The Top Kitchen Essentials For Short Term Rentals
Food, clothing, and shelter are the three bases everybody needs to cover for themselves. You are providing shelter as an Airbnb host. The guests bring their own clothing. Though you don’t have to arrange food for them, it is necessary you give them enough tools to prepare their own. You don’t need to get anything fancy like a dough mixer. Remember that you are running a short term rental. The services you provide should be easy and quick to use. Guests won’t and shouldn’t treat it like their own home kitchen. They will just be passing through. Just have enough essentials to make their short time with you pleasurable.
Microwave: Let’s face it. Most guests don’t have time to cook with their travel or work schedules. Having a microwave is essential for them. They might pick up easy to cook or ready to eat meals from the store and just heat them up. This kitchen essential should be the first one on your list for an Airbnb. We did a whole blog post here about what microwave to pick for your Airbnb. Be sure to check that post out.
Amazon Basics Microwave: To fulfill this requirement on a budget, this microwave is a great match. It is small but has adequate power. It has 10 power levels, a timer, a child lock, and a turntable. It can be paired with an Amazon Alexa device for voice control.
Cutting board: If your guests want to just prepare a salad or chop down ingredients for a stew or the like, get a cutting board so they don’t damage your plates or your kitchen top.
HOMWE Kitchen Cutting Board: These classic cutting boards are made of thick heavy-duty BPA free plastic. They come in a set of three. So you will have a perfect one for every kind of food.
Mixing bowls: Having a few bowls around the house is a great idea. They can be used in many ways. Make sure you pick some that are microwave safe.
Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl: This one comes in a set of three with 1-qt, 1-1/2-qt and 2-1/2-qt clear bowls. The glass is nonporous so it should not stain or retain food smells. It is microwave and oven safe.
Measuring cups: Measuring cups are needed to pick out the right quantities of food. Guests may be left lost if they can’t measure out the ingredients for their recipes.
New star food service measuring cups: This set is affordable and durable. It should be enough for most Airbnbs.
Can opener: Can openers are such a small consideration that you might forget to get one. You just expect one to be there. You can get a simple one to cross it off your list.
KitchenAid Classic Multifunction can opener: This one looks and feels like an American classic. It supports almost all the functions you need. It should work for indoor and outdoor tasks.
Cooking Set: A set of basic spoons, whisks, spatulas, and tongs is a must-have if the guests are going to cook.
8 Silicone Utensils Set: These ones have non-scratch silicone heads and so they are safe for any cookware surface
Most of the above: If you want to save a bunch of money but still want to provide most of the functionality that you’ve seen above, get this all in one stainless steel set
Cookware Utensils: You need to provide utensils to cook something basic like an omelet or some pasta. If you have an oven in your rental get a whole set so you don’t need to pick out individual ones.
AmazonBasics 8-piece Non-Stick Cookware: This set covers all the possibilities and individual or a small family may need.
Plates: You need to figure out how many people on an average stay at your property and then pick up something for that size. The plates should be dishwasher and microwave safe.
AmazonBasics Dinnerware Set: This set of 16 is made of porcelain so it will feel better than cheap materials. It comes in a set of plates of two sizes, bowls and cups.
Knives: You don’t need to get high-end Japanese finish knives but something that covers most meats and vegetable types is very much required.
Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block: This set of 13 knives should cover all your basics. It comes with scissors and a knife sharpener.
Precautions to take:
It is a good idea to keep your personal kitchen utensils and Airbnb kitