Having a lack of space doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on making delicious meals. Katy Beskow looks at ways to make the most out of a small kitchen, so you can cook nutritious meals no matter what
MULTIPURPOSE EQUIPMENT
It’s easy to want all of the latest kitchen gadgets, but in reality, they are difficult to store, and may not enhance your cooking as much as you thought. A few good quality knives are a kitchen essential, but if you need to make light work of chopping, choose a food processor that has multi-functions such as blending and soup making, instead of having separate appliances. Air fryers, slow cookers and deep-fat fryers can be useful, but if you don’t have the kitchen space, choose a multi-cooker that can have all of these functions in one compact machine. Remember though, that delicious, nutritious meals can be made simply on the hob or in the oven, so don’t feel the pressure to clutter your kitchen with the latest equipment.
ONE-POT
Cooking up one-pot meals is a great way to maximise your space in the kitchen, with less washing up, and wholesome, hearty meals. Simple one-pot meals like black bean chilli or biryani can be made in a pan, or bubble up minestrone soup or chestnut cassoulet in a cast-iron pot. Throw your favourite root vegetables onto a roasting tray with chickpeas and harissa, then roast in the oven until tender, or drizzle aubergine with soy sauce, sesame seeds and spring onions before roasting, for simple one-pot, tray bake suppers.
MEAL PLAN
While it may not feel like the most exciting task, get ahead for the week by planning your meals. Start by ‘shopping’ your cupboard, fridge and freezer, to use what you already have available. Not only will this save you money at the supermarket, but it will ensure you don’t end up with more food than you can store in your small kitchen. Having a meal plan can reduce the stress and panic of not knowing what to cook each night, so you can be prepared and worry-free in the kitchen.
CLEAN AS YOU GO
No matter the size of your kitchen, cleaning up and tidying as you go will give you more space to cook. Load the dishwasher as you go, if you have one, or wash up what you’ve used so far while your meal is cooking. Put away your spice jars, kitchen foil, and measuring spoons, and magic yourself extra work space! Your future self will thank you at the end of dinner, when most of the cleaning up is already done.
SERVE IT
While it’s quite easy to plate up one meal in a small kitchen, serving up
