The Kitchen Gear You Need to Maximize Space in Your Tiny Kitchen | Gear Heads

When it comes to kitchen gear, there are few greater pleasures than saving space, reducing clutter, and avoiding food waste. We've tested some great options for scaled down kitchen equipment, because bigger isn't always better.

ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.

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[wishingb]

I decluttered my kitchen this year and counterintuitively, I kept one big pot and one big pan and switched to batch cooking. It has changed my life. First, getting rid of all of my small pans made it so easy to get to my pans. I only cook one day a week now. I find that an immersion blender is a space saver and does most of the things that a blender or food processor does. I also re-evaluated food storage. I opted for glass containers that could be used as bakeware, storage, and as mixing bowls. I never knew how much space I was using because I had those three as separate categories in my brain.

[michaelvegas]

I love how relaxed these little episodes are.

[johndeaux]

As a single person this is s very tool helpful. More of the smaller stuff for us cooking for one people ... Please.

[claervue]

I cart grill tongs to the laundry room to reach the bottom of a massive top loader. Saves me from going through the spin cycle.

[genevievepluviose]

OMG, I have a Cuisinart mini chopper and never realized that there were holes in the top that I could drizzle oil through for perfect salad dressing. Thanks, America's Test Kitchen!

[kathyreinholdt]

I bought half, quarter and eighth sheet pans at the restaurant supply store and paid half the price for equal the quality. Love the smaller ones and reach for them constantly. Will never waste $ on expensive ones again. These are total kitchen workhorses….prep, bake, broil, freeze…no warp and no fuss over a ding or scratch when they only cost $5 to $8. Just get them!

[aking]

My microwave died a few years ago.. I was saving up to buy one but have found i love my toaster oven!! Not only does the food taste better, i gained a ton of counter space! The tiny sheet pan is great. I also use vintage Fire King pie plates for leftovers. 😃

[jazzloonz]

We’re 2 grandmas and a Golden Doodle and Poochon are moving into a 21 ft Camper Van! Guess how badly I needed this right now!

[maydaygarden]

I have a tiny suzy homemaker kitchen and have all those same exact tools. But the best tip for me was the pull apart top on the salad spinner! I didn't know the lid pulled apart. I even paused the video and retrieved the spinner to try it and voila! I've just been letting it dry on the dish drainer and put it away, spots and all. Thank you Lisa!! Love these videos.

[Wazzaaap]

Good to know that discolored sheet pans are normal. I thought I was ruining mine with stuck on spots 😆

[cybercita]

I use my tongs for squeezing limes and lemons. Stick them into a cut side and twist.

[ninamoler]

O M G, I have an old Oxo spinner that I use regularly and never knew you could pop off the inner lid! And the white sliding thingy--So that's what it's for! We'll just skip over the fact that I've never really cleaned the lid 😳 Always love your videos and learn even more from the comments!

[annegreenwood]

funny but tongs come in handy if your short and can’t reach stuff in cub boards another great video

[isahunnybee]

Im loving this series, and I'd love more of this and also multipurpose tools. Im making the move into either a tiny house or a 4 season rv. Space will be seriously limited! Love you gear heads!❤

[jwillisbarrie]

Thanks for taking time to add actual captions for the Deaf, makes it much clearer and enjoyable to watch.

[kaffepojke]

Along the same lines of limited space, I would love to see a Gear video on maximizing storage space in small kitchens. Also, on the topic of hand mixers, I love my 6qt Kitchen aid, but if I am making a small batch of meringue cookies, the whisk will not reach just a couple of egg whites. I put the egg whites into the 6 qt stainless bowl, get started whipping them with the Kitchen aid hand mixer and then take over with the full size whisk. Works great.

[cydkriletich]

I use tongs in my kitchen daily. For reasons Hannah mention, and more. I use them to take certain hot foods (e.g., bread) out of the oven. For lifting a hot lid off a pan. And I’m rather short, so I use them to get items out of the cupboard. And I didn’t know the top to the salad spinner came apart for washing. And OXO is my go-to brand.

[boofbaxley]

I used my good grips tongs to pull a black snake out of the birdhouse. Worked great!

[lisca]

Totally second the 1/4 & 1/8 sheet pans! Great fir breading & frying too!

Smaller pans are great for storage and clean up but long handles are a no no!

I normally cook for 4 and I find I use two 14” pans (lodge cast iron & all clad roaster) most of the time!!
I really don’t need anything smaller as you can do just about everything with a bigger pan - food has room to roast and not steam as when stuff is too crowded! - but if you’re pan is too small then you’re in trouble.

I do use an 8” & 10” non stick pan and a couple of 4 & 8 quart pots too but that’s all.
The more I cook the more I streamline what I use in the kitchen

[dawntreader]

There's a LITTLE salad spinner!? Omigoodness gracious. I love it so much!!!