OXO
OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Kitchen Tool Drawer Organizer
The OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Kitchen Tool Drawer Organizer fits most standard kitchen drawers and expands to fill different widths. Here is what makes it stand out and where it falls short.
What Is the OXO Large Expandable Kitchen Tool Drawer Organizer?
This is an expandable drawer organizer tray designed specifically for kitchen tool drawers. Unlike spring-tension dividers that span the width of a drawer, this is a full-tray organizer: it has multiple compartments of different sizes molded into the base, covers the full interior surface of the drawer, and expands widthwise to fit drawers of different dimensions. The OXO version is sized for large kitchen drawers — the kind used for cooking utensils, serving spoons, spatulas, whisks, and similar tools that are too long for a compact organizer.
Where We Tested It
We tested it in a large kitchen drawer that previously held cooking utensils in an unorganized pile over four weeks. We loaded it with a typical household set: spatulas, ladles, whisks, tongs, can openers, and peelers. The goal was to assess how well the compartment sizes accommodate real kitchen tools and whether the expansion mechanism holds its shape under daily use.
What It Does Well
Compartment sizes suit real kitchen tools: The large compartments are wide enough for bulky tools like ladles and whisks that do not fit in standard office or desk organizers. The mix of compartment sizes in one tray lets you keep different-sized utensils in the same drawer without a jumble — long tools in the long compartments, small tools in the short ones.
Expansion mechanism keeps the tray in place: The tray expands to press against the side walls of the drawer, which prevents it from sliding when you open and close the drawer. A tray that slides around is more frustrating than no tray at all, so this is a critical feature that OXO executes well.
Durable construction that handles kitchen use: The material is BPA-free and designed to handle contact with cooking utensils including those that may carry residual heat or grease. The interior surface is smooth enough to wipe clean quickly.
Designed with OXO attention to detail: The walls between compartments are tall enough to prevent items from tipping into adjacent sections, and the base has a slightly textured surface that adds some resistance to items sliding freely within their compartment.
Where It Falls Short
Compartment layout is fixed: The compartments are molded into the tray and cannot be reconfigured. If your kitchen tools do not map well to the specific compartment arrangement, you may find some sections underused while others are overloaded. This is a limitation of any fixed-compartment tray.
Works best in a single depth of drawer: The tray is designed for standard drawer depths. If your kitchen drawer is unusually shallow or very deep, the tray may not make ideal use of the space. In a very deep drawer, the tray covers only one layer and the rest of the drawer depth goes unused.
Large size means it does not work in smaller drawers: This organizer is sized for large utensil drawers. For smaller kitchen drawers — a spice rack drawer, a junk drawer, or a cutlery drawer — the tray is too large and a compact organizer is a better fit.
How It Compares
For a bamboo alternative at a similar price point, the Bellemain Bamboo Expandable Kitchen Drawer Organizer offers an 8-slot layout with a natural aesthetic. The OXO is better for a mixed utensil drawer with items of different sizes; the Bellemain is better when most items are long kitchen tools of similar dimensions. For a more modular, configurable approach, the SpaceAid 7-Piece Bamboo Organizer Set lets you define your own compartment layout.
Who Should Buy This
Anyone with a large kitchen drawer full of cooking utensils that currently sit in a disorganized pile. The OXO tray brings immediate order with no setup beyond placing it in the drawer and expanding it to fit. If your kitchen drawer is large and your tools are varied in size, this organizer matches real kitchen needs better than one-size-fits-all alternatives.
Who Should Skip It
If your kitchen drawer is small or medium-sized, look for a compact expandable organizer instead. If you need to reconfigure your drawer layout regularly, or if you have very specific compartment size requirements, a modular tray set gives you more control. And if aesthetics are a priority and you want a natural look, the bamboo alternatives are a better visual fit.
Our Verdict
The OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Kitchen Tool Drawer Organizer does exactly what a busy kitchen drawer needs: it creates clear compartments for tools of different sizes, holds its position without sliding, and cleans up easily. The OXO build quality is solid, the expansion mechanism works reliably, and the result is a drawer that stays organized through daily cooking use. For a large utensil drawer, it is one of the most practical options available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size kitchen drawer does the OXO large organizer fit?
The OXO expandable organizer is designed for large kitchen drawers and adjusts to fit within a specific width range — check the product listing for the exact minimum and maximum dimensions. It works best in the deep, wide drawers typically used for cooking utensils, not in narrow cutlery drawers or shallow utility drawers. Measure your drawer interior before ordering.
Can I wash the OXO kitchen drawer organizer?
The OXO organizer is top-rack dishwasher safe, which is one of its advantages over bamboo or wood alternatives. For everyday cleaning, wiping with a damp sponge or cloth is sufficient. The smooth interior surface does not collect grease or debris in the seams the way textured or woven organizers can. Removing the tray entirely to clean both the tray and the drawer underneath is easy given the expansion mechanism — just compress it, lift it out, clean both, and expand it back in.
Does the tray hold in place when the drawer is opened fast?
Yes, when expanded to press against both side walls. The expansion mechanism applies consistent outward pressure, and the tray stays fixed during normal drawer operation. If you have very smooth laminate drawer interiors and very little friction, the tray may shift slightly before the drawer is fully expanded to width — make sure the tray is set at the correct expansion width for your specific drawer interior before loading it with tools.
What is the difference between the OXO standard and large kitchen drawer organizer?
OXO makes expandable kitchen drawer organizers in multiple sizes. The large version has more compartments, deeper wells for tall items, and a wider expansion range suited to full-size utensil drawers. If your drawer holds ladles, spatulas, and whisks, the large size is appropriate. If you are organizing a smaller utility or cutlery drawer, the compact version avoids wasted space. Check the expansion range of each to match your specific drawer width.
Specifications
| Expansion Range | 13–23 in wide |
|---|---|
| Compartments | 6 |
| Material | BPA-free plastic with non-slip lining |
| Color | White/Gray |
| Recommended Care | Hand wash |