveling feet for the legs. The legs have horizontal grooves etched at one-inch intervals up their length. The shelf supports are clipped onto these grooves, and you can space them as you choose to set the height of each shelf. I can’t overstate how great it is to have control over the spacing between shelves. As shown in the photo above, it’s easy to set up a unit to fit your needs. For example, in my case, I wanted a snug home for the bulky Breville Pizzaiolo on the bottom shelf. Above it, I needed a shelf with a little more vertical clearance that could fit an assembled food processor and a tall blender jar. And I also wanted an even more spacious waist-height shelf for cutting boards, a Baking Steel, and large trays. There are very few kitchen shelving solutions that allow for this level of customization at an affordable price. How easy it is to readjust shelf height spacing once the shelves are assembled depends on the type of unit you buy. Basic affordable models are generally more difficult to adjust because the plastic shelf supports are locked in by the shelves themselves. So, you have to loosen the shelves to unclip and move the supports. Some higher-end models are designed with easy-release locking mechanisms that allow for on-the-fly shelf height adjustments. It’s a nice feature, but not an essential one by any means. So long as you think through the spacing before assembling a set of shelves, your needs probably won’t change that much over time. Cabinets are nice for keeping stored items tucked away, but that can be a nuisance as well. Maybe it’s just me, but I am a lot less likely to use a food processor if I have to dig it out of a cupboard every time, and I don’t want it taking up valuable counter space when it’s not in use. Storing commonly used countertop appliances on a metal shelving unit gives you the best of both worlds: they’re easy to access but aren’t cluttering up your workspace. The same goes for ingredients and kitchen utensils. For example, if you’re a baker or pizza maker, having flour and sugar at the ready is a plus, along with proofing containers, mixing bowls, baking dishes, a scale, and measuring cups. It’s nice to not have to rummage through drawers and cupboards for these common items. I also like to store plastic deli containers on my shelves so I can grab a stack for portioning out mise en place while recipe testing, or packing up leftovers after a meal. The kitchen in my new apartment has a lot more usable space and natural light than the cramped windowless galley kitchen at our old place. But the little nook that I’ve turned into a condensed at-home test kitchen is still a squeeze. To fit everything that I wanted into the space—a workbench, metal pegboards, trash can, and a Metro rack—while still having enough standing room to work, I had to find pieces of equipment with very specific dimensions.Fortunately, these shelving units come in a wide range of sizes. This enables me to find the perfect fit in terms of height, width, and depth. Whether you’re looking for a waist-high rack with a wood top or, like me, need a skinny and tall set of shelves to make the most of the vertical space provided by high ceilings, there’s a shelving unit suitable for you.
They’re Affordable Metal wire shelving units may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it’s hard to match their functionality-to-cost value. As with most purchases, choosing name-brand Metro shelves will be the most expensive option, costing at least a couple hundred dollars each. On the positive side, Metro units are well constructed. They come with nice features such as the easy-adjust shelf clips mentioned earlier and usually have a best-in-class weight-bearing capacity. However, we’re considering using these shelves for holding kitchen equipment, bulk ingredients, and perhaps some plateware – not for inventory storage at a shipping distribution center. Given this, you can opt for a very solid set of shelves for under a hundred dollars and do without the fancy extras. Weight Capacity Even the affordable shelving units can carry a fairly heavy load. The unit I have at home has 12- by 24-inch shelves that can hold up to 350 pounds per shelf. Even if you’re a cast iron skillet collector like Daniel and load the unit with pans, these shelves can handle the weight without any issues. Easy to Assemble Moving to a new apartment often involves frustrating furniture assembly. After getting annoyed at the overly-smiley cartoon handyperson in IKEA instruction manuals that seems to mock DIY furniture-makers, you’ll truly appreciate easy-assembly items, and these shelves fit the bill. All you need is a rubber mallet. Or, if you don’t own one like me, a hammer wrapped in a sock to prevent damage to the shelves and legs when putting them together. The most challenging part of assembling the shelves is deciding on the spacing between them. I suggest using the lower shelves for heavy items that aren’t used daily. Keep your most frequently accessed items at waist and chest level, and reserve the top shelves for items that won’t cause serious harm if they fall while you’re retrieving or storing them. Easy-to-assemble, free-standing shelving units are particularly great for renters. Installing a lot of floating shelves on a wall sounds good in theory, but it means more holes to patch up when you move. And you never know if those shelves will work well in a different apartment. Metal shelves don’t require drilling into walls and can be disassembled when it’s time to move. Even if you move to a place with a different kitchen layout that the shelving unit doesn’t fit, it can be used in various rooms to store anything from electronics to linens. Or, if you don’t want to keep it, you can sell the shelves second-hand.When considering Metro-style shelving units for your kitchen, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. Here are some factors to consider:
**Aesthetic Considerations**:
Metro-style shelves offer a distinct look that may not suit every interior design. With polished chrome legs and wire shelves, they are ideal for those aiming for an industrial aesthetic. However, they may not blend well with a country farmhouse decor. Despite this, many guests have complimented the appearance of these units, including professionals in the field of interior design.
