For the longest time, we kept fruit in bowls on our counter. We either used a ceramic serving bowl or a big bamboo bowl. But when we redid our kitchen, we removed the step up on our kitchen island (hallelujah!) … Read More
If we’re traveling far away, one of the biggest expenditures is always flights. They add up, especially when buying flights for a large family! So we’re always looking for cheap flights for families to try to save money and bring … Read More
Monday: Vegetarian pot pie (Pi Day!) Salad Tuesday: N cooking: sambar Rice Cucumber salad Wednesday: Sweet potato chickpea buddha bowls with brown rice Thursday: K cooking: 5-minute creamy tomato soup Grilled cheese Friday: Homemade pizza Saturday: Eat Out Sunday: Toast … Read More
I first attended a Pi Day party in college. I remember hearing about the “holiday” and thinking it was both funny and delightful; plus, who would turn down an excuse for pie? Over the years, we racked up many years … Read More
I grew up eating sambar most days of my life. It’s an absolute staple in South Indian cooking, eaten with practically every meal. Even if the vegetable sides and other dishes change, sambar, along with curd rice, is included almost … Read More
After sharing our playroom organization ideas, I had tons of people ask about keeping an organized and clean house with kids. I’m 100% not an outstanding homemaker; our home is far from perfect. But I do appreciate a tidy home … Read More
Monday: Vegetarian chili Baked potatoes Tuesday: N cooking: lasagna Salad Wednesday: Huevos rancheros Thursday: K cooking: Instant Pot red curry noodles Salad Friday: Homemade pizza Saturday: Eat Out Sunday: Toast Bar You can find all my weekly menus here!
When our oldest was starting preschool, I heard about a really fun end of the school year tradition that I decided to replicate. The idea was to take a copy of Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and have every one … Read More
If you’ve been here a while, you probably know that we’re pretty big U.S. National Park fans. They’re incredible and diverse spaces of beauty, reflection, and connection. There are more than enough things to do in national parks for any … Read More
Welcome to LPF Weekly Deals! These are our favorite, tried-and-true travel gear and home life items that have stood the test of time. With 7 people in our home or when we travel, we try to only purchase items that … Read More
Family road trips can be either amazing or super stressful. This is especially true with younger kiddos who have a harder time sitting still and entertaining themselves. But clocking in over 50,000 on the road in the last few years … Read More
Join us we learn about India with kids! During this virtual tour of India for kids, we’ll enjoy fun and inspiring India activities. This India virtual field trip as part of the Global Children’s Book Club is a perfect way … Read More
For the longest time, we kept fruit in bowls on our counter. We either used a ceramic serving bowl or a big bamboo bowl.
But when we redid our kitchen, we removed the step up on our kitchen island (hallelujah!) so it didn’t make as much sense to keep multiple bowls of fruit there. Part of the point of having a large, flat counter was so we’d have space to sit, eat, cook, and work. I didn’t want that space taken up with overflowing bowls!
Plus, with a family our size, there was no way to keep it all in one bowl. For the day or two after going grocery shopping, we’d have a minimum of 3 bowls with fruit stacked high.
In the past, we’d kept some potatoes and onions in the cupboard in a plastic bin lined with paper towels. But even though it was cool and dry, we noticed it still often smelled musty. So we decided an option for keeping everything out was best.
I decided a hanging wall solution would be most functional so that we didn’t take up unnecessary counter space. So I started hunting for hanging fruit baskets that could mount on the wall.
I knew I wanted something we could see into – visible fruit is definitely something we reach for more often and gets wasted less. My kids often reach for fruit as an after-school snack and we all eat it more when it’s out and available. But I didn’t want something that was wire or mesh on the bottom. We’ve found that those too often smush the fruit and make it and other pieces go rotten quickly, creates a mess in the basket, and drips below. Yuck, especially when we wanted them hanging on the wall.
We originally considered a tiered basket organizer like this. But there were a few issues with that. First, these were wire on the bottom, which didn’t take care of the smushing issue. Second, it wasn’t that big. Third, if we hung it from the ceiling like intended, it would be too high for several of our kids to reach.
So then I considered some wall-mounted baskets like this. But they seemed like they would be impossible to clean if needed. We also considered these (too deep and too ugly) and this (too unwieldy if mounted to a wall).
I finally landed on these hanging wire fruit baskets. They’re sturdy and perfect for holding fruit. And the best part is they have a flat bamboo bottom tray to prevent pieces from getting smushed into wire! The bamboo is smooth and easy to clean and has some naturally antimicrobial properties. We haven’t had any issues with fruit getting smushed in there or spoiling too fast. I love that they’re not too deep (we didn’t want tons stacked on top of one another) and easy to reach into for my kids.
We have 6 baskets (3 of these sets) hung on a wall in our kitchen near the table and they’ve been perfect for us!
At first, we just hung them with these hooks, but a couple of those weren’t quite as stable as we wanted, so we decided to install something a bit more sturdy. Instead, we just got a strip of this primed MDF, cut it to size, and attached it into the wall. Then we screwed the baskets directly to that piece, and put a piece of curved foam on the back bottom edge so it wouldn’t scratch the wall.
What kitchen organizing solutions have been helpful to you? Is there a certain way you like to store your fruit and vegetables that don’t go in the refrigerator?
