Must-Have Kitchen Essentials If You Live By Yourself
Living By Yourself for the First Time in a Long Time? Or Ever?
We know it can be daunting to find yourself alone in a home for the first time, either ever, or at least in a long time. Not only do you have to think about the major life change you had, but setting up what you need in a kitchen can be totally overwhelming. We understand, people!
Single Life is AMAZING
However, we're here to tell you that the single life is an amazing experience - and truly one page of the book of life everyone should experience. You have the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. There are no crazy day and night eating schedules to adhere to and nobody telling you what to do! This is especially true when it comes to cooking meals and cleaning up! It's nice to only have to think about what YOU want to eat, right?
Must-Have Kitchen Essentials for One Person
However, every now and then, single people may find themselves in a situation where it would be very helpful if they had another pair of hands around the kitchen. No fear, friends! We can help. In those times of need, we've rounded up the must-have kitchen items that you should keep on hand at all times if you're by yourself - saving your time, money, and allowing for you to enjoy living and cooking food on your own!
A Jar Opener is an Essential for a Single Person
Researchers have said that the number one important item a single person must have in their kitchen is jar opener! Living as a single person does not mean you should have to suffer trying to open jarred preserves of any kind. A single person should not have to live without the sweet taste of peanut butter, so invest in a multi-use opener that will make your life infinitely easier as a single person. Or check out this under-cabinet jar opener so you're never stumped by stubborn lids that, for some reason, just don't want to be opened.
Single Serve Coffee Maker for One Person Living
Number two on our list is a single serve coffee maker! When you live alone, it can sometimes become very tedious and cost money to brew a whole pot of coffee only to make a single cup of coffee. So invest in an awesome single serve coffee maker that will allow you the luxury of enjoying your favorite blend whenever you want and save you money in the long run!
Storage Bag Holder for Single Person Households
A storage bag holder for when you could really use another hand is essential for any person living alone. For example, no more spilling the sauce when you pour it into a plastic bag! This holder is a support for the bags, and you don't need any extra hands on deck. We're happy to report that this will help keep everything upright and even so you can save sauces, soups, and sloppy joe.
Food Storage Containers for Health Care and to Save Money
Speaking of which, fourth on our list is food storage containers! Having single serving sized items will help save you a lot of time and money when it comes to cooking in bulk. When it's just one person, the last thing you want to do is go home with an entire package of meat that won't get eaten before its expiration date.
A Sturdy Paper Towel Holder is Necessary for a Single Person
A paper towel holder for when another hand is needed quickly. Paper towels don't always come in single rolls, and when you live alone sometimes it can be difficult to tear off a single sheet as needed. Invest in a sturdy, heavy-weight paper towel holder that will make tearing one sheet at a time quick and easy!
Hands-Free Garbage Can is Ideal for One Person Homes
This is for single people that don't want to have to touch their trash bag with their own two hands (I mean, who does?). Living by yourself means you get to set up the rules of your house and how things are done around it - so why should you have to touch the trash bag yourself? So invest in a hands-free garbage can that will make your life exponentially easier!
Silicone Freezer Tray for Leftovers
A silicone freezing tray makes it easy to cook large batches and save the rest for easy meals. No single person wants to have a million tupperware containers taking up valuable space in their fridge! So invest in some high-quality silicone freezer trays that will make cooking large batches of food and saving leftovers easy as pie, also saving you money on takeout (but, enjoy the takeout too!)
Dish Drying Rack to Save Time
A dish rack will help single people save time and money. No single person wants to spend all day washing dishes by hand, that's why it is important to invest in a good dish drying rack! This way you can air-dry your dishes instead of having to wash them yourself (save the energy for laundry!)
An Immersion Blender
You probably know this as a stick blender or handheld blender. This single-purpose kitchen item is ideal when it comes to one person cooking for making single servings of soups and other items that require a blender! No more trying to stick the blender in the big jar and wondering why it's not working, invest in an immersion blender that will allow you single servings of delicious soup, or smoothies, whenever you want them.
A Divided Pan for Cooking One Meal
When it comes to cooking food for a single person, we love the idea of a divided pan for cooking up a full meal of different food all in one pan! One major benefit of having a divided pan for cooking food is that you'll only have one thing to clean afterward as well. Another one of the benefits of a divided pan for singles is that you can cook everything at once, which is the definition of efficient living. Having someone over to eat? The pan is large enough to make enough food to share! However, if you'd like to hear our opinion on the divided pan, it's simply that dinner for one doesn't get any more easy for single person households.
