I know most kitchen experts tell you that you need to buy more, but I’m here to tell you about my declutter kitchen mission so that you know what not to buy for your kitchen.
We need less, not more!
Here are my tried and true findings for kitchen items you can swap out or avoid altogether. Why? Because more stuff means more clutter in the kitchen which makes cooking more complicated.
What Not to Buy for Your Kitchen! Swap Out
Personally, I prefer to work in a sparsely outfitted kitchen with plenty of space to move around. What does this look like?
I want to open drawers that are half empty and 100% organized.
I’m on a declutter kitchen mission, and unlike every other food blogger during this time of year, I’m going to teach you what NOT to buy.
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The Declutter Kitchen Secret? Less is More!
Decluttering is the secret to kitchen success. It makes cooking fast, fun, and easy! Below are my favorite kitchen tools, all multi-purpose, if they’ve landed a coveted spot in my line-up.
You don’t need more than this. Here we go!
Instead of a 4 Slice Toaster Use a Cast Iron Skillet
Fun fact? I’ve never owned a toaster.
I set up my first toasterless home over 30 years ago. Each subsequent house we’ve lived in has been the same. Why? Toasters take up space, contributing to a cluttered kitchen.
More important though, is that a toaster is a scary hiding place for gluten filled crumbs. One piece of bread with gluten creates a danger zone for me and my older son, who was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2001, a couple of years after I was.
Finally, toasters are expensive. Instead, I use a cheap and sturdy cast iron skillet.
Instead of a Stand Cake Mixer Use a Cuisinart Food Processor
True confession! I haven’t ever owned a stand mixer machine, and this is a key component of my declutter kitchen mission!
Where do people find the space to store those things? It’s like landing an aircraft carrier on the kitchen counter! They’re freakin’ expensive too.
My favorite kitchen appliance, an all time multi-tasker and WAY cheaper, is a food processor, which I use it to mix:
And much, much more!
I keep my immersion blender stowed away in a drawer for when I want to make whipped cream since I don’t have a stand mixer to do that job.
These two small kitchen appliances –food processor and immersion blender, take up less than half the space of a stand mixer!
Instead of a Dehydrator Use the Oven
Guys, if stand mixers are an expensive way to clutter your kitchen, then foregoing the purchase of a dehydrator machine is a no-brainer.
Use the oven with the light on and the temperature off. Dehydrating is like placing something in the sun, you want it to get crisp and dry out. Your oven does a dang good job of this.
Mine has worked for this since I started seriously cooking during my Ayurveda and Yoga Teacher’s Training back in 1993.
Instead of a French Press Use a Tea Strainer
I’m a total grinch when it comes to the French press. Instead, I make coffee and herbal tea in a mason jar with a tea strainer. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
Instead of a Coffee Grinder Use a Vitamix Blender
While we’re on the topic of coffee, let’s talk about coffee grinders. They’re very cute…little Vitamixes. Anything a coffee grinder can do, a Vitamix can do better.
And the Vitamix does far more than grind coffee.
Instead of a Small Slow Cooker Use an Instant Pot 6 Quart
I bought my Instant Pot a few years ago and never looked back. It de-cluttered my kitchen, replacing my crock pot, pressure cooker, yogurt maker, and more.
Instead of Small Plastic Containers Use Small Glass Containers
Glass mason jars are perfect for making coffee, storing food, pencils, flowers, and everything else you can think of.
Small glass jars don’t leach like plastic and are far safer when they come into contact with food.
But enough of that, to learn more about the benefits of using glass, check out my article called, Why Glass?
Instead of Paper Towels Use Cloth Kitchen Towels
I keep paper towels in my kitchen for really tough messes, things like broken glass, cat vomit, and the like. However, they’re hidden away for these “special” occasions.
My go-to? Cloth kitchen towels which I keep within easy reach for everyday cleaning and wiping up the counter.
I ran an environmental consulting company in the early 1990s, and conservation is near and dear to my heart. I started using reusable dish clothes and hiding the paper towels a few decades ago.
Reusable kitchen towels are a win-win for the environment and your pocketbook.
Use Rubber Bands Instead of Chip Clips
I confess I have total chip clip envy. Those little do-dads are just the cutest thing!
But do I really need one to seal a bag of pork rinds? Actually, no. A rubber band saved from a grocery store produce purchase will easily get the job done.
Instead of Disposable Plastic Spray Bottles Do This
We are spending money to throw things away. It’s that simple.
I’ve been making my own non-toxic cleaning sprays in the same plastic spray bottles for decades in order to avoid buying and throwing away single use plastic bottles.
I also don’t want to bring toxic scented products like Windex into my home.
If you don’t want to make your own cleaning products, use Branch Basics to reduce the use of single use plastics and money!!!
Dryer Balls vs Dryer Sheets
I recall when a friend walked into the house, and I asked if she had been burning a scented candle. No, she told me, her clothes were “fresh” from dryer sheets.
This is not a simple, innocuous household product that merely makes your clothing smell good. It does much more than you bargain for.
Dryer sheet dangers: this product is made with polyester, now known to contain BPA, as well as toxic chemical fragrances with endocrine disrupting substances that can interfere with thyroid function and lead to weight gain.
Personally, with a compromised blood brain barrier, things like dryer sheets literally smell fifty times stronger to me than they do to the average human. Some days this is torture.
But I digress. Protect your sense of smell, reduce waste, and save money with these reusable wool dryer balls.
My Declutter Kitchen Mission
The holidays are a great time to protect the planet, clean out the clutter, and give away what you don’t use.
Buy Less and Give More
Instead of buying a friend more stuff, give a friend or loved one the gift of your time. You can bake, clean, or organize, and do something fun together!
Offer to support a friend with an activity that will be a bonding experience to make their life easier. Right now is the time to buy less and give more.
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared My Declutter Kitchen Mission in 2019.
Gwendolin says
Hello Elana,
great article, I love it and we both seem to have the same problemes in the kitchen… space! I also wonder where people keep all those big kitchen maschines ;-). What I liked best is :glass instead of plastic and no kitchen paper towel. I banned plastic containers out of our kitchen … and a great substitute for paper towels are bamboo towels (reusable, soft and very environmental friendly).
Elana says
Gwendolin, agreed! Space in the kitchen is the key to making cooking easier! Thanks for the awesome tip on reusable bamboo towels :-)
Gloria L. says
I’d love to get rid of the toaster. Have never owned one that browned evenly no matter how much I spend. Do you butter the bread (keto loaf or mug bread, I mean) or toast it dry?
Elana says
Gloria, thanks for your question! I toast it dry then add ghee after it’s browned :-)
Carla says
Even though I agree on not buying paper towels, not having laundry at home and having to carry back-breaking, and time-consuming laundry to the laundromat, I had to bite the bullet and buy paper towels to save my time and sanity. Having a small apartment (for two) doesn’t lend itself to large piles of dirty laundry either. I love the other suggestions!
Elana says
Carla, thanks for your comment!I would do the exact same thing if I did not have a washing machine at home –practicality above perfection!
Connie Hill says
Hi elana
Great suggestions. I love the fact that you are suggesting things we may not need! I already use many of them! Mason! Love using them. I always have glass jars. Drier balls, I’ve used for several years and love them.
I haven’t seen or used Branches products, but have used Mrs Meyers cleaning products for years
One thing I don’t use is rubber bands to close bags of stuff. Instead I use flat clips from Ikea–I love these flat 1 inch or 2 inch clips! They close everything, including frozen products when I don’t use the entire package!
Anyway I appreciate your suggestions. All are great, thanks
Elana says
Connie, thanks for your comment! I wish that Mrs. Meyer’s had a fragrance-free line, that would be great. Love all of the amazing stuff you’re doing and thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas here :-)
Tina says
Great article! I don’t have a toaster either and don’t miss it at all!
I would love your homemade cleaner recipes.
Thank you for all of the work you put in to make the rest of our lives a whole lot easier!
Elana says
Tina, I like our toaster-free club. Here’s a link to my Kitchen Spray recipe for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/kitchen-spray/
I hope you love it as much as we do!
Elana
RJ says
Wonderful piece.
And, re: paper towels, While I do have a roll of paper towels stashed away just in case, I tend not to use them, and use re-useables.
What we actually use are the paper napkins from restaurants. Often they leave a number of paper napkins on the table– and those will be discarded once the customer leaves. So we happily take them home where they are stored in a (yes, plastic!) little plastic box, and used when a paper towel would have been used.
Elana says
RJ, that is a great idea :-)
Rosemary says
Yes RJ that’s what we do too.
Elana says
Thanks Rosemary!
David says
Another great article! Very practical. Please write more like that!
Elana says
David, thanks so much for your feedback! Will do for sure :-)
Gabi says
This was such a great article – much needed. I am going to read your post on glass next
Elana says
Gabi, I’m so glad you found this helpful :-)
Dorine Kramer says
I used to use wool dryer balls, but about 6 months ago found out I am highly allergic to lanolin, so I stopped, in case that was the cause of the terrible rash I was experiencing. Do you know if there is any lanolin left in high quality wool dryer balls? It turns out I am also allergic to something else which I have now stopped using, but I’m reluctant to use the dryer balls just in case so now I have no version of fabric softener to use.
Elana says
Dorine, thanks for your comment! I actually use the dryer balls to save energy because they separate the clothes, making the load dry faster. If you are allergic to lanolin you may want to try some other type of dryer ball or accessory :-)
RJ Hirsch says
Aha! this may be why someone I know uses a tennis ball.
Glad to hear if this is helpful.
RJ
Elana says
RH, yes a tennis ball sounds good :-)
Denise says
Hi RJ, I use four tennis balls to help aerate my drying clothes. My only advice to using them is if you have a dog that loves tennis balls and the balls are kept in the dryer between loads…be sure to close the door or you’ll be replacing them. :)
Elana says
Denise, thanks so much for that awesome tip!
DamselflyDiary says
I disagree with several of your proclamations, but I like having new things to think about. For instance, I always thought I couldn’t dehydrate something because I don’t own the proper equipment. I will have to look into how to use my oven. Never considered making toast in a cast iron skillet and probably won’t ever try it because I love my toaster oven. But in a pinch, you never know!
I would NEVER give up my stand mixer. I use it ALL of the time. It is so easy to clean. I find food processors so hard to clean — and dangerous with that sharp blade. I have both sitting side-by-side on my cluttered kitchen counter but I rarely use the food processor.
I can’t have rubber bands in my home because my cat likes to eat them. I use clothes pins for chip clips but admittedly have real chip clips given to me as gifts and promotional give-a-ways. I love them. I also sometimes use a piece of masking tape or a office supply binder clip to seal up a bag or box.
We started using the dryer balls about two years ago but I must admit we often still use dryer sheets to help with static cling. We do however use natural ones that do not have a strong perfume to them. I do not like strong perfumes and odors, or tastes for that matter but that is a different story!
By the way, I love the fresh new design of your website!
Elana says
Thanks Damselfly!