Four Tips for Cooking in Your Small Kitchen

Wherever you live in New York City, chances are good that there are great places to eat out nearby, and that your kitchen is really small. We know Manhattanites eat out an awful lot โ€“ based on data we put together for our post on the hidden costs of living in New York., but with a kitchen barely big enough to turn around in and ย Manhattanites spend over $800 per month dining out โ€“ but with a kitchen barely big enough to turn around in, much less cook easily, what choice do you have? Luckily, we have some tips for cooking in your small kitchen.

No, we donโ€™t mean storing clothes in the oven or plates in the dishwasher. Itโ€™ll help you save money, and in the bargain, youโ€™ll get to make your apartment into more of a home. Plus, youโ€™ll have tasty leftovers!

1. Decrease Your Kitchen Tools

You have limited storage space. Tools that can handle lots of different tasks are the order of the day. Which ones? Youโ€™ll figure out over time what you really need. To start, though, you need a cutting board, a sharp chefโ€™s knife (donโ€™t skimp on this), a saucepot, and a skillet. You should also have a wet measuring cup (an 8-cup Pyrex does double duty as a handy mixing bowl) and, ideally, a group of dry measuring cups.

Now *this* is a knife.
Now *this* is a knife.

(Photo: Dinner Series/CC 2.0)

What other tools do you need? Hereโ€™s a handy trick: take all of your other kitchen stuff and put it somewhere far from the kitchen. If you find yourself going back to it regularly to get certain things, take those pieces and add them back. This is iterative โ€“ you might find that some things you thought were essential arenโ€™t, and vice versa. Over time you may find that your tastes shape your essentials (or the other way around!).

Pro tip: youโ€™ll be amazed at the number of devices you can replace with one good immersion blender. Immersion blenders are easy to clean, too.

2. Keep Your Counter Space Clean and Clear

You need counter space on which to prep, cook and plate your masterpieces. If youโ€™re storing your take-out menus and plastic forks on your counter youโ€™ll have to move them before you start cooking, which is just another obstacle to doing it. (Itโ€™ll also remind you how easy it is to get delivery!) Also, resist the urge to store appliances on your counter, even ones that you use fairly regularly.

We'll admit, this is pretty impressive. Not for beginners though!
We’ll admit, this is pretty impressive. Not for beginners though!

(Photo: Maggie Hoffman/CC 2.0)

If you have the space to have one, a free-standing kitchen island (even if itโ€™s just a few square feet) can give you both counter space and storage space.

3. Keep Your Cooking Simple

Enjoy exotic food and five-star French cuisine? Sounds great, but itโ€™ll be tough in your small space. The trick here is using few ingredients (and only as much as you need), and using spices to help add flavor. Here itโ€™s worth a few moments of research. There are lots of websites that specialize in recipes with few ingredients.

Itโ€™s worth it to keep some of your favorite dry spices and seasonings on hand, as well as the basics (salt, sugar, pepper, olive oil). You can always supplement your spices with fresh ones as you need, but donโ€™t overbuy the stored stuff โ€“ you donโ€™t have enough space!

4. A Little Foresight Goes a Long Way

When youโ€™re making your menu, pick recipes that require either limited prep or can be done in one pot all at once. While youโ€™re at it, look for recipes that start with the same base ingredients or flavors. With one prep session you can get ready for multiple meals!

When youโ€™re prepping for future meals, make sure you store the extra in Ziploc bags or Tupperware. If youโ€™re extra-sophisticated you can โ€œpar cookโ€ your meal, which means cooking it in part beforehand and then finishing it off when youโ€™re ready to serve.

Also, when youโ€™re planning your meals, avoid recipes that require the same tools or heat source at the same time. That helps from a timing perspective (you still need to watch everything though!).

Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.ย 

lawrence
lawrence
Lawrence part of the RentHop Data Science team with over a decade of experience in the real estate industry. In addition, he is a software developer and quantitative analyst with over 12 years of experience in software development and quantitative modeling. Lawrence merges two of his passions together to help renters across the nation with their home search.

You May Also Like

Summer Decorations For Your Apartment

Summer is here to stay, which usually means a beach vacation, frozen margaritas, and chilling in a pleasantly decorated space. But, not everyone has...

10 Things to Check Before Renting an Apartment

Finding a new apartment is equally exciting as it is nerve-wracking. In places like New York City, renters only have a few weeks to...

The Hidden Waterfalls of New York City

New York City isnโ€™t just a huge, concrete jungle. Behind the bustling traffic and tall skyscrapers, are both natural and man-made hidden escapes. What...

Recent Articles