Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from John and Dana Shultz. John and Dana share simple, delicious recipes on their website Minimalist Baker.
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Minimalism isn’t just about the number of things you own. It’s about paring down to the essentials and finding contentment in owning less. This applies to every part of your life, for example, your wardrobe, the items in your room, and even your kitchen.
Practicing minimalism in the kitchen doesn’t require sacrificing your ability to make incredible meals. In fact, having less clutter in the kitchen actually makes it easier to get in there and cook up something wonderful.
Simplifying into a minimalist kitchen always starts with removing the utensils and appliances you aren’t using and don’t need. This means your kitchen can be decluttered very inexpensively with only a little time and thoughtful consideration.
Below is a list of 16 kitchen utensils we don’t own (and we run a cooking blog!). The list is partially inspired by A No-Frills Kitchen Still Cooks, a New York Times article packed with tips and suggestions for keeping a simple kitchen.
This list is neither exclusive nor conclusive. Rather, it’s merely a starting point to hopefully inspire you to reevaluate how much you keep in your kitchen. Be honest with your situation and only keep the tools you are using to create a minimalist kitchen.
16 Kitchen Tools We Do Not Own
1. Kitchen Aid Mixer. Not owning this guy is pure heresy in the food blog world, but we survive just fine. Replacement: A $13 handheld mixer.
2. Crock Pot. It’s big, it’s bulky, and you probably only use it once a year. Replacement: Varies by dish, but usually a large pot will suffice. If you really need one, borrow it from a friend.
3. Knife Block. These can be more bulky than necessary. Replacement: Keep our knives in the silverware drawer.
4. Excessive Pots and Pans. We simplified down to 3 pots and 3 pans. Replacement: Clean cabinets.
5. More than 8 plates, glasses, and bowls. We love to host. Rarely do we have more than 8 guests, but even when we do, we still have options. Replacement: Use specialty disposable plateware.
6. Extra coffee/tea mugs. Again, we decided we rarely ever need more than 8, and we don’t even have that many. Plus, these can double as glasses if you have more than 8 guests!
7. Bread Maker. Bulky and likely eating up cabinet space. Replacement: Bread recipes that don’t require a maker such as our 7-ingredient Muesli Bread!
8. Toaster oven. If you don’t regularly use this, then it’s just eating up space. Replacement: Regular toaster or a traditional oven.
9. A wok. Although a fun device, it’s rarely used. Replacement: The largest pan you own.
10. A Juicer. Big, bulky, and hard to clean. Replacement: If you love to juice, you can juice without a juicer.
11. Espresso machine. First, you probably don’t use this as much as you thought you would. Second, to get a really good espresso you usually need very high quality equipment and the time to adjust your grind/machinery to get that perfect shot. This simply isn’t practical for the average coffee lover. Replacement: Sell the espresso machine and go to a coffee shop when you want good espresso.
12. Grilled cheese maker. You don’t need this. Replacement: Almost any pan.
13. Rice maker. Only keep this if you regularly make a lot of rice. Replacement: Prepare rice in a traditional pot.
14. Doughnut pan. When is the last time you made doughnuts? Exactly. Replacement: Go buy doughnuts when you want them, or try a pan-free version.
15. Quesadilla maker/ Panini press. Ah! Replacement: You can get the same effect by using a skillet, tin foil, and pressing down on a pan on top.
16. Egg scrambler/milk frother/other trinkets. Be honest, you don’t really use these things. And they are only taking up space. Replacement: Just a little creativity.
+1. Fine china / heirloom dishes. This was intentionally saved for last, because it’s likely the emotional attachment is greater than the pragmatic realization that you are not using them. This quote has helped us in this area: “The truth is, neither our love for the person, nor their love for us, nor our memories, are in the possession.”
I want to finish by admitting we keep things that others might consider superfluous, but we use them every day and continue to enjoy them. Ultimately, we feel that should always be our guiding principle and hopefully one that empowers you to question the same.
What else can you/have you removed from your minimalist kitchen?
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You can find more of John and Dana’s fabulously wonderful recipes on their website, The Minimalist Baker.
Got rid of the handheld mixer when I got the Kitchenaid, and I’ve never regretted it. The items on her list that we own, we use.
I completely disagree with 1-3!
I use my milk frother every day.
Yup! Only cost 6.99$. Can be found at TJ Max, Ross Dress for Less, Hobby Lobby etc
I love mine!!!
I mix collagen and a packet of Splenda sweetener together with half n half in my coffee!
In regards to the fine china, I used to keep mine stored and used on holidays, birthdays, etc… Then one day I realized that life it too short to NOT use the good dishes – so my fine china became my everyday dishes – and I have not looked back. Every morning when I grab a dish for my brekfast I get lots of good memories too.
Great 👍 You’re worth the fine dishes!
Everyone is different. But, one thing that is not on this list, and might work for some people is a microwave. We decided to get rid of our microwave about 8 years ago. There’s very little that can’t be done in the oven or stove rather than the microwave. And it frees up a lot of counter space. We don’t miss it at all.
We felt the same although we use ours everyday. So what we did was buy the smallest one. Yep freed up a lot of space!
I will keep my frequently used crockpot. I gave away my Instantpot as I didn’t like the taste of food from it. I gave away my mother’s set of dishes as I have a set for ten. I just gave away my air popcorn popper, because I never used it. Forty years in the same home lends itself to an overabundance of crap. I have a way to go, but I’m getting there.
Amen to that. The kitchen seems to gather clutter, I go thru and pull things out several times a year, got rid of camping/picnic items, had way too many as we do those activities way less now. Goup homes and foster care uses these type items. I like instapot for meats on occasion, got rid of a crock pot.
Everyone is different so what gets used and what doesn’t varies. We use our slow cooker at least once a week. We use our espresso machine multiple times a day but don’t own a coffee machine.
The bread maker is great for people who can’t knead any more. I use mine for the dough function.
I love these suggestions!!
I love your suggestions also!
I didn’t read this article as snarky, and yes, I use my crock pot several times a week. I read it as “things you don’t need to buy/keep even though everybody else seems to think you can’t live without it.” Do I really need my George Foreman Grill? Haven’t used it in years. I think it’s time. That second slow cooker? It has seen better days, and really should go. I’ve got way too many plates. How can I tell? From the stack of dishes in the sink! Fly Lady says that if you have a big pile of laundry, you own too many clothes, and I am seeing that truth in my kitchen as well. I love the idea of having more room in my cabinets!
I use my crock pot every week, too. My weakness is outdoor grill tools and pans…. For extra kitchen items, there is a ministry here in Memphis that helps refugees in their new homes. They gladly accept kitchen items!
To minimize expenses, maximize health benefits, 95% of meals, baked goods and snacks we eat, i make at home. I do not buy fad appliances that do only one thing. But my kitchenaid is my work horse, and my crock pot is used regularly. My toaster oven is used daily in the summer, as an outdoor kitchen. I don’t disagree with the rest of your list.