Abstract: A storage basket, a storage rack and a method are provided for the compact storage of fuel elements and control rods of a nuclear power plant. The storage basket includes a plurality of inserts for receiving a fuel element. The inserts are disposed in such a way as to form a cruciform gap for receiving a control rod. Four fuel elements as well as one control rod of a boiling water nuclear power plant can be intermediately stored in a carrying well of a fuel element storage rack in a particularly compact and combined way by placing inserts in such a manner as to form a storage basket. A checkered configuration of the carrying wells of the fuel element storage rack permits intermediate positions between the carrying wells to also be supplied with one control rod and four fuel elements.