The kitchen is the hub of the home. It doesn’t matter whether it’s roughly a gazillion degrees outside or just another splendidly sunny day, the kitchen is that room that is always in full swing, the one room where that stifling summer heat is felt more than anywhere else and flicking on the oven tends to bake more than just the food. Yet, no matter how much time we spend with our face pressed up against the fridge, it feels almost-impossible to keep cool.
The question is: what else can you do to beat the heat and keep cool in your kitchen?
Well, to help you out and prevent you from perspiring uncontrollably as you whip up something delicious (hint: an ice cold cocktail sounds pretty darn good, right now), we’ve pulled together some top tips that will keep you cool while you make the most of your favourite room in the home.
Avoid your oven as much as possible
Feel free to file this one under “well, errr, that’s pretty obvious” because nothing is going to make your shirt stick to your skin more than turning up your oven. Instead, the simplest way to keep things cool in your kitchen is to cook prepare dishes that don’t require your stove. After all, there’s a reason we’ve all heard the phrase ‘it feels like an oven in here’.
Instead, try mixing up some cold salads, using your blender to make a gazpacho or using appliances that don’t pump out hot air, such as your microwave, toaster, slow cooker, air fryer or panini press. And if that’s not possible (for whatever reason), look for recipes that can be cooked over a medium heat.
Open your windows in the morning… and then close them
There’s nothing quite like the feel of a cool breeze on a sweltering day, which is why it can be so tempting to fling the kitchen windows and doors open as the sun heats up throughout the day. However, it will be much more beneficial to keep them closed, at least from midday onwards. Instead, open the windows first thing in the morning, when it’s hotter inside than out thanks to the hot being trapped inside while the temperatures outside dropped overnight.
Doing this will encourage that cool, fresh morning air in and let the warm, stale air out, making your kitchen feel oh-so-soothing as that gentle breeze swirls around your favourite space. Just make sure to close the windows once the mercury begins to rise to keep the cool air in and the hot air out.
Drawn the curtains and drop the blinds
It’s the simple things that make life so special, like seeing sunlight stream through your sash windows on a lovely summer’s day; your cupboard handles glinting in the rays and your cabinet doors dancing with the shadows. The problem is, during a heatwave, these streams of sunlight will only make your kitchen even hotter. Instead, try drawing your blinds or closing your shutters the moment any sun rays start to shine directly through your kitchen windows.|
This simple little trick will prevent any extra heat coming into your kitchen, especially if you keep them closed during the day and then open them up in the early evening once the temperature has dropped.
Reduce your cooking time as much as possible
No matter how hot your thermometer says it is, you still have to eat. The answer: manage your time as best as possible. I know, I know, we all wish we could find a little more time in the day, but carving out just a few extra minutes first thing in the morning when it’s cooler will allow you to prepare that day’s meals before the kitchen gets too hot. Then when you’re ready to eat, simply pop your dish in the microwave, which won’t add any extra heat to your room.
Choose foods that will keep you cool
As tempting as it might be to pop your head in your empty fridge, it’s a much better idea to stock it full of foods that are known to keep your body cool. For example, mint boasts menthol properties that have an incredible cooling effect on our bodies, making it the perfect addition to any salad, gazpacho, cocktail and anything else you can think of.
Yet the cool food choices don’t stop there. Think cantaloupes, watermelons, strawberries, blueberries, courgettes, celery and cucumber, all of which are high in water content, as well as good sources of Vitamin A & B, while eating spicy foods encourage our bodies to sweat, triggering a natural cooling reaction.
Make heat-resistant design choices
The way we see it, hot summers are on course to become the norm, so making your kitchen heat-proof through design is a great way to keep your space cool so that you can enjoy it whatever the mercury climbs to.
To do this effectively and stylishly, the best move you can make is to create an open-plan kitchen where the air can circulate more freely, preventing your space from becoming hot and stuffy. Another effective design decision to consider is your kitchen’s ventilation to increase air circulation as well as reduce any odours that might get emphasised by the heat. As for keeping your kitchen cool through colours, opt for lighter cabinets, countertops, flooring and walls as lighter shades will not only make your space feel more airy, but will also absorb less heat, thus creating a cooler space for you to enjoy during the next hot summer.
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