Hello July! We hope you’re having a great summer and are able to enjoy a few more fun, safe celebrations this year. Summer is here, the temperatures are rising, and so is your need to cook, enjoy and entertain! You love your beautiful kitchen, but find yourself not wanting to spend as much time there in the summer, and dread using the oven to cook. It doesn’t have to be this way! Here are some great tips to keep your kitchen cool this summer in ways you may not have previously thought of.
Use your grill often: Just one more great reason to make use of your grill/outdoor kitchen space! Cooking outside is always tons of fun and a great way to keep your kitchen cool. Cook up BBQ grilled chicken, steaks, kabobs, corn on the cob and more! Enjoy summer and keep cool.
Use smaller appliances: Using ever-versatile Induction Plates, toaster ovens, panini presses, Instant Pots and yes, even your microwave can all help you cook delicious dishes and minimize use of the oven to keep your kitchen cool. You would be surprised with how mighty these small appliances are and how little heat they produce.
Cook when it’s cool and cook in batches: It pays to plan ahead and strategize your cooking times for when it’s not as hot outside. Early in the morning is the best time to get the majority of cooking for the day done (ie. cook your pastas with breakfast so that they will be able to go with dinner without firing up your oven at the hottest part of the day!). When you are cooking, also plan to make larger quantities than normal. Use pre-cooked leftovers so you have food ready to go without heating up the kitchen more than necessary. Using leftovers is a great practice regardless. Basically, when you cook, make it count!
Fans, and more fans: To maximize air flow, always be sure to turn on the range hood vent when cooking, keep the fan on in the kitchen to move air around and cool it down, and position your fan to move hot air out.
Eat More Cold Dishes: It’s inevitable that you WILL have to turn the oven on, but pairing your cooked item with salads, pasta salads and other similar dishes are the best option for those hot summer days.
Enjoy seasonal produce: Why not switch it up and go choose from your vegetable gardens or roadside/local produce stands? Serve a raw vegetable meal with dressing, for a heatless and nutritional change to the palette.
Store Leftovers Correctly: Avoid putting extra stress on your fridge to cool down uncovered or hot leftovers you place there. This causes the fridge to let off more heat. When you cover your leftovers before putting them in the fridge, it will reduce the heat and put less strain on your fridge, avoiding that chain reaction!
Ventilate Your Home Properly with an exhaust fan in good working order.
If you’re ready to plan your dream custom kitchen you could spend 365 days of the year in, get in touch with the experienced professionals at Hawthorne Kitchens today! We can’t wait to make your kitchen dreams come true and have the knowledge, experience and tools to make it possible.
