Space-wise, studio apartments are really efficient. By efficient, we mean that all the rooms you’d find in this type of living space are combined into one.
In more congested metropolitan regions where space is scarce, studio apartments are more common.
However, due to a studio apartment’s unavailability of space and small size, the kitchen is probably one room that’s left out.
So, with that in mind, here’s how you can survive in a studio apartment with no kitchen.
Get a Hotplate
The stove is an ever-present feature of any kitchen.
But some small studio apartments might not need one. Investing in a hot plate fit for a restaurant is a simple solution to this problem.
You heard that right! So, let’s travel back in time and use a hot plate with a single or double burner. Of course, there’s nothing mind-blowing about a hotplate.
However, these inexpensive but indispensable items come in handy when you’re hungry and wish you could make a quick veggie stir fry in a pan or heat something from a can.
Heat Your Meals Inside a Microwave
It’s difficult not to gravitate toward tried and tested apartment cooking methods. In this case, a microwave since it’s traditional but still so cost-effective.
In fact, you can even get a high-performance microwave for under $100 these days.
However, the price might increase to $300 if you want a stainless-steel shell and other modifications, such as sensor-cooking controls.
Most models also come with an LED display, a kitchen timer, and digital controls.
Furthermore, cooking options with one-touch buttons for beverages, frozen pizza, potatoes, meat, popcorn, and more are among the conveniences.
Ultimately, a microwave will ensure you never miss your kitchen space or gas-powered stove.
Purchase a Compact Fridge
Need a place to keep your drinks and beverage cool but don’t have a kitchen in your apartment? Get a small room fridge. The best thing about them is that they are relatively cheap.
In fact, you can get a 3.3 cubic foot small fridge with a stainless-steel front for around $150 or less. You can save more money if you scavenge the second-hand market.
What’s more, these small fridges also come with an Energy Star certification, helping you keep your electricity bill in check.
You can also add features such as tempered glass shelves for maximum versatility and room. However, this depends on the model and your budget. So, choose wisely!
Buy an Induction Cooktop
Purchasing a new cooktop or cooking range is scary enough. However, it can be more intimidating if you’re living in an apartment without a dedicated cooking area.
Firstly, let’s understand how induction cooktops work. An induction cooktop comes with a flat glass surface containing a heating element.
Only the iron in cookware can ignite the electromagnetic energy that powers the heating coils. The iron agitates as it comes in contact with the heating element, causing the pan to heat up quickly.
This is different from how a gas or electric range works. Since there is no heat transmission from the burners to the cookware, only pots and pans heat up while the cooktop stays cool.
This is perfect for you if you live in a studio apartment and don’t have access to a fully-fledged kitchen. So, visit your local hardware store and purchase a cheap one for your studio apartment today.
These can typically range from 50 to 200 dollars. However, it depends on whether you require a single or dual induction cooktop and your overall budget.
One thing to remember is to check whether the cooktop you want to purchase is induction ready. You can easily check this by placing a magnet at the bottom of the induction cooktop.
If the magnet sticks, this means that it’s good to go!
Get a Convection Oven
The term “convection oven” has probably come up in conversation at some point. It may sound sophisticated, unique, or technical.
However, what precisely is a convection oven, and how is it different from a regular oven?
A fan circulates hot air from the convectional oven’s heating elements at the top and bottom of the oven cavity. However, how is this more beneficial than a convection oven?
Two good things about a convection oven are faster cooking times and better browning and caramelization.
However, the best thing about these ovens is that many options are available. Some portable countertop convection ovens even offer various cooking options.
These include roasting, broiling, toasting, grilling, baking, etc. While some have small enough dimensions to fit in your area readily, others have 30-quart capacities.
This is perfect if you’re looking to throw an apartment party and prepare food for all of your friends.
Order Takeout
If you don’t like to cook or don’t know how to, ordering takeout is the best possible solution while living in a studio apartment without a kitchen.
Of course, this tip should be utilized as a worst-case scenario. Instead, it would be better to talk to your neighbors and ask them if they can cook for you.
If they don’t agree, then takeout is your best bet. However, it would be wise to look for budget options instead of ordering a five-course meal daily.
Doing so will allow you to save a ton of money on food costs.
Also read: Is a Studio Apartment Good for a Couple?
Some Other Tips
Here are a few tips you can use to you optimize your cooking and eating habits in a studio apartment with no kitchen:
Utilize Wall Space as Storage
In many studio apartments, vertical space is typically underutilized. We spend a lot of time trying to maximize our floor area.
But we have trouble finding a painting to place on our otherwise bare wall.
This is where kitchen storage that is mounted on the wall is useful. It will allow you to store your cooking utensils, pots, pans, and other items, especially if you don’t have a kitchen.
Use Air Fresheners or Cook Near Open Windows
Apartment cooking is best done close to an open window. It will allow you to reduce the accumulation of smoke and food odor.
Furthermore, using an air freshener in your cooking area will prevent your home from smelling like a restaurant.
Not to mention, a small fan will also help remove unwanted food smells from your apartment.
Purchase Non-Stick Cookware
When you don’t have a dedicated wash area, doing your dishes and cleaning pots and pans can be difficult. This is where utilizing is the best possible approach.
Doing so will allow you to reduce the time and effort wasted on scrubbing and scraping dirty pots and pans. Of course, there will be some cleaning involved.
However, this will be down to a minimum compared to not using non-stick cookware.
Install a Surge Protector
Use a surge strip to protect your appliances, especially if multiple devices are plugged in at once.
Most of the time, smaller electric appliances can be powered by a surge protector. However, larger appliances, such as refrigerators and microwaves, should be directly plugged into a wall outlet.
If the refrigerator or microwave always requires one of the wall outlets, a surge strip will also provide you with more outlets for other uses.
That said, don’t forget to pay close attention to how much electricity each item needs and how much your surge protector can handle.
We always advise utilizing surge strips within their recommended capacity because overloading them is risky. In fact, it could cause short circuits and burn your studio apartment down.
Always Have a Fire-Extinguisher Handy
It’s recommended to keep a small fire extinguisher nearby when cooking in any studio apartment. This is because it can take more time for the fire department to arrive if a fire breaks out.
An ABC extinguisher is typically the best thing to have because it can be used for various home fire extinguishing functions. These little ABC fire extinguishers are some of the best.
Use Your Refrigerator’s Top as Counter Space
Undoubtedly, you’ll need a fridge to store meat, dairy products, fruits, drinks, etc., to perform any actual cooking in a studio apartment without a kitchen.
This will require you to have at least a medium-sized fridge if you’d like some actual refrigerator room.
Fortunately, you may use the flat area above your refrigerator as a temporary counter to prepare meals and other things.
Avoid The Usage of Propane, Gas, or Charcoal
Gas, propane, or charcoal-powered stoves are typically not safe for interior usage.
This is due to the possibility of carbon monoxide building up, deadly gas escaping, and being undetected by carbon monoxide detectors.
Additionally, because they are less insulated and produce more heat than ovens, gas, propane, and charcoal stoves might pose a fire threat.
As mentioned before, using an electric/induction stove or a convection oven is better to ensure you remain safe from fire hazards.
Purchase Space Saving Kitchen Storage
Whether you live in a one-bedroom or a studio apartment, you must ensure you utilize your current storage space to the max.
With the cost of studio apartments rising and the availability of space shrinking, the need for space-saving kitchen storage is also growing.
This is especially the case if your apartment doesn’t have a dedicated kitchen or cooking space. After all, every square foot is valuable here.
At the end of the day, Space-saving cupboards or cabinets are necessary for plates, silverware, cups, and other items.
Plus, you’ll need a dedicated place to store tiny kitchenware and other “kitchen items.”
So, to save as much open floor space as possible in a studio apartment, go for vertical storage options to free as much floor space as possible.
Wrapping Up
Preparing food at home allows you to prepare exactly what you want and saves tons of money.
Ultimately, it is feasible to prepare any food items in a studio apartment without a kitchen in a secure, space-saving manner.
So, follow the tips in this article, and you’ll be ready to prepare hot, home-cooked food in no time!
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