Simplify Your Kitchen, Please!
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
If you are trying to cook healthy meals for you and your family, you might think you need the newest appliances and a bunch of handy gadgets to make cooking easier. However, that is NOT true. It is 100 times easier to work in a simplified kitchen. Please look around your kitchen and implement a few of these suggestions.
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Make Your Kitchen Work For You
1) Clear Your Counters. Your counters are meant to be workspaces, not storage spaces. I'm not saying you can't have anything on your counters, but make sure it's the bare minimum. Only the items you use daily should be on your counters, and honestly, not even all of those items. For instance, I used to keep my large KitchenAid stand mixer on my counters because it's heavy, and I also thought it was pretty. However, I used it only a couple of times a month, so why was I giving it prime real estate? Now, our espresso machine is used multiple times a day. Same for our Air Fryer/Toaster Oven thingy. So yes, they earn the right to remain out. But what about the utensil caddy? For years, I left this out because we use something out of it every single day. But does it really need to live on the counter?
With just a little rearranging, I was about to free up enough space in a drawer to store all the utensils that used to live in the caddy. The space we freed up on the counter isn't really usable, but it did add to the overall feel of a simplified counter, and less clutter makes cleaning the kitchen much easier.
2) Limit Duplicates. Do I have duplicates? Of course. I often need a couple of rubber spatulas while baking, and sometimes one frying pan isn't enough when I'm making dinner. There are items we want duplicated, but it's important to evaluate them and remove excess to free up space. How many coffee cups do you realistically need? What about water bottles or travel mugs? Do you need 2 sets of measuring spoons? What about mixing bowls? Knives? Baking sheets? Dish towels? How many is enough...honestly?
*Tip - if you want to experiment with less, but are afraid to get rid of something you might decide you want/need, use a 'Time-Will-Tell' bin. Find a Rubbermaid bin or an empty shelf in the basement, and move some of your duplicates out of the kitchen and into that space. Store extra items away as an experiment. If you need them, you know where to find them. However, if you don't miss them after a month or two, you know you can safely donate them.
3) Ditch Small Appliances. Of course, I don't mean all of them, and I don't even mean that you have to get rid of them. Instead of assuming you need a panini press, a blender, a crockpot, a food processor, a stand mixer, and an electric can opener, evaluate what you actually use. But before you decide what to keep and what to let go of, ask a few questions.
How often do you use it?
Do you own something else that does the same thing?
Is this appliance difficult to clean or maintain?
If you never use it, or there's something else that does the same thing, the decision is easy: get rid of it.
If you use it only OCCASSIONALLY and there's nothing else you can use, keep it. But store it outside of your kitchen (maybe in the basement, pantry, or garage). Don't waste valuable kitchen space on it.
If you use it often and there is no alternative, store it in or near the kitchen for easy access.
If you aren't using an appliance because it's difficult to clean, you have my permission to let it go. It's not going to become easier to maintain if it's left in your cupboards or on your counter.
This is another great place to time-test things. If you are unsure if you can do without a small appliance, add it to the "Time-Will-Tell" bin. If you decide you need it, you still have it. But if you haven't used it in months, let it go.
Some real-life examples from my kitchen:
We realized we always use the air fryer/toaster oven to toast our bread, so we donated our toaster.
The crockpot hadn't been used in years, so we donated it.
I use the Instant Pot only for making yogurt about twice a month; it now lives in the basement. The same goes for my KitchenAid stand mixer.
4) Store Items Where They Are Used. If you have a small kitchen, you probably have less flexibility, but you also don't have to worry about it as much, since everything is near where you'll use it. However, for bigger kitchens, it is important to create zones.
Near the stove/oven - pans, spices, utensils, pot holders.
Near where you prep dinner - cutting boards, knives, cooking tools.
Near the sink: dish towels/cloths, soap, scrubbers, and a drain rack.
Near where you bake - flour, sugar, measuring cups/spoons.
5) Store Items For Easy Clean-Up. Sometimes it makes sense to store items where they will be used, but for items like glasses, plates, and silverware, it is easier to keep them near the sink or dishwasher. That way, you can put away the bulk of your dishes without moving all over the kitchen.
6) Create Daily Foundational Kitchen Habits. The best way to keep your kitchen in good working order is to ensure you maintain it. Here are a few ideas:
Reset the kitchen after each use. Whether you make a meal or a sandwich, be sure to clean up as soon as you are done. Don't leave it to do later.
Create the dishes habit that works best for you. I like to do the dishes after every meal. But at the very least, complete the cycle of dishes at least once a day. The easiest way to do this is to wash the dishes or fill and run the dishwasher every evening. In the morning, empty the dish drainer and/or empty the dishwasher. And before you argue that it takes too long, I encourage you to time it. It literally takes 3-4 minutes to empty the dishwasher. Now that the dishwasher or dish drainer is empty, you can add items to it as needed throughout the day. Repeat.
Create a simple 'close the kitchen' routine. When you do your evening dishes, also wipe down the counters and the stove. What? The stove??? If you rarely clean the stove, this may seem like a significant task. But if you do it daily, it's quick and easy. I also like to do a quick sweep of the floor because walking on crumbs is gross.
If you forget your 'close the kitchen' routine in the evening, do it first thing in the morning so your kitchen starts the day with its best face forward.
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