5-in-1 Wine Corker
Living as a single person means that sometimes (often) you don't finish a whole bottle of wine (you deserve the good wine, so save the box wine for later); we suggest having a 5-in-1 wine corker that features an aerator, pourer, filter, and leak-proof stopper. Just pop this in and it'll keep your booze fresh for the next wine night.
Multi-purpose Chopper, Dicer, Peeler, Spiralizer, Slicer, Squeezer, Separator
We are all about multi-purpose items when it comes to single person lives and kitchen essentials. Check out this multi-purpose kitchen gadget, which was created with so many tools to make your life easier, a vegetable chopper, dicer, peeler, spiralizer, egg slicer, citrus squeezer, and egg separator! This single-purpose kitchen gadget is great for single people who like to cook, or single people who don't like doing dishes (we've all been there). This single-use appliance means you can chop veggies, stir fry your food in one pan, make spiral noodles out of zucchini and squash - the possibilities are endless! Plus it's easy to clean and dishwasher safe, so single person cooking doesn't get any easier.
If this is your Fresh Start and you're building a kitchen from scratch, don't forget the following:
Oven Mitts You Love for your Single Person Life
A single person doesn't always need to buy a whole set of kitchen supplies, and oven mitts are the perfect example. You can find single oven mitts that you love - we suggest getting some with cute designs so you don't get bored of your single-purpose essential!
Dish Towels with Details You Love
Same goes for dish towels! Since you'll be using them so much, make sure to search for a print you feel is very you!
Delicious Smelling Dish Soap
If you're setting up your kitchen from the ground up, pick out a dish soap you love the smell of without having to consider anyone else's opinions on the smell!
Basic Cookware Set
Don't forget to pick out a cookware set you love! You don't actually need a million pots and pans, so a basic set is totally fine when it's just for one person.
Utensils You Actually Love to Hold Hold
Don't forget to put in some love when it comes to single person utensils - if you're the one buying a fork, spoon, and knife, make sure it's one that actually feels nice and comfortable for your single hand!
Basic Kitchen Utensils for Cooking
You have so many other things to worry about, so skip the fussiness when it comes to kitchen utensils and check out this complete set which includes a solid turner, slotted turner, solid spoon, slotted spoon, spoon ladle, potato masher, whisk, spatula, tongs, cheese grater, pizza cutter, peeler, can opener, ice cream spoon, wine opener and measuring spoons.
A Little Greenery for Good Vibes
Don't forget to add a touch of greenery in the single person kitchen - we suggest adding some fresh flowers or single serving herb garden kit. Don't feel like taking care of a plant or inside garden? We get it. A simple succulent will do the trick for those good vibes! Succulents are the perfect plant for single people, because they require little attention and will give single person homes a touch of nature.
Music is the Answer
Don't forget to turn on some great music that YOU love while cooking! There's no better single person cooking experience than those tunes that get you lost in the moment. Pour that glass of kombucha, wine, or Diet Coke on ice, and dance to the blues while making your favorite meal. Vibes, people!
The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook
Don't forget to pick up a cookbook for your single serving life! Check out the The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook. Cooking for a single person is actually harder than it seems, but it’s possible to prepare single-serving recipes that are full of flavor, easy to make, and economical if you have the right guide. The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook allows you to make a fresh, delicious, home-cooked meal for one without creating a week’s worth of leftovers or leaving an abundance of unused fresh ingredients that quickly go to waste
We Know It Can Be Overwhelming
You're Still You
We know setting up a kitchen alone can be overwhelming. In other words, we know it can set you back emotionally, on account that kitchens hold so many memories! But, it's time to make new memories, with your new kitchen essentials in your own space. Life as a single person may be a new journey for you, but you're still you! You still enjoy the same food, dance to the same music, and there will be so many beautiful chapters in your life - enjoy the moment in this one.
As They Say...
As the saying goes, “No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.” — Laurie Colwin.
Cooking is an act of self-care.
As you embark on your Fresh Start, enjoy the moments preparing food for yourself - you deserve delicious meals.
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