How to Pack a Kitchen Like a Pro: A Room-by-Room Guide

Of all the rooms in your home, the kitchen is almost universally acknowledged as the most difficult to pack. Between fragile dishes, an inexplicable collection of specialty appliances, and the contents of four junk drawers, the kitchen deserves its own dedicated strategy.

Here’s how to tackle your kitchen like a professional packer — the 1st Class Moving way.

Start with What You Don’t Use Daily

The golden rule of kitchen packing: work from least-used to most-used. Start your kitchen packing 2–3 weeks before your move with items you rarely need:

• Seasonal dishes and holiday serving ware
• Specialty appliances (bread maker, pasta machine, ice cream maker — you know the ones)
• Excess glassware and bar items
• Cookbooks and recipe collections
• Extra sets of dishes beyond what you use daily

The Right Way to Pack Dishes

Dishes are fragile and heavy — a dangerous combination. Here’s the professional approach:

• Use small or medium-sized boxes — heavy dishes in large boxes become impossible to carry
• Line the box with crumpled packing paper as a cushion base
• Wrap each plate individually with packing paper or foam sheets
• Pack plates on their edge (vertically), not flat — this is the single most important dish packing tip. Plates stacked flat are much more likely to crack from pressure
• Fill all gaps with crumpled paper — items should not shift when you shake the box
• Mark the box FRAGILE on all sides

Packing Glasses and Stemware

Glasses require individual wrapping. Stuff the inside of each glass with crumpled paper, then wrap the exterior. For wine glasses and stemware, wrap the stem separately and handle with extra care. Cell dividers (available at moving supply stores) make stemware packing much safer and more organized.

Handling Pots, Pans, and Cookware

Pots and pans are durable but can still scratch each other. Stack them with packing paper or kitchen towels between each layer. Nest them when possible. Lids pack well in a separate box or padded with paper.

Small Appliances

If you have original boxes for small appliances (toaster, coffee maker, blender), use them — they’re perfectly sized and already padded. If not:

• Wrap appliances in moving blankets or towels
• Remove detachable parts and pack them separately with labels
• Pack cords loosely coiled and taped to the appliance or placed in a Ziploc bag

What to Do with Food

This always catches people off guard. Plan to eat down your pantry in the weeks before your move. For what remains:

• Donate non-perishables you won’t use to a local food shelf (Minnesotans are generous — put this to use)
• Transport shelf-stable items in boxes, not bags (bags tip and spill)
• Refrigerator and freezer items: plan for these to be eaten, donated, or packed in coolers on moving day

Pack the Kitchen Last (Almost)

Leave a “kitchen survival kit” unpacked until moving day: coffee maker, a few mugs, one pot, basic utensils, paper plates. You’ll need coffee on moving day. This is non-negotiable in Minnesota.

Need help packing? 1st Class Moving offers full-service packing for your entire home — including that notoriously complicated kitchen. Contact us today for a free estimate on your Minneapolis metro move.