Consumerist culture ingrained in you that more is better. You are made to believe that happiness lies in acquisition. Fortunately, you can go against the grain. For instance, you can choose to pursue a minimalist lifestyle. But you don’t have to quit your tendency to shop cold turkey—ease yourself into a simpler lifestyle by committing to a minimalist kitchen first.
A minimalist kitchen favors functionality above all else. Everything should serve a purpose. The idea is to rid your space of stuff that has no practical value. That does not mean your kitchen will be devoid of style; in fact, minimalist spaces tend to look charmingly clean and classy.
To guide you through this transition, here are seven essentials for a minimalist kitchen. If you already have a functional kitchen, this will help you declutter. Meanwhile, if you’re in the process of building one, this will allow you to narrow down your shopping list.
1. Range Cooker
You need a stovetop with an oven. That is pretty basic but worth mentioning. Usually, a range cooker suits a bigger kitchen space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one if yours is a tiny kitchen. To clear up space, you may consider getting rid of other electric cooking appliances, such as your rice cooker or pressure cooker.
With a gas range cooker, you can already do all the cooking activities you can imagine. You can bake, roast, and cook whatever dish you crave—no need for extra equipment.
2. Multipurpose Cookers
Here’s a worthy alternative for the traditional range cooker, and it’s most suited to people with kitchens smaller than usual. Multipurpose cookers come in a variety of designs.
There’s the air fryer, for example, which you can use to cook a plethora of dishes. The list includes frozen food like nuggets and French fries, vegetables like brussels sprouts and broccoli, and even sweets like pastries and cookies. That means you can get rid of redundant kitchen equipment and free up space in your kitchen.
3. Refrigerator
This is non-negotiable. You need to prolong the shelf life of perishable goods, and you can’t do that without a refrigerator. The kind of fridge to buy depends on the space you have. You can splurge on a big fridge if you have ample space. Conversely, there are cute but equally functional refrigerators if you have limited space.
Make sure to take home a fridge that will blend in with the kitchen’s overall aesthetics. Remember that it’s one of the most visible appliances there. You don’t want it to be an eyesore.
4. Knives and Cutting Board
The key is to invest in high-quality knives. If you’re not prissy and you don’t mind using a knife to cut something it’s not supposed to cut, you’ll do just fine with a few knives that get the work done. You do not need a set of knives championed by Gordon Ramsay or any chef on TV who’s selling it to you.
As for your cutting board, you can’t go wrong with wood. It’s easy to clean, and contrary to popular belief, it’s not unsanitary. Plus, food tastes better when cut on a wooden cutting board.
5. Plates, Bowls, and Utensils
When it comes to dining utensils, you can make do of the basics. That’s most true if you don’t regularly host fancy dinners requiring multiple kinds of glasses, plates, and spoons. Even if you decide to throw a multi-course dinner party for a few friends, you’ll find a way to get creative with what you have. Or you could perhaps borrow?
What you do need to have are a few plates (six will do for two people), bowls, and a cutlery set or two. Get rid of those specialty beverage glasses, for starters.
6. Pots and Pans
A clever trick is to equip your kitchen with pots and pans that can be used for both cooking and serving. Think of it as you shooting two birds with one stone. Your best bets include cast iron and stainless-steel pots and pans. Go for the non-stick variety.
7. Storage Solutions
This is where it gets tricky. You need storage solutions for food. Think containers with lids, or mason jars. Avoid bulky storage containers made of materials thicker than what’s in them. You also need cabinets for stuff you can’t squeeze in your fridge.
Here, the goal is to devote as much of your kitchen space to storage, so everything is always neatly tucked away. We’re talking about a minimalist kitchen, after all. And that means no eyesores.
Just the Basics
Choosing a minimalist kitchen means you will finally be spared from the burden of clutter. You won’t have too much stuff to clean or maintain. Plus, your kitchen will look more spacious, and it’ll be easier for you to move around and find what you need.
If those reasons are not enough to convince you to get behind the idea, consider how you’ll be doing Mother Nature a solid—yes, you get to reduce your carbon footprint.
Keep in mind, however, that there’s no hard-and-fast rule on what constitutes a minimalist kitchen. In the end, it will depend on your personal needs and lifestyle. So, take those into account before pursuing the project. And to wrap this all up, no matter how small or minimalist your kitchen is, there’s always room there for an air-purifying plant to make the space not just pleasing to the eyes but also clean.