If you haven’t read Part 1, you’ll find it here. Hopefully you’re enjoying your kitchen away from home. Here are a few more suggestions to bring with you.
Colander with Fine Mesh
Until you learn your kitchen lacks a colander for draining it, pasta sounds like the ideal quick and simple lunch for a trip. Bring a small fine-mesh strainer with you to avoid this potential disaster. Of course, it will also be helpful for washing produce, squeezing the liquid from bean cans, and various other tiny jobs.
Tools for Brewing Coffee (and Coffee)
Many vacation rentals include some coffee-making equipment, such as a Keurig or drip coffee maker, but make no assumptions. If you require a cup or two of coffee in the morning to get through the day but aren’t fussy about the type of coffee you use, make sure in advance that your rental has a coffee maker and bring your coffee (and filters, if needed).
If there isn’t even one coffee maker on the property, take a pour-over coffee maker with you. You won’t accept anything less than freshly ground? We’re not here to tell you what should be your top priorities, so bring a coffee grinder and whole beans, too.
Cooler Bag or Ice Chest
Although a cooler with ice packs or an insulated cooler bag should be kept in your trunk, this isn’t precisely a kitchen gadget. You’ll have the freedom to make stops to buy fresh produce, cheese, or meat, chill a few beverages, and travel straight to the beach for sunset.
A Baking Sheet with a Rim
You don’t understand how challenging it is to roast a whole chicken or a pan of vegetables until you discover that your only cooking utensil is an eight-inch nonstick frying pan. A straightforward sheet pan works well for roasting, but it also works well for moving components to the grill.
A Reliable Skillet
Bring one sturdy workhorse skillet on your trip instead of that tiny nonstick frying pan if you want to cook steaks for the whole group. Either cast iron or stainless steel will work well. Whichever option you select, pack a pan that is big enough to serve several functions.
Dutch Oven
Although it is a large and cumbersome piece of equipment, this pot has practically unlimited applications. A large pot can be used for many tasks, including boiling water, simmering barbecue sauce, deep-frying poultry, and even serving wine on the back deck after being filled with ice.
Mixing bowls
It’s not ideal for tossing a salad in a soup bowl or one of those strange, partially melted plastic bowls that seem to be in every rental kitchen. You can correctly toss a salad or marinade several cuts of meat in a compact set of metal mixing bowls, and you can even use them as simple serving utensils.
Spatulas
Although they may appear a standard tool, don’t rely on a rental kitchen to provide even the most basic spatulas. Bring one wooden and one plastic so you won’t have to use a fork to stir onions or a butter knife to flip an egg.
Storage Containers
Bring inexpensive plastic deli containers and zip-top bags to store leftovers once you finish cooking. Lunch containers are perfect for assembling your components, and gallon-sized zipper-lock bags are helpful for marinating.
Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap
Of course, you may purchase aluminum foil and plastic wrap after you arrive at your destination, but if you’re driving and already have both, it’s simple to pack these rolls with the rest of your equipment.
Grater with a Microplane
You can use a Microplane to grate cheese and mince garlic, so it’s useful for little, precise tasks. This can be packed in place of a conventional box grater, allowing you to zest citrus for cocktails.
An Iron Whisk
A fork cannot replace a decent metal whisk, and you can be reasonably sure your rental will not contain one. When you travel with a whisk, you can mix whipped cream to top all the summer berries you’ll be consuming and effortlessly emulsify salad dressings.
Fish Spatula
A fish spatula may resemble a “one job Nellie”, but it is far more adaptable than that because of its thin, flexible flipper. Yes, it’ll work beautifully for turning tender fish fillets, but it also works well for grilling eggs, pancakes, or steak.
Olive oil
Good olive oil is essential for vinaigrettes, sauces, sauté, marinades, and more. Bring your olive oil so you won’t have to toss your vegetables with the dubious remnants of the bottle of toasted sesame oil you found beneath the dish soap under the sink.
Salt
Although the kitchen in your rental will have salt, it might not be what you were hoping for. It’s likely to be iodized salt in a shaker with rice grains inside to prevent it from clumping. While that might be adequate for sprinkling on food at the table, it will be challenging to season meat or measure ingredients exactly for baking. To make it simple to grab a large pinch of sea salt or kosher salt anytime, you need it, we suggest bringing a small deli container with you.
Love Your Spices
If you’ve done some preliminary meal planning, as we advise, you’ll be able to determine which spices will be necessary throughout your visit. Bring small baggies of your preferred spices, or even prepare a couple of spice blends ahead of time. Red pepper flakes or a disposable black-pepper grinder are excellent choices but don’t forget to include a backup spice.
Vinegar(s)
You may make dressings and marinades and add a quick flavor boost to roasted veggies by packing one or two high-quality kinds of vinegar. Don’t count on finding many acidic items in a rented kitchen.
If Needed, Good Wine and Spirits
Don’t waste your vacation time looking for excellent wine in a new liquor store. Purchase the wine and spirits you already know and love before your trip. (Of course, if your vacation spot is well-known for its wine production, you may decide to include wine purchasing in your itinerary.) Bring a few of your favorite wine bottles along and perhaps a few different types of liquor if you intend to make cocktails.
Cured meats and cheese
Even though you might be traveling to a location with plenty of adorable specialty shops and a full-service butcher, it’s more probable that you won’t have easy access to the expensive cheeses and fine-cured meats you enjoy. So buy in bulk so you’ll have something to munch on when you get there.
Remember, you’re not trying to recreate your home kitchen on vacation, but do consider this list when you’re planning out your meals. Of course, if your rental advertises a gourmet kitchen, disregard this list. You’ll probably leave with a list of tools to add to your home kitchen.
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