Essential Kitchen Appliances For Condo Living

Here are some kitchen appliances that work around the usual condo restrictions.

Not all condos are strict but some share certain rules like no LPG-based stoves out of safety for other residents. Unfortunately, that can throw a bit of a wrench in our food selections but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any kitchen appliances that manage both our living spaces and our dietary needs. It may take a bit of creativity but once we get into the flow, we’ll realize how these appliances can really take the mental load off our backs. Especially when some of us are living the “no yaya” life, these kitchen appliances are the kinds we can trust to make delicious homecooked meals.

1. Rice Cooker

The more advanced rice cookers nowadays even come with timers! Because of this, they can do two things: boil and steam. Some can even do a bit of pressure cooking to transform the cheapest beef into a juicy piece of melt-in-the-mouth perfection. While some rice cookers have rules about putting oil, they can tolerate around a teaspoon of sesame oil or olive oil to flavor our food. Besides, some recipes like traditional Chinese clay pot recipes only need a rice cooker to make a healthy meal with a symphony of flavors.

Also, depending on the size, their electric consumption isn’t too bad, averaging at around 800 watts. That’s a lot less than an induction cooker that can go as high as 2400 watts.

2. Toaster Oven

It doesn’t have to be a big one but toaster ovens are useful for roasting, baking, and in some instances: airfrying. Although the bigger ones take some pre-heating, these can cook whole chickens depending on the size. But if you’re the type who just wants to enjoy a bagel or two with eggs, then, a medium-sized one will do.

But if there’s no space, an air fryer will also do. The average energy consumption is almost the same for the two kitchen appliances anyway.

3. Electric Grill Plate

Some Samgyupsal restaurants already use these! Because they’re small and quick to heat, these electric grill plates can cook almost anything! Some use it to grill meat, fry eggs, stir-fry vegetables, make fried rice, and various other things. Some even use this little kitchen appliance to properly toss the pasta after boiling the noodles in their rice cooker. These electric grills are also quite easy to clean with some coming with detachable plates.

4. Electric Kettles

As working parents, we need hot water for our coffee and for our guilty pleasure instant meals like canned soup, instant noodles, and sometimes — hot milk or hot chocolate. Electric kettles come in various volumes, depending on our needs. The bigger ones are almost as tall as the traditional thermos (the one we push a button down to get hot water). But there are smaller ones in case not everyone needs hot water or we have a small butane stove to heat water. Speaking of which…

5. Butane Stoves

Most condos are against the big stove tops because the smallest gas tank (or the gasulito) is around 2.7 kilograms and it can still generate a large explosion when left unattended. Nowadays, some people use a single stove that comes with a can of butane gas which can also boil, fry, and cook things. It’s a lot cheaper than using an induction cooker; the latter needs specific cookware to work and it also eats a lot of electricity. For those single burner stoves, all it needs is a can of butane gas which is available in most hardware stores or groceries.

6. Water Purifiers and Dispensers

Some water dispensers come with their own purifiers. Those who also live in a condo may find more comfort in buying water from trusted water drum sellers. Usually, condos have these sellers on the ground floor and right outside the lobby. They also have a delivery service so that they can bring the water up to the unit themselves. However, if the water dispenser comes with a 5 to 7-stage purifier, some people may find it more cost-efficient to just draw from the tap and filter it. And when in doubt, that’s what the electric kettle is for. It boils the water so it eliminates all the germs and microbes in the water.

7. Dehumidifier

Although not necessarily considered a kitchen appliance, a dehumidifier helps remove the moisture in the air after all the cooking. It stops the growth of mold and cools down the room. While most dehumidifiers just focus on condensing the moisture, some come with an air-purifying function. This is especially helpful when we cook meat or fish that have strong smells that slip through the gaps of our doors. We don’t want to disturb our neighbors, especially if we end up eating a late dinner.

8. Refrigerator

The most essential kitchen appliance of them all — where else will you keep all the fresh produce to continue your healthy and clean diet? Depending on how much you and the family eat, some fridges need bigger chiller space so that they can accommodate more meat and fish. However, some prefer more fridge space if they enjoy more fruits and vegetables. But when someone in the family is transitioning into a different diet then, maybe it’ll take a little more culinary creativity so that we don’t have to keep changing fridges all the time.

These kitchen appliances are essential for healthy and clean condo living!

Condos, being a small living space, doesn’t have as much circulation or storage which leaves a lot of nooks and crannies for mold and dirt to hide. By keeping kitchen appliances to the essentials and getting creative with them, we not only save more but discover more fuss-free and healthy recipes. With most of the stress being in the preparation, at least these devices don’t need us looking over them every five minutes or so when we’re cooking.

Built your kitchen? Here are some recipes to test your appliances out on!

Rice Cooker Recipes: Healthy, Tasty, and Easy
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5 Quick and Healthy Lunch or Snack Ideas for Working Parents