Living in a one bedroom apartment or studio apartment can be a great way to save money, but there are often some tradeoffs for the reduced expenses. A common problem is the lack of a full kitchen, which can cause a lot of stress for the hungry renter. Here a few tips for how to make it work.
1. The Hot Plate
The defining aspect of any kitchen is the stove, but some small apartments may do without. An easy remedy to that situation is the purchase of a restaurant-quality hot plate. With a couple of pots, pans, and cooking utensils, the hot plate will function as a normal stove burner, allowing you to cook any of the stove-top dishes you desire. Combined with a microwave and a mini-fridge, you’ll have a scaled-down version of a kitchen with all the basic necessities.
2. The DIY Corner Kitchen
If you have the time and resources to invest in your apartment, you could build your own kitchen in the corner of your apartment. You can either buy or make some shelves or cupboards to store food, and then install countertops on which to place your appliances. If you don’t plan on buying a full stove or refrigerator, you can simply buy a mini-fridge and hot plate to substitute. Installing a wash-basin as a sink substitute wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Not only will you have appliances, but you’ll have surfaces for cutting and preparing your food. If you have the extra space, this a great way to create the kitchen your apartment deserves.
3. The No-Cook Diet
If you want to take a completely different approach, consider abandoning the makeshift kitchen idea completely. There are actually many dishes that can be prepared without any cooking required at all. A wide variety of no-cook meals including salads, soups, sandwiches, and meat dishes can be made without a stovetop or microwave. All you need is a mini-fridge to keep your goods fresh, and cookware to mix and store all of your ingredients. A few cupboards might still be a good idea if you think you’ll need to store a good amount of food.
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