Remodeling a kitchen often forces you out of the room entirely, meaning your cooking options become severely limited. While dining out might be fun from time to time, it becomes an unhealthy, expensive option when it's your only option -- night after night. Make your kitchen remodel easier on yourself by using the right tools and creative ideas to keep you in budget.
Kitchen Swap
Ask a friend if you can use their kitchen for an afternoon to make a home-cooked meal. Make extra to leave behind. If you're a good cook, this could become a happy habit for both you and your friend.
Countertop Oven
A countertop oven is going to expand your cooking options immensely during your kitchen remodel. A countertop oven is just like your regular oven -- only smaller. It can bake, broil, and toast just like its larger counterpart, but it takes up less space and can be moved around depending on what portion of your kitchen is being remodeled each day.
Microwave
Don't put your microwave away. And don't scoff at microwave meals, either. While microwave meals may not be on the top of your list on a regular day, they can really fit the bill when there's simply not enough space to make your favorite dish. Go for higher-quality microwave meals that taste almost as good as homemade food.
Electric Panini Maker
You don't have to say no to a delicious grilled cheese during your kitchen remodel. An electric panini maker takes up very little space and delivers seriously good results. And it's not just for paninis -- try bacon, chicken breasts, quesadillas, grilled vegetables and more.
Hot Plate
Cook up some pasta, taco meat, quesadillas, eggs, and more on a handy hot plate. It takes up little space, but allows you to make homemade food.
Slow Cooker
Before your crew arrives in the morning, throw ingredients for a stew, shredded chicken, soup, or more into your slow cooker, turn it on, and walk away. By the time dinner rolls around, you'll have a delicious meal to feed your family. Use crock pot liners to keep clean-up easier.
Outdoor Grill
Enjoy barbecues during your kitchen renovation. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, vegetables, foil dinners, and more cook up beautifully without touching the kitchen.
Paper Plates
If you can set up a temporary kitchen in another area of your home where you have access to a sink, it might not be so bad to continue using regular dishes. But most of us won't have that option. Instead, you'll need to use paper plates. To cut down on waste, reuse plates that didn't get that dirty (a peanut butter sandwich rarely leaves messes behind).
Freezer Meals
In the weeks leading up to your kitchen remodel, make some of your favorite meals -- only, double them. Put the portion you don't eat in the freezer. When the remodel is happening, pull out a freezer meal and heat it up in your slow cooker or countertop oven.
Buy Pre-Made
During the renovation, buy pre-made items from the grocery store. Pre-cooked chicken can mix together nicely with pasta boiled on your hot plate. Pre-made salads mean no washing, chopping, or dirtying of dishes. Pre-cooked bacon and sausage makes less mess too. Pre-made taquitos and burritos can be heated up in the microwave. You'll have to spend a bit more money at the grocery store, but it still won't be as much as take-out.
Keep a Sense of Humor
A kitchen remodel can leave you feeling like your world is turned upside down, but if you keep a sense of humor and enjoy the living room picnics, this can be a time your family looks back on with amusement. Take before, during, and after photos to keep your motivation high. And go out to eat every once in a while. Getting away from your makeshift kitchen will be good for you. Remember -- when the remodel is complete, every frozen taquito will have been worth it.
New Life Bath and Kitchen works hard to keep your living spaces clean and tidy to cut down on the disruption in your life. Give us a call at (805) 639-5433, or contact us online.