Ways to Keep Cool in the Kitchen

Cooks know that as the temperatures outside increase, the desire to cook decreases. This isn’t due to lack of wanting to cook, but instead, the need to keep the home as cool as possible. This is why baking is done mostly in the winter months and cool dishes are served during the summer.

Keeping cool in the kitchen doesn’t mean eating a cold sandwich and fresh fruit every day. With the wide variety of cooking appliances to choose from, you can serve wonderful meals for your family without heating the home. Here are just a few to choose from.

Slow cooker – They aren’t just for soups and stews. Slow cookers, are great for recipes which typically take a long time to prepare. You can cook anything from lasagna to a small turkey in a slow cooker.

Microwave – If getting in and out of the kitchen quickly is important to you, there’s nothing like the microwave. You can cook nearly anything in a microwave in much less time than a conventional cooking. Be sure to follow recipes to a ‘T’ so you don’t have overcooked, dry food.

Electric skillet – This appliance is often much larger than your typical skillet. You can usually prepare several servings of a food at one time which will mean you won’t add to the heat in the kitchen, and you can be finished in no time. Use this to double up meals so you can just reheat on another day.

Wok – Oriental cooking is prepared at high temperatures in the wok but the foods cook quickly. If you don’t have a wok, you can make similar meals using a normal skillet. There are wok’s for the stove top (my preference) and also electric stand alone styles. Since the food cooks so quickly you won’t risk raising the temp of the house. Then cook your rice in a rice cooker.

Pressure cooker – The pressure cooker was once a staple in every country kitchen. They aren’t used quite as often any longer but they can still be used to cook a meal in less time, and therefore less heat, than other methods.

Another way you can keep the kitchen cool this summer is to prepare meals earlier in the day. Plan the major part of your cooking for early morning while it is still cool. Once the cooked items are prepared, you can allow them to cool and place them in the refrigerator to add other items to when it’s time to get the meal on the table. Makes it easy to reheat in the microwave.

Offer your family plenty of cold foods when the temperatures soar. Cold fruit salads, tossed green salads, vegetable trays and homemade ice cream are sure to keep the kitchen and your family cool when it is hot outside.

Finally, if you want to keep your kitchen cool but aren’t afraid of a little heat, strike a match and get to grilling! You don’t have to stand in front of the grill while the food is cooking and the taste will be out of this world. Best of all, you will be out of the kitchen and enjoying that great weather. Meat, veggies and fruits can go on the grill so you’ll have a complete meal.

Related posts: