It is said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. In fact, it’s a vital part of any home renovation. However, renovations are disruptive and expensive. There are times when you need to live without a kitchen for a certain period of time. If it’s temporary, or if you just don’t want to eat out all the time, here are some tips for how to survive without your kitchen.
Start with a kitchen plan during renovations
The first step in living without your kitchen is to make a plan. If you have been out of your kitchen for a few weeks, you can prepare food in advance and store it in the fridge. That way, when you’re trying to eat healthy on a budget, you won’t be tempted by take-out meals or convenience foods.
If your renovation lasts more than six months, then it may be reasonable to rent an apartment with cooking facilities at that time. You can cook food in advance and store it in the fridge.
Some people find that when they often eat out or order a take-out they do not miss their kitchen so much. But if you want to have more at home, here are some tips on how to live without your kitchen:
Stock up on kitchen food during renovations
If you know you’re going to be living without a kitchen for a while, stock up on food. You can buy canned goods and other non-perishable items in bulk to save some time. Another option is cooking large batches of your favorite dish and freezing them. This way you can defrost it whenever needed and have hot meals without having to think too much about where to go eat if you want something more than cereal or toast.
For those who love leftovers, make sure you cook dishes with lots of vegetables or protein so that the leftovers are still filling even after reheating them.
Think about your diet in the kitchen during renovations
If you’re going to live without a kitchen for a short period of time, you might as well consder your diet. If you never cook at home, then this is the perfect opportunity to change that.
There are plenty of healthy options that don’t require the use of a stove or oven. Packaged salads can be heated up in the microwave and eaten with a fork. Soups and takeout are also good choices because they’re easy to store overnight in the fridge and can be reheated later on in the day.
You can also buy creative alternatives, like pot pies, which only require cold water before microwaving.
If you need help transitioning your diet without cooking at home, invest in some frozen meals beforehand so when the time comes you won’t have to eat out every night. Frozen meals are filling and do not need any additional ingredients (like olive oil) when reheating them so they’re healthy too!
Figure out What Appliances you Need to Make Good Food at Home
It’s not as hard as you might think. Sometimes it just takes a little creativity and some ingenuity. So, figure out what appliances or cooking methods would be the most helpful to you. If you’re looking for an idea, consider using your oven and stove top. You can roast vegetables in the oven and sear meat on the stove top with a cast iron pan. This will save money on groceries and time spent cooking in general.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to cook without power, try using your toaster oven or crock pots for soups and stews.
Make some space for cooking inside the kitchen during renovations
If you’re only without a kitchen for a few weeks, it’s not all that difficult to set up an indoor kitchen. You will need to make sure you have some space and a few essential pieces of equipment to get cooking.
- Kitchen island or counter space
- A stove top (either portable or electric)
- Pots and pans
- Utensils and dishes for eating and cooking
- A refrigerator large enough for storing food (you can use coolers in the meantime)
- A dining room table, chairs, dish towel, and dishwasher detergent
Choose a new kitchen design for the kitchen during the renovation
The first step to living in a temporary kitchen-less home is deciding on a kitchen design. You’ll need to figure out what kind of kitchen you want before anything else.
The entire process is easier when you know what you want in your new kitchen and can properly plan how it will work with your current space.
There are two main choices when it comes to designing your new kitchen – custom or prefabricated. Prefab kitchens are usually cheaper than custom ones and are available in more styles to choose from, but they’re not designed specifically for your home’s layout.
Custom kitchens take more time, but they often fit better into your space, which also means that they may be more expensive initially as well.
Consider adding an outdoor kitchen to the kitchen during renovations
If you’ve got space for an outdoor kitchen, it’s a good idea to consider building one during your kitchen renovation. Outdoor kitchens are becoming more common, and they’re a great way to get the best of both worlds: cooking on the grill outside while still being able to eat inside.
Find a great place to store food in your kitchen during renovations
You’ll want to find a good place to store your food. You should buy some takeaway containers and put your food in them. If you’re not eating out, then takeout containers are perfect for storing your leftovers. Also, you could go for non-perishable items to save cash on groceries.
Cook at the Table to Live Without a Kitchen During Renovation
Instead of cooking in the kitchen, put a table in your dining room. Cook at the table and make it an enjoyable experience. Cooking is one of life’s simple pleasures, so why not make it something to look forward to?
Get Creative with Leftovers and Microwaves to Live Without a Kitchen During Renovation
If you’re living without your kitchen, you have to eat out of cans and jars all the time. But you may not have a can opener or a jar opener. Thankfully, there are creative ways to open these things. You can use a butter knife as a can opener and rubber bands as jar openers.