A Summer Kitchen Mindset

Cooking in the summer and winter are very different for me.  In the summer, we choose lighter foods, more fruits and veggies (especially from the garden) and we try to keep the house cool!

This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.

What is a Summer Kitchen?

A summer kitchen, built separate from the house, was most used in the late 18th to early 19th centuries. Using a kitchen outside the main house helped to keep out any heat from the fire and steam and also prevented house fires.  I have seen a few examples of real summer kitchens and loved the idea of it. Unfortunately, I’ve learned through my research that these kitchens were also used to keep women or people of color, including slaves, separated from the main house.

Now that most homes have air conditioning many people may not even think about how the heat from the oven or all the steam from a pot of pasta can heat the house.  It’s nice in the winter, but in the summer it means spending more resources and money on air conditioning or just living with the heat.

A Modern Summer Kitchen

Modern Summer Kitchens are used more for grilling and entertaining than making bread and large meals. I’ve seen some very fancy outdoor kitchens online and in magazines. There are some great ideas on Pinterest here.

But, you don’t need a separate building or fancy grill station. You can get the same benefit of keeping the house cooler and not wasting extra money on air conditiong by cooking outside, using small appliances, and eating cold meals.

Read more about saving on utility costs here.

Cook Outside

When I think of cooking in the summer, I instantly think of the grill!  I love grilling year round.  Grilling, admittedly has the downside of costly charcoal or propane, creating smoke and adding to air pollution, and potential carcinogens on charred food.  But Oh! The flavor!!

To cut down on the expense, I make sure to grill for multiple meals at one time.  It’s a pretty simple matter to grill 8 chicken breasts instead of 4 and to grill vegetables at the same time.  And bulk cooking should cut down on the pollutants compared to grilling more frequently.

Use Small Appliances

Your microwave, toaster oven and crock pot can help you cut down on the heat and expense too.  Each of these small appliances uses less electricity to do the same job as the oven or stove top.  And their smaller size won’t create as much heat to be endured or alleviated with more expensive air conditioning.

Use Small Appliances Outside

My house has an enclosed porch and entryway that is regionally called a breezeway.  It’s right off the kitchen and I use it as much as possible as my own little summer kitchen.  When I want to use the crockpot or the rice cooker, both of which create a lot of steam, I simply take them into this area to plug them in.  Perhaps you have a similar area or just outdoor outlets where you can use these appliances.  Just be sure you are using a reliable outlet and a firm work surface!

Opt For a Cold Meal

Serving salad or sandwiches on a hot summer evening is a welcome change of pace.  Salads make great use of all my garden bounty: greens, kale, tomatoes and cukes, arugula and strawberry, beans and blueberry.  MmMmm!  Pasta salads, potato salad and some others may require cooking of certain ingredients which you can do on the grill or with small appliances. Or watch the weather and cook them ahead on a cooler night.

Whether your motivation is saving money or saving resources, adopting a Summer Kitchen mindset can help your finances and the Earth.

Happy Summer (just a month away!) and Happy Eating!

If you like learning about saving money, please subscribe to my newsletter here.

Please share some of your favorite summer meal ideas!