How to Cope with the NYC Rental Kitchen?
Your wisdom is greatly requested, SEers!
I've lived (rented) in the NYC for a decade now but have struck it relatively lucky with decent kitchens/appliances for most of that time. Until now. Tomorrow I am moving into a beautiful, cheap apartment close to the train in a great neighborhood, top floor, sun-drenched, you name it. Then there's the kitchen.
It's not the size of the kitchen that perplexes me so much as the My-First-Appliances -- easily the smallest refrigerator and stove I have ever seen. The stove is the 20" Summit model with no hood and one rack, and I am losing sleep over wondering if I can fit a standard size cookie sheet in and close the oven door at the same time.
In this particular neighborhood, and given my desperate need to move and compromise with my boyfriend, it would have been silly to pass up an apartment like this. But since it is a rental and I can't really purchase new major appliances, I'm going to have to reach into the depths of my creative self to cope.
Have you had a similar compromise to make? How did you deal? What gadgets helped? What's your sage advice?
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12 Comments:
it is possible to buy small cookie sheets for NYC-sized ovens, and they are a godsend. If the rack is at least adjustable, that gives you options for any larger cookwear (like a le creuset or a bundt pan) that you might own and hope to use.
You've probably noticed that your neighborhood supermarket has baby-sized shopping carts, sized to navigate the narrow aisles. It's a visual reminder that most New Yorkers have Betty Crocker Easybake-sized kitchens, and thus we all tend to only buy the perishables we can use in a week or less, and use the rest of the fridge as storage for a plethora of condiments. You'll find that you get used to it pretty quickly...
eleeb at 10:43AM on 07/18/08
I agree with eleeb, you get used to it pretty quickly. I have a set of three small cookie sheets that I use for everything - roasting veggies, baking, etc. With cookie, you just learn that it's going to take a little bit longer since you end up rotating the pans more often and can't fit as many on a sheet. But you adjust.
And same thing with grocery shopping. Hopefully your close to the train location is also close to a grocery store so you can pick things up on the way home frequently.
One other thing I could suggest, if you have limited counter space, is one of those kitchen island/butcher block cart thingies. I have one in my living room that's decorative most of the time (holds wine bottles and such) but becomes extra counter space when I'm doing a big kitchen project.
Good luck in your new place!
LizNYC at 10:56AM on 07/18/08
another tip...i used one of my larger cookie sheets AS the rack in my baby oven (luckily it fit perfectly!)...cuz one rack in an oven just won't do!
it effects the cooking temp a lil bit, but i've managed to do thanksgiving in my lil apt and thats a feat in itself!
sassysprite at 11:39AM on 07/18/08
You can usually pick up things like extra toaster oven sized roasting pans and cookie sheets from the Amazon outlet or discount sections very inexpensively. They're often a great size, regardless of the size of the oven itself, for cooking for up to 4 people.
ccbweb at 11:56AM on 07/18/08
Yeah, I would have to agree that you get used to it after a while. I've lived for 10 years in a place that has an oven probably the same size as yours and no broiler. Gas. Apparently doesn't require any electricity, because I was able to cook when that big power outage hit the NE a few years back.
Prior to that place, I had no oven. I had a built-in dorm fridge-sink-2 burner combo for several years. The best and most numerous gourmet meals in my life were born out of that kitchen.
If you want to make more room and you don't use the microwave oven for heavy duty cooking, ditch it.
Always keep your oven's measurements handy when shopping for anything for your oven. I still forget once in a while and end up with teflon service trays. :P
You'll definitely become more creative with your space.
Cassaendra at 12:46PM on 07/18/08
What about buying a countertop convection/toaster oven and another mini fridge?
They are reasonably priced and you wouldn't have to keep those in the kitchen. Like LizNYC suggested you could get a moveable butcher block/island and put the extra appliances on those. Or put a mini fridge in the living room, cover the top of it and use it as a side table/stand.
Congrats on your new place!
bobcatsteph3 at 12:52PM on 07/18/08
I agree with bobcatsteph3. I have a countertop convection oven and use it all the time. I also like the old fasioned NESCO type cookers for tight places as well. When I was stationed in Korea I used for all of my Sunday meals and my buddies loved me for it. Just be creative and have fun!
nhfoodie at 1:02PM on 07/18/08
I agree with everyone that you will learn to be creative and use the space you have well. I had a similar experience when I moved in with my bf-we were desperate just to find any reasonably priced apartment and I had to sacrifice the kitchen space for the sake of compromise. My kitchen sounds just like yours, and although it was hard at first, as others have mentioned you will learn to be creative. If you have room for a moveable island like others have suggested, it could be very useful ( I didn't have room for one, but wish I did!) One of the things I found myself doing A LOT was placing my cutting board over the sink to create more counter space-it can sometimes be a balancing act, but again, you get used to it. Also, an appliance that proved to be really useful was the magic bullet. I know, I know, it's a TV infomercial product and I got it as a graduation gift. But it actually works as a blender/food processor really well and takes up hardly any space. good luck and congrats on the move!
banana at 2:06PM on 07/18/08
You guys are supportive, thanks. Am writing all these ideas in my notepad. I posted with the fear of sounding a little spoiled, I just love to cook and can get messy and ridiculous, so the thought of limited space has been a bit of a let-down. However, it sounds totally do-able, and maybe I'll just have to try to change some of my habits.
Love the island idea, too -- I have a 3-foot butcher block/rack/amazing lifesaver of a kitchen unit. Also, when did toaster ovens get so advanced?! I did a little googling after reading your suggestions, and I am shocked.
savecara at 4:04PM on 07/18/08
There was a book out a couple of years ago called the Itty Bitty Kitchen Handbook, written by a guy who (I think) had grown up on a boat with a tiny galley kitchen. I can't vouch for the book personally, but it might be worth paging through at your local bookstore to see if it has any useful ideas.
One thing that works for me in my small NY kitchen is a baker's rack against the back wall, to supplement my very limited cabinet and counter space. It's a modular unit from the Container Store, was very reasonable and holds a good amount of stuff.
Good luck!
mwheeler at 4:39PM on 07/18/08
My wife just chimed in with the great suggestion of Ikea baking dishes which are a great size for 2-4 people and small enough to fit into that tiny oven. The white ceramic ones.
ccbweb at 11:52PM on 07/18/08
I have my miniscule (see Cassaendra's description of the dorm type kitchen) kitchen that would just not be the same without my convection/toaster oven. I highly recommend it!
pbisNOTmyname at 12:43AM on 07/19/08