I Put a Rolling Plant Stand in My Pantry, and It’s the Smartest Storage Trick

When it comes to kitchen organization, I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel. I like to rely on tried-and-true methods, like stackable bins on sturdy wire shelving that have transformed our living room closet into a pantry, but I’m always open to trying something new or unusual. So when I read about this neat trick on The Kitchn using rolling plant stands to make storing heavy things easier, I knew I had to try it.

In the article, I learned that a former Kitchn staff member put a rolling plant stand mover on her pantry floor to easily slide out her small appliances, like an Instant Pot, air fryer, or food processor. The idea is brilliant and so useful, especially for what I wanted to use it for.

I recently put my beloved but very heavy stand mixer on the bottom of my pantry shelf to reclaim kitchen counter space. This was great for safety, but not for my lower back. I didn’t exactly relish the thought of having to tote that more than 25-pound appliance from the pantry closet in my living room, even if the sturdy tote it’s in does have an easy-to-grip handle.

But when I saw the possibilities of the Fasmov Rolling Plant Caddy, the wheels started turning — in my head, that is. For $20, you get a pack of three 11.6-inch round trays, which come with four sturdy casters that you pop in easily at the bottom. (Pro tip: They come in locked positions, so be sure to unlock them so that you’re not wondering why the stand isn’t rolling, like yours truly was.)

I took the mixer from the bottom shelf and placed it on the flat tray of the plant stand. (Admittedly, the mixer doesn’t quite fit on the 12-inch plant stands I got, but that’s fine — I center it as best I can, and it’s heavy enough to stay put.) From the get-go, I loved that I could slide it around in the small space as needed to store and access items around it. 

But that’s not the real beauty of this rolling plant stand. Whenever it’s time to bake, my mixer is in for the ride of its life. I roll it directly into my kitchen, so all I have to do is reach down and lift it to the counter. It is so much better than carrying it in from the other room; I have nightmares of dropping it on my foot!

Although I’m more than pleased with the alternative use for this plant stand, I think they are perfect for their original purpose, which is to hold large potted plants. I would suggest, though, that once you get your plant in a spot that you like, lock the wheels so that it stays firmly in place. That’s one wild ride that neither you nor your plant needs to experience!