So you plan to live in your house during your upcoming kitchen renovation, but how do you survive without a functioning kitchen? Consider these three tips.
Adjusting your menu
If you’re like most people you don’t have a second kitchen in your home, so you’ve got to be strategic in order to adjust to temporarily living without one. One key is to adapt your menu. If you and your family are used to eating heavily-prepared meals you may have to temporarily incorporate some lightly processed foods into your menu. So consider adding in some nonperishable items.
Preparing meals
You don’t have access to your stove and oven, but you can prepare meals using an electric skillet, an air fryer, a crock pot, microwave, and a toaster. A mini refrigerator will be your best friend. Be careful, though, not to overload your electrical outlets with these devices. You may also consider using a cooler filled with ice for added storage for drinks and other items needing to stay chilled.
Take advantage of preparing meals outdoors. Enjoy evenings or weekends with grilled burgers, hotdogs, steaks, shish kabobs, and grilled veggies. For dessert consider grilling fruits, like peaches and pineapple. These, and other delights, can make you and your family forget that you don’t have a working kitchen. If you’ve got the space, an occasional campfire can be perfect for a quick and easy dinner of roasted hotdogs and s’mores for dessert. Efforts like these can make temporarily living without a kitchen feel more like a fun adventure for small kids. For adults, it really is one, too—perhaps for different reasons.
Cleaning dishes and utensils
Invest in disposable plates, cups, and plastic ware—you probably won’t be disappointed by not having to wash dishes. Any utensils that need to be cleaned can be washed in a basin, or in a bathroom sink—just make sure it’s thoroughly disinfected first.
Best of all, it’s a good time to enjoy a few nights of ordering in.
