Traveling Kitchen for a Digital Nomad — Part One

How to travel with a few handy kitchen gadgets

I have always enjoyed the aromas of the kitchen and more so when I am cooking. Cooking serves many purposes in my life. It is where I find creativity through herbs, spices, and flavors. I use my time chopping or stirring as a stress reliever.

It is an opportunity to feed my body healthy meals or have a good time entertaining with my treats. So, no matter where I am in the world, my kitchen gadgets are an essential part of my life.

Needless to say, when I became a digital nomad staying in hotel cooking suites or short-term rentals, having my kitchen gadgets allowed me to enjoy my favorite pastime.

I have learned to travel with some checked bag-worthy items. Some items are suitable for carry-on but double-check your airport and airline regulations, so they do not get confiscated.

Here are five kitchen items I took with me when I went from being an expat to being a digital nomad.

A silicone spatula

I liked taking a spatula (or a whole set) because it is a versatile kitchen tool. It can perform different kinds of cooking functions such as scraping bowls, stirring up liquid-based ingredients, or flipping food like pancakes or eggs.

Wooden spoon (paddle-style)

Someone who loves to cook knows a wooden spoon is a necessity in the kitchen. I choose to carry a paddle-style wooden spoon with me when I travel. It is a little bit flatter and serves many purposes. It can be used for chopping/breaking up food in a pot and the familiar stirring.

It can be used to pound the meat to tenderize it or smash garlic. The flatter version of the wooden spoon is the handiest kitchen tool. I am also a fan of these spoons being made from bamboo.

A small size cooking tongs

The tongs are cooking tools that can be helpful in the kitchen and otherwise. There are many different uses for it in a hotel room or a short-term rental. For cooking, it is great for flipping things in a pot.

For general use, use it to pick ice from the ice machine or hold that hot washcloth from the microwave before using it for sore muscles. Pack some tongs to help you with general travel needs.

Small size egg beater

Having a more petite-sized beater can be very handy when traveling, using it to mix eggs or cake mix. You can also use it for whipping up some avocado and honey for a facial mask or aloe gel for cooling sunburn. Whisk up a batch of that juice that you store in those reusable bottles. It is a handy utensil when you are on the road.

Long teaspoons

A pair of these spoons can make kitchen life easy for tall jars, drinks, or even the oven. Use these spoons to pick little things from jars, like olives or capers. Use them in tall glasses for mixing up hot or cold drinks.

They can be helpful in the oven for basting meats or taking a spoonful of the food for tasting while you avoid the oven’s direct heat. Lastly, a long spoon is often the spoon of choice for ice cream sundaes as it allows you to get all the yummy goodness out of the bottom.

Now, you might ask, why carry kitchen gadgets with you?

One reason is that it makes you feel comfortable in a temporary new kitchen. As you already know, hotel cooking suites or short-term rentals only supply the basics. Lastly, eliminate your cooking frustration as some of your accommodations have preferred cooking utensils, so why not have your own?

Packing these five items is pretty easy. Roll or slide them between your folded clothes. Using plastic baggies can be helpful if you have delicate items that could be snagged by metal items.

Since these items are lightweight and do not take up much space, you will not notice the difference in your suitcase.

So, have a couple of handy tools so you can enjoy your cooking experience while traveling short-term.

Happy cooking!

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