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See why.Utensil Crocks
Utensil holders keep our kitchen tools organized and close at hand. What features make some models better than others?
By Published Feb. 18, 2021
Our winning utensil crock by Circulon has been discontinued. The Le Creuset Stoneware Utensil Crock is currently our top choice, but we will be updating this review within the next few months.
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What You Need To Know
Utensil crocks keep our most-used tools conveniently accessible and organized while we’re cooking. We’ve all tried to pull out a utensil only to have a few others come tumbling out in a tangled mess, or we’ve had a utensil crock, top-heavy from all its contents, wobble as we added or retrieved utensils. We wondered if there were utensil crocks on the market that could solve these problems.
We purchased nine round or oval utensil crocks, priced from about $14 to about $50. We included models in a variety of sizes and materials, including stoneware, stainless steel, plastic, and bamboo. In addition to varying in size and material, the models in our lineup sported a variety of special features. One had a rotating base (similar to a lazy Susan) intended to help us locate utensils quickly. Another had a special section for storing knives. Two had silicone mats that provided a soft spot for utensils to land. Four crocks had dividers, and one had small grooves in the bottom meant to hold each utensil as it is added. We also included an expandable crock. With so many options in shape, price, material, and features, we were excited to see what combination of factors would make for the best utensil crock.
Evaluating Size and Shape
Our first test was to evaluate the capacity of each crock. We loaded 20 of our favorite utensils (see “The Test Kitchen’s Top Tools”) into each crock, adding them in the same order each time for consistency. We stopped adding utensils when we felt moderate resistance, which we defined as the inability to fit another utensil in the crock without pushing hard or excessive jostling to create more space. No surprise: We preferred crocks that held more items. Our favorites were spacious enough to accommodate at least 17 utensils. The smallest crock held just 10 utensils. We also formed a preference for a certain shape. Although oval crocks were slimmer (making for a smaller footprint near the stovetop), we found that their tapered ends were a tight fit for bulkier utensils. Round crocks with diameters of about 6 inches or more allowed us to store more utensils.
Keeping Utensils Untangled with Tall Sides, Dividers, and Grooves
Of course, a large capacity is just one factor in a good crock. We also wanted a crock that allowed us to organize and easily access our utensils. A few features really helped.
We started by looking at the heights of the walls. The crocks in our lineup ranged in height from 5¼ to 9½ inches, and we found that higher walls were generally better able to keep utensils upright, meaning the utensils didn’t fall over one another and become tangled and harder to remove. However, small tool...
Everything We Tested
Recommended
- Capacity: : 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 3 stars out of 3.
Although this crock has a wide opening, its walls curve in slightly and limit the number of utensils it can hold. As a result, it holds up to 18 utensils. It doesn't have a divider. The outside of the crock was easy to wipe down with soap and a sponge for a quick postcooking cleanup. Bonus: This crock is available in different colors.
- Capacity: : 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 3 stars out of 3.
Twenty utensils fit easily into this stainless-steel crock, which had the largest diameter of the models we tested. With such a large diameter and no dividers, the utensils tended to fall across one another in the crock and became easily tangled. It was difficult for us to pull out just one utensil at a time. This model’s wide base was sturdy on the counter, and it never wobbled.
- Capacity: : 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 3 stars out of 3.
This simple, stable ceramic utensil crock held 16 utensils, slightly fewer than some of the larger models in our lineup. As in other models without dividers, the utensils sometimes became tangled with one another when we were trying to remove just one. We loved that this dishwasher-safe model was easy to clean.
- Capacity: : 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 2 stars out of 3.
This crock has perforations, each about the size of a pencil eraser, on its sides. We didn’t mind the holes (or find them particularly useful either) until we tried to clean the crock’s exterior. When we wiped the sides with a soapy sponge, the tomato sauce pushed through the perforations to the inside of the crock, spreading the mess and even dirtying the handles of the utensils. This is the lightest utensil crock on our lineup, weighing just a little less than a pound, but it never tipped over. The 7¼-inch walls (the tallest of the round models in our lineup) ensured that utensils stood straight up instead of falling over one another but made it slightly challenging to remove short utensils, such as our pastry brush.
- Capacity: : 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 3 stars out of 3.
Unlike other utensil crocks in our lineup, this holder had small grooves in the bottom that acted as landing spots for the bases of utensils’ handles. There were a total of 18 grooves across the three sections created by dividers. That was a fair amount of utensils—but it mattered which section we placed the utensils in. The smaller sections at either end of this oval container were able to hold fewer utensils than the middle section, so bulky items such as tongs took up a lot of space and were easier to remove when stored in the middle section. We had to pay more attention to where we placed larger utensils.
Not Recommended
- Capacity: : 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 2 stars out of 3.
This expandable crock can be adjusted to suit the number of utensils you want to store. For our tests, we expanded it completely. It is especially long and skinny, with up to three compartments that could accommodate a maximum of 16 utensils. The two permanent dividers separated the utensils, but they took up valuable space in this relatively small crock, and it was difficult to remove one utensil quickly when the crock was full. When spot-cleaning this crock, we realized that there was a space where the sides of the crock overlapped; the sauce between the overlap was hard to reach. This holder had an additional knife block designed to fit three knives. Knives with long blades, such as our winning serrated knife, stuck out of the knife block, but smaller knives like our winning paring knife fit nicely.
- Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 0.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
This unique crock rotates on its base like a lazy Susan, which is intended to make it easy for users to find utensils quickly. However, it wobbled as we added and removed utensils. It was also unstable when we spun it around. It was the only model in our lineup that didn’t sit securely on the counter. There are some promising features in this crock, such as its wide opening, removable dividers, and silicone mat, but those features didn’t make up for its instability.
- Capacity: 1 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
We love the look of this oval bamboo utensil crock, but we were disappointed that we could fit only 10 utensils in it. It was particularly challenging to remove and replace utensils in the tapered ends of the oval. This model must be washed by hand, since it’s not dishwasher-safe, and because of its shape and small size, it was a bit uncomfortable when we tried to fit our hand in it when cleaning. Lastly, the bamboo color faded slightly after 10 washes.
Discontinued
- Capacity: : 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use:: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup and Durability:: 3 stars out of 3.
This round ceramic crock is large enough to comfortably fit 20 utensils. The removable dividers organize the utensils and allow the user to remove one utensil quickly without it getting tangled up in other utensils. A removable silicone mat sits at the bottom of the crock, giving utensils a soft place to land while minimizing noise. Because the crock is dishwasher-safe, it’s supereasy to clean when it inevitably gets splattered with food from the stove. Lastly, it’s offered in a variety of colors to match any kitchen.
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.
Carolyn Grillo
Carolyn is a senior editor for ATK Reviews. She's a French-trained professional baker.
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