Cookware is tougher than dishes, but it is heavier, and the weight is what causes trouble. Nested pans scratch each other, handles snap off loose lids and cast iron can burst the bottom of a carton. A few sheets of paper and the right box size handle all three.
Nest the set with paper between
Start with the largest pot and place a sheet of packing paper inside. Set the next size into it, add paper, and keep going. The stack ends up as one compact unit with no metal touching metal.
Wrap the stack in a final sheet and tape it. Non-stick surfaces scratch easily, so a paper liner inside each pan is worth the effort.
- Lay a sheet of packing paper in the largest pot.
- Nest the next pot inside it, with paper between.
- Repeat down to the smallest pot or pan.
- Wrap the nested stack in two sheets and tape it.
- Set the stack in the carton and pack the gaps with towels.
Lids and loose parts
Lids rattle, and glass lids break. Wrap glass lids on their own and stand them upright along the side of the box like plates in a rack. Small metal lids can be stacked with paper in between.
Remove removable handles, knobs and accessories, put them in a bag, and tape the bag to the pot it belongs to.
Cast iron and heavy cookware
Cast iron is the heaviest thing in the kitchen. Give it a small carton of its own, with the skillet or Dutch oven on the bottom and a towel on top. A cast iron pan wrapped in paper will not rust in the short run, but a light coat of oil keeps it protected for a long storage period.
Fill the carton only a little past halfway. A small box of cast iron can weigh as much as a larger box of general items.
Bakeware, sheet pans and utensils
Flat bakeware slides well. Stack baking sheets on edge with a layer of paper between them, and nest muffin pans and cake pans the same way as pots.
Utensils go in a rolled kitchen towel or a small box. For the rest of the room, work through how to pack a kitchen, then how to pack dishes.
Labeling the kitchen box
Write kitchen, cookware and the top item you will need first. A box of skillets labeled open first is a gift on the first night, along with the items in the first-night box.