8 Ways to Prepare a Kitchen for Winter
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home, being the place to prepare meals that fuel its residents to live their lives. A home must prepare the kitchen for changing seasons to avoid rotten produce, wasted food, and clutter. Here are eight ways to prepare a kitchen for winter.
- Can Produce
One of the best ways to prepare for the winter is to hold on to the produce you collected in late summer and early fall.
When done properly, canning is one of the best ways to have nutritious food throughout the winter months, and it avoids food waste by preserving fresh foods into delicious fruit jams and seasoned vegetables.
There are two types of canning: boiled water canning and pressure. Pressure canning utilizes a pressure cooker or specialized canning appliance and is for low-acid foods, such as green beans, corn, and meats. Boiled water canning is for high-acid foods, like strawberries, peaches, and blueberries used for jellies, jams, and purees.
It’s important to note that the United States Department of Agriculture no longer recommends the previously-popularized cold-packing method due to the risk of botulism. Hot-packing, which involves boiling the food for a short amount of time before canning, removes that risk.
- Insulate Water Pipes
Cold temperatures can risk your water pipes, leading to breaks that end up in costly disasters. Insulation for pipes includes strips and foam to apply around the pipes to keep them warm and prevent freezing.
If your home is subject to extreme cold or if your water source is far away from your kitchen, there are other measures you can take to preserve your pipes.
During freezing temperatures, open the cabinet door under the kitchen sink to let in warm circulating air. If the water source is farther away and you expect extreme cold, let it drip overnight to prevent freezing.
- Stock the Pantry
Winter is known for beautiful snow and ice that sometimes makes it near-impossible to leave the house safely.
Stocking up on pantry items helps ensure that there is enough food to fuel a household during winter storms and lets members stay inside during freezing temperatures. Staples to make food include flour, baking soda, sugar, and pasta. These are ingredients for staple foods like bread and other baked goods and accessories for refrigerated basics.
Canned soups, meats, fruits and vegetables, cereals, and crackers are good, quick nutrition to keep on hand.
- Winterize the Grill
In areas where it doesn’t makes sense to grill, it’s important to winterize outdoor grills for the upcoming weather.
Ensure that any gas is off. Remove burner covers or grates and thoroughly clean the grill with a soapy cloth. Ensure it dries before covering and storing it for the season.
During this process, it’s also a good idea to examine your grill to ensure that it doesn’t need to be repaired or replaced.
- Clean the Fridge
Everyone is susceptible to leaving items in the refrigerator for too long. The expiration date comes and goes with the item continuing to live in the cold.
With winter comes holiday meals, treats, and comfort-food leftovers, it’s a good idea to eliminate products past their prime. Knowing the space is there, a clean refrigerator is a great place to start the season.
To avoid storing too much food in the fridge, consider measuring perishable food as you cook to ensure there are only a few leftovers. It’s also important, to be honest about whether or not people will store the consumed food.
- Organize Appliances
With winter cooking comes different appliance use. People tend to make different foods with different items, from a mixer for cookies to indoor grills.
By pre-planning, the right appliances will be easily accessible for any winter cooking. Place the appliances you use solely during other seasons in lesser-used cabinets.
It’s a good time to inventory other appliances to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
- Meal Plan
Having a meal plan is an excellent way to have enough food while saving money and space. While it’s a good method for any season, doing so can ensure there isn’t food waste and cozy meals.
The winter can lead to wanting to stay inside, and some people live with seasonal affective disorder, making it hard to enjoy going out. By meal planning at the beginning of the week, households can know there is a good meal waiting without having to go to the store, or a restaurant or order spend money ordering in.
Meal planning helps you to stay healthy at home throughout the season.
- Deep Clean
Every room needs a deep clean every now and then and resetting the kitchen is a great opportunity for cleaning it.
Wipe down the cabinets, clean the oven and burners, wash the refrigerator and door, and dust/clean any surfaces that need a tune-up.
Preparing Your Kitchen by Winter
As cold weather approaches, it’s time for homeowners to prepare their homes for the coming months, including their kitchens. Having an organized, clean kitchen is a great way to enjoy the winter holidays, snow days, and cozy movie nights.
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