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.
Amber says
I use my crockpot and kitchen aide mixer weekly and toaster oven nearly daily. We don’t have a lot of those other things like rice cooker. My mother loves to give me things she no longer wants to store (ie her China), then guilt me if I choose to get rid of them.
ILIL ARBEL says
I think you are right about most of your choices, but some of us use the crock pot very often. Nothing on earth makes such wonderful beans, lentil soups, vegetable stews, and many other things with so little work and trouble. So the crockpot stays.
Susan Hill says
I love my KitchenAid mixer for making the world’s finest cheesecakes (that’s the recipe on the graham cracker crumb box).
I love my Vitamix for all the pureeing and smoothie making I do.
I hated my breadmaker and was glad to get rid of it. I like having my hands in the dough.
Jodi says
Sorry…but I actually cook and I use my crock pot(s) extensively. Also use my work and electric dryer and air dryer. I can rid of clothes, books, what nots but my kitchen is the busiest room in my home and well, it’s gonna be one that may remain a bit cluttered.
Debby says
I mostly agree except for the toaster over, but I use mine at least once a day. In fact, I would likely choose it over an oven (I’m a party of one). I’m also a minimalist in my pantry items. I won’t make a recipe if I have to buy more than two new ingredients (excluding the protein). I just can’t use them up before they go bad and it pains me to throw food items in the trash.
MinimalistVeganLola says
Thank you, this is great. My partner and I have the same mindset and own very few items in the kitchen. The only new appliance I am considering right now is Vitamix, hence my interest in looking over your suggestions. Note to readers: this list is for those of us who actually identify as or aspire to become minimalists. No need to leave angry comments, just love and accept yourself for who you are – no judgment; all good.
Jacquelyn says
Which 3 pots and 3 pans do you own?
Karen Mary says
I’m on the same page with everything except those heirloom dishes. I don’t keep them in the kitchen, though. I store them in the basement. I love dishes, so they bring delight me!
Beth Bush says
Most of your list I can agree with. However I will never part with the Kitchenaid mixer! I have burnt out enough hand mixers to prove this! Next, I only run my dishwasher when it’s full and service for eight doesn’t fill it. Now this isn’t in the kitchen but my bedroom – the Nespresso machine! Best way to start the day ?
Christa says
Ditto on the burning out hand mixers! We have a Bosch for bread-mixing. Hand mixer just can’t stand up to that punishment. I keep the hand mixer for now, until it dies. it is handy for small mixing projects. We are debating replacing the blender–I have an immersion one, and a small smoothie-type that I got with a weight-loss program thing, and so far that is working for us.
Anna says
What do you do with this stuff you want to get rid of?
joshua becker says
Donate to a local charity.
Christa says
Or a garage/yard/rummage sale