The Kitchn Archive: Apr 2019

I am one of the very few people in the world who wasn’t a huge fan of the Instant Pot at first. I actually sold mine and wrote a post all about it. I received a lot of backlash in the post’s comments and even got some hate mail sent directly to me. I did expect it, though. I know that most people love their Instant Pots — I just didn’t. (I explain why I didn’t like it in that other post.

I have a major weakness for kitchen tools. While I don’t buy every single cool contraption I see, I do love browsing the aisles in a kitchen store. And when I can find a unique kitchen tool, gadget, or high-quality appliance that will help me eat better and enjoy being in the kitchen more, then I’m going to buy it. As I type that, three things come to mind. They have seriously changed my life in the last few months — and they’re all mini versions of themselves.

This year, instead of starting out with a bunch of resolutions tantamount to a complete overhaul of your life, why not find a few little ways to actually, sustainably set yourself up for some small victories? Because some of easiest-yet-most-impactful changes tend to start in the kitchen, we looked through Sur La Table’s clearance sale to find some ideas. What we came up with: three brilliant, inexpensive gadgets that will help you make better habits in the new year.

The idea of living in a tiny home is simple — you own, need, and use less stuff. But tiny home dwellers still do need some items in their home to, you know, live. The challenge is, these necessary items need to not take up more room than they’re worth. When a tiny home owner does find one of these magic items, it can be a life-changing experience. And, just like you, tiny home owners often turn to IKEA for these small-space savers.

There’s a lot to love about IKEA. You can get stylish, yet affordable home furnishings and decor, unique houseplants, a do-it-all bag for just $1.30, and even a full meal all within the walls of one giant store. But one perk you’re probably overlooking is the store’s loyalty card. The IKEA Family Card entitles members to a wide range of benefits and freebies that are clearly spelled out in the terms and conditions.

World Market is having a site-wide furniture sale, and we’ve found a few stylish picks to help you achieve (and maintain) order in your kitchen. While none of these items were traditionally designed for the kitchen, we think they’re a big upgrade to a lot of the more purpose-built storages solutions out there that too often lack style. They all serve the same purpose: to free up valuable storage and counter space so you can put your creativity to work when cooking and entertaining.

When it comes to wine tasting, there’s a lot of terrible wine out there. And there are even more terrible wine accessories. Even the worst wine will give you a decent buzz, but a lot of wine paraphernalia is a true waste of money.

The biggest misconception about rental kitchens is that they’re unchangeable. Too many renters think that just because their appliances are mismatched, they have to stay mismatched. Or that there’s no getting around looking at the neighboring brick wall while you do dishes. There are lots of temporary rental solutions that won’t risk your security deposit.

Ideally, all you Amazon shoppers are in the habit of waiting until you have a sizable order before you fully check out. (You know, so that the Powers That Be aren’t going through all that trouble just to get you a thing of dish soap within two days.) If that’s the case, it almost certainly means that your orders typically total $25 or more. And that means that you can throw in some Add-On items.