Being efficient in a small kitchen is a badge of honor these days. It's awesome to know that with a little DIY creativity and storage techniques you can do the same things in a tiny kitchen that you would in a larger kitchen. That said, things get challenging when you're left handed.
Over the years I've had kitchens of every shape and size—some with appliances, some without; some with countertop space, some without. Heck, I've even had a kitchen without running water! But my latest space is proving to be the biggest challenge of them all, and it all has to do with the hand I write with. (You know, that thing we did with a pen or pencil before smart phones, keyboards and the internet.)
In my small kitchen I have most of the things I need, and although my appliances are pint sized, I'm making do. But once I start prep work or cooking of any kind, I'm ready to throw it all out the window and call it a day. Why? Because my main stirring hand is jammed against a brick wall and in order to use the cutting board, I have to use the knife with my right hand. And that, folks, isn't pretty.
Are you a left-handed person in a right-hander's world? Do you have kitchen frustrations? How do you work around them? Sound off in the comments below!
Related: Smoother & Straighter Slicing: 4 Knives for Lefties
(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)
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The only issue I've ever noticed is with slicing bread. That is easily solved by buying a left-handed bread knife. Opening cans has never been a problem even though can openers are made for righties.
Both my husband and I are left-handers, but I've never noticed any problems in my teeny tiny kitchen!
I've only ever met one other person that is is also left-handed with their knife skills! I'm left-handed for writing and eating-utensils, but knife skills are with the right hand.
If my stove were any closer to it's left wall it would definitely be a stirring problem for my elbow.
I don't have that problem, luckily, even though I'm lefthanded. I don't have much counter space, but my stovetop is right in the middle of it. So anything ready to be prepped, or a pot that needs cooling, goes on the left side so I don't have to deal with elbow-to-fridge issues. I prep everything on the right side of the counter so my left arm has free reign.
I swear most kitchens are not lefty-friendly! If I were to design my kitchen it would basically be a mirror image of what I have now. I deal by getting a kitchen cart on wheels so I can situate myself in a way that's most comfortable for me. I wonder if there's something collapsible that would work.
I'm left handed too, for most things, even using the knife, and for eating, though I DO drink with my right, and use my mouse with my right and I cut with scissors with that hand as well.
I'm fortunate that my stove isn't jammed up against the wall on its left side.
in my kitchen, it's the right side, though even there, there is about a 3 inch gap between the pint sized stove, and the wall so even there, it's doable as it's a structural column with the kitchen vent within, and the rest is open into the dining area so it works for either left, or right handed cooks. The stove rests against the small counter that I use as a prep center and is between the stove, and the fridge.
My kitchen, however, is a double galley as the sink is directly across from the stove and it works quite well too.
BTW, envy those that cook with gas as I have an all electric apartment. :-(
I'm also left handed and don't have any problems in the kitchen. I do have issues with pots and other gadgets that only have pour spouts on the left side of the handle so you have to use your right hand. I have bad aim when pouring with my right hand.
I don't understand how this is a problem. I'm right handed and my last apt the stove was jammed up against the wall on the right side. I just tended to cook more on the left burner. Can't you do the same/reverse thing?
Being a lefty in a tiny kitchen, I can't say that I have any more problems than my righty boyfriend does. But I can't use kitchen sheers or a mechanical can opener (and I cut left-handed).
While I don't have too much of a problem in my kitchen (because we ripped it out to the studs and redid it), I really want to flip the hot and cold water handles. I always turn on the water with my left hand and hate the fact that I'm wasting heated water. I could just get over it but since I've hit the half century mark I've decided that I'm an old dog who can't learn new tricks (unless I really want to).
I'm a lefty and kitchens have never been a problem for me. You just adapt. I've even adapted to right-handed scissors so well that I have never been able to use the left -handed ones.
My counter is in between my sink and stove, so I don't run into any problems, aside from the fact the counter is teeny tiny. My mom once thought buying me a left handed can opener was a brilliant idea, but I can barely use it!
Haha, precisely why I have a single lever faucet:) Prolly not a good idea anywhere but a household of one, but flipping the hot & cold is an easy 5 min task - just cross the supply lines under the sink.