Lots of people move into a new house or flat with the intention of ripping out the kitchen so they can remodel it to their own designs. It’s great once it’s done, but if you’re about to go through this gruelling process, you’re probably wondering how you’ll survive in a house without a heart.
Fret no more, because we’ve got all the tips you need to keep yourselves fed, watered and on an even keel until your brand spanking new kitchen finally takes form.
Do the remodelling in the summer
Summer equals salads, right? Salads don’t need much cooking, especially if you source some decent pre-cooked meat or become a bit more flexitarian.
If you have a garden, then you can do a few barbecues. Bear in mind that you won’t be able to finish off the burgers in the kitchen because it’s not there anymore, so do be careful with meat.
Invest in a mini fridge and a countertop hotplate
These handy appliances will become your best friends. You can keep them on a table top or even on the floor and you’ll be surprised by how quickly you get used to rustling up basic and not-so-basic meals on one or two rings. If you don’t already have a slow cooker or electric pressure cooker, get one now because they’re brilliant. Don’t forget your kettle, toaster and microwave, either, as they’ll certainly earn their places on the tabletop (or floor).
Batch cook and freeze
You might be wondering how you’ll freeze food without a kitchen, but your freezer can be free standing for a while. Use your slow cooker to make bulk stews or curries and stash them in pots in your freezer so that you can just heat and eat on those days when even a salad feels like hard work.
Treat yourselves to the odd meal out
You might be without your kitchen for a couple of months, so give yourselves a break and have the occasional meal out. You don’t have to spend a small fortune – just look for a local noodle bar, for example. There’s also a lot to be said for trying out your local takeaways once a week or so.
If you’re really organised, batch cook before you lose your kitchen
It’s so much easier to batch cook when you have a full-sized fridge, an oven and a working hob, so try and stock up that freezer before you have to relocate it to the hallway or garage. You can also cook lots of rice portions, but remember to freeze them as soon as they cool to avoid food poisoning.
Get back to basics
No one will suffer from a few microwave baked potatoes with beans and cheese for lunch, or from peanut butter on toast for breakfast. Make sure you have lots of fresh fruit around so everyone’s getting enough fibre and that you’ve got lots of tea, coffee and powdered milk.
Try to create less washing up
It’s one of the most awkward aspects of having no kitchen, but you can make washing up in the bathroom sink easier by getting everyone to wash coffee cups after they’ve used them. Lots of people, especially teens, use cups and bowls and leave them lying around before simply grabbing another one when they’re hungry again. By washing up individual items after they’ve been used makes life easier and avoids a crowded bathroom sink at the end of the day.
