When renovating your home, you may find yourself stressed and feeling a little chaotic with the lack of structure in your living space, especially a highly used area like your kitchen. Ordering takeout from your favorite restaurant can be fun but is certainly not a long-term solution for every meal. Depending on the stage of your remodel, you can still whip up some quick and easy meals while waiting for your dream kitchen to be complete! Keep reading to learn some tips and tricks on how to set up a temporary kitchen as well as helpful tools to feed your family while your kitchen is under construction.
Set up a makeshift station. Clear out a separate area in your home that can temporarily be used as your “kitchen” while your current one is being remodeled. This area should have a small prep table, outlets to plug in small appliances, and storage for grocery items if your current pantry isn’t accessible. You don’t need to move your entire kitchen into this area but think about items that will be used most frequently (eg: silverware, plates, bowls, pans, etc.). Place these items into plastic storage drawers so they are easily accessible yet stored away when not in use.
Utilize countertop appliances. A few countertop appliances can make all the difference. Think about the appliances you already own or ones you would want to add to your new kitchen. An air fryer is a popular appliance that can cook a wide variety of dishes with less of the prep and cleanup. Do you know you can even cook steaks in it?! Check out this recipe here: https://bit.ly/3DLQEzr
Instant Pots or slow cookers also come in handy. There are a lot of things you can make right in one pot! Most models even have a mode where you are able to brown or sauté right in the pot.
Break out that old Panini maker or George Foreman grill and whip up some tasty sandwiches for the kids or have a family burger night! Microwaves are also great for quick meals, defrosting frozen options, or heating up those restaurant leftovers. Some other things that may also come in handy are an induction burner, tabletop griddle, blender, mini-fridge (if you can’t access your current fridge), and a toaster oven.
Put in the prep. Another great option is to cook in advance! Bust out those saved Pinterest recipes and stock your freezer prior to renovation. Some freezer-friendly options include lasagna, soups or stews, and basic browned meat for tacos and salads, burritos, and pasta dishes.
Take the shortcut. Our last tip for you is to shop smarter to minimize prep when it comes to cooking. Now is the time to buy those prewashed or pre-prepped fruits and veggies. Try out some of those pre-cooked dinner options or store-bought dips and sauces. Better yet, try out some easier no-cook recipes!
We hope these simple tips will make cooking a little easier on your family and save you from the dreaded endless line of takeout bags and boxes. Your renovation will be done before you know it, and you’ll be back whipping up your favorite recipes in a shiny new kitchen in no time.
