A rental house from one of the many services offered is a year-round solution for getting together with family and friends. This article examines what might be in a kitchen away from home and what you would need to supplement their options.
A well-stocked rental house appears to have lots of kitchen essentials, but they are seldom what you need. One plastic cutting board with corners curling toward the center, a dull carving knife thrown in with the mismatched forks and spoons, and a bottle of pancake syrup in the left-hand corner of the refrigerator, behind the previous visitor’s half-eaten nonfat yogurt will all be present. There will also be unlabeled jars of clumpy spice powders. A good bottle of olive oil and a working chef’s knife is certainly not included.
I always intend to cook at least some of my meals in my rental kitchen. I’ve prepared excellent meals and enjoyed myself with friends and family in these less-than-ideal kitchen settings despite the inconsistent pantry options and lack of high-quality equipment. Despite all this, I look forward to sharing the kitchen with friends and family while on vacation.
Additionally, cooking while on vacation allows you to check out the neighborhood markets. I look forward to making a pit stop at each farm stand along the highway. Then there’s that surprise visit to the odd but inventive butcher shop where a vending machine dispenses vacuum-sealed ribeye and lamb chops in place of Pepsi and peanuts.
With feedback from family and friends, I have compiled a list of “almost everything” you’ll need for comfortable and calm cooking at your home away from home.
Of course, we know that some of you travel with the express purpose of not cooking at all. I feel you. Others may be aware that they will only be preparing one or two meals, so your packing requirements (as well as what can be packed, especially if you’re traveling by plane) may be pretty minimal. View this list as a “would be nice, but” and more as a collection of mix-and-match recommendations.
Simple Packing Advice for a Rental Kitchen
If your rental is within driving distance, consider preparing one or two dishes in advance and carry a cooler or an insulated bag (which we highly recommend). Even better: If you’re meeting up with friends or relatives. Plan to have your first dinner as a potluck with your vacation mates. For instance, the evening before you depart, you may roast a chicken and ask your friends to contribute a corn salad and a batch of cookies. By doing this, you won’t have to worry about how you will get food on the table later and can instead spend the first few hours settling in or visiting the area.
Whether you’re going on a short trip or a long one, doing some advanced research to find out what kinds of supermarkets, farms, and specialized shops might be around is a wonderful way to ensure that your vacation cooking goes off without a hitch. You might only have access to one store, but there’s also a good chance you’ll pass a vegetable farm, a U-Pick strawberry patch, and a well-known bakery on your way there. Look at Yelp, put a few red pins on your map before you leave, and pack ice in your cooler so you can go shopping as you drive. A tiny amount of time spent now will pay off handsomely afterward.
Basic Equipment
Tongs
What kitchen wouldn’t have tongs? We’ve all pondered this while hastily rummaging through the cabinets in a rented kitchen. Tongs are necessary for many tasks, including grilling, tossing pasta, serving salad, and more.
Some Important Knives
Even though bringing a complete knife set on vacation might not be feasible, we strongly advise carrying at least one blade. If you travel frequently, you might want to buy a special travel knife with a sheath that is tiny enough to fit in a backpack yet effective enough to do almost any task. This of course will not clear carryon at TSA.
Otherwise, a standard chef’s knife will be enough for cutting meat, chopping vegetables, and other essential duties. (If all else fails and you are stuck with a poor knife, try honing the blade on the bottom of a cup to make it as functional as possible.) Bring a bread knife to cut through ripe tomatoes and crusty bread cleanly, and if you have room, a paring knife for smaller tasks.
Over the years, have you amassed a collection of fancy steel? Leave it in the security of your home kitchen and take your less expensive knives, the ones you won’t have to worry about tracking down the entire trip.
Cutting Board
You won’t be forced to trim your seasonal fresh fruit on that one frail, undersized board that smells like garlic and is covered in bright-yellow turmeric stains if you invest in a robust plastic cutting board, which doesn’t take up much room.
Peelers for vegetables
One of those tools you don’t think you need until you don’t have it on hand is an excellent vegetable peeler. Unless you want to use a paring knife to peel a cucumber or a spoon to remove the skin of a potato, consider picking one up on your trip to the store after you arrive.
Can Opener
A can opener is necessary, so prepare to bring your own unless you know that the home you’re staying in has one (or that you won’t need one at all). Consider a can opener featuring a “fixed” options that is slightly more labor-intensive than your motorized number but is suitable for compact travel if you’re severely limited on room in your luggage.
Corkscrew
Yes, you could attempt the widely publicized internet trick of placing the base of your wine bottle in an empty shoe and slamming it against a wall, but I’ve tried it and don’t advise. A straightforward “waiter’s friend” style corkscrew is portable, simple to use, and will open beer bottles.
It’s not over. Be sure to check out Part 2 for more suggestions.
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