How to Pack Your Cookware For Moving
Due to its durability, cookware is generally easy to move. However, the unwieldy shapes (and weight) can make it a challenge to pack – not to mention, it does eat up a bit of space.
If you’re moving locally not too far off, you can simply dump your pots and pans in garbage bags and be done with it. In the case of a long-distance move, however, you will need to pack the cookware in boxes.
Unless you’re considering hiring professional movers and packers to handle it for you, this article provides a step-by-step guide for packing up your cookware that you’ll find handy.
Supplies You Need to Pack Your Cookware
- Moving boxes (medium and large)
- Packing paper
- Packing tape
- Marker pen
Steps Involved in Packing Cookware
Set up your packing station
At this point, you need to have your boxes at the ready.
It’s tempting to get a few extra-large boxes to heap the heaviest and largest cookware in, but these boxes can be work to lift when they are full of pots and pans – assuming they are capable of holding the weight in the first place.
Prepare a clear and clean surface where you can gather your items and supplies and do the packing.
Ensure your pots and pans are clean and dry
It is best practice to always move your items clean, and that particularly rings true in the case of kitchen utensils.
Ensure every piece is clean and dry before packing up to prevent mold and rust from developing, never mind having to move with messy kitchenware.
Prepare your box
Considering the weight of these items, it is important to secure the bottom seams of your boxes with tape so they can withstand the weight.
Use two layers of tape to fortify the boxes. Next, use packing paper to pad the inside bottom of the boxes.
Nest pots and pans inside of each other
Chances are you have pans that can nest together. These ones can be moved as is to save on space.
Therefore, remove all lids, then layer the top of the largest pan with a sheet of packing paper. Insert the next smaller sized pan on top of the paper, then gently push both pan and paper into the larger pan.
Repeat the steps for the rest of the pans, depending on the size of your set, pulling the paper up as you go.
Wrap the whole stack
Next, take your nested set of pans and place it on a pile of packing paper.
Then, pull up a couple of layers of packing paper around the cookware, before taping it down to secure the stack in place.
Wrap the lids
Take your lids and use packing paper to wrap each one individually. A few layers will do.
If the lids do not have knobs or can nest together, you can use the same wrapping method as you did with the pans.
Wrap your cookie sheets and griddles
Each piece should be wrapped separately. Once that is done, stack the smaller sheets on top of their larger counterparts.
When putting your cookie sheets and griddles inside the box, place them vertically (on their side) against the sides of the box.
Try to distribute the weight by making use of all sides of the box.
Put your cookware into the box
The larger wrapped pots and pans should go into the bottom of the box. To minimize shifting during transit, fill up the spaces around the wrapped sets.
Reserve about 2 inches of space at the top of the box where you will place crumpled paper to act as padding.
Close and seal the box
And that’s it, you have successfully managed to pack your first box of pots and pans.
Tape it shut and use the marker to label the box accordingly – for example, “Kitchen: Pots and Pans”.
Wash, rinse, repeat
Repeat the same procedure with the rest of your cookware.
As we pointed out earlier, the boxes should not be loaded such that they become difficult to lift – or so stacked up that they tear.
For that reason, heavier items like cast iron skillets should go into smaller boxes.