**Organization Transparency**:
One of the main drawbacks of these shelving units is their open design, which leaves no room for hiding clutter or disorganization. This is similar to the open kitchen concept where everything is on full display. The neatness and organization of these shelves are solely dependent on how well you maintain them.
**Self-Assessment for Purchase**:
Before purchasing, assess your kitchen organization style and goals. If you don’t mind a bit of visible chaos, these shelves might work for you. But if you prefer a tidy space and don’t have the time to maintain it, these shelves might not be the best fit.
**Safety Concerns for Children and Pets**:
While easy access to appliances and dry goods is convenient, it can be hazardous for homes with children or pets. The risk of accidents, such as a falling skillet or a spilled container of flour, is a valid concern with these open shelving units.
**Choosing and Customizing**:
There are numerous options for metal shelving units on the market. You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on a name-brand Metro unit. Quality is consistent across many brands, and for basic pantry storage, most units will suffice. It’s essential to choose wisely and accessorize according to your needs and style.
When considering kitchen shelves for heavy and expensive equipment, it’s crucial to invest in shelves with a higher weight capacity. Shelves with a 300-pound or higher weight capacity are ideal for supporting such loads.
While adding casters to shelves and kitchen islands may seem convenient, it’s important to consider the trade-offs. Mobility is gained at the expense of stability and weight-bearing capacity. A unit with legs can support up to 4,800 pounds, but this reduces to 1,000 pounds with casters, each supporting a maximum of 250 pounds. Additionally, casters compromise stability, especially on uneven floors, and are more difficult to clean compared to stationary legs.
To maximize space in tight kitchens while keeping items accessible, consider hanging as much as possible. S-shaped hooks are particularly useful for this purpose. They allow you to utilize the unused vertical space on the sides of metal shelving units, perfect for hanging heavy cookware and other kitchen gear. Traditional wood pegboards and metal pegboards may not withstand the weight of cast iron, and wall-mounted pot racks require power tools and DIY skills. S-shaped hooks offer a practical solution for extra storage without these drawbacks.
Each shelf perimeter consists of two parallel horizontal rails with a zig-zagging metal piece for strength, making it easy to attach hooks to the sides for additional storage. These hooks can hold a variety of items, including cast iron skillets, carbon steel pans, and other kitchen essentials.
Not too shabby.
FAQs How much weight can a metro shelf hold? While it depends on the size and brand of the metro shelf, they tend to have a shelf weight capacity of 800 pounds and a total weight capacity of a whopping 2000 pounds. So they’re pretty heavy-duty shelves and great for storing a myriad of kitchen gear and equipment. Can I store pantry items on metro shelves? You can absolutely store pantry items on a metro shelf. In fact, lots of restaurants not only use them for this purpose, but they also put them in their walk-in refrigerators and freezers, too. What sizes do metro shelves come in? Metro shelves come in a wide variety of sizes and materials, with the classic metal options as well as plastic shelves. Shelves can also be easily adjusted, allowing you to adjust to fit larger items. Why We’re the Experts Sasha Marx was the senior culinary editor at Serious Eats. He developed numerous recipes for the site and was a chef at various restaurants. Many Serious Eats editors have used metro shelves both professionally and personally. We Tested 12 Food Storage Containers to Find the Best Ones for Leftovers and Lunches Storage & Organizational Tools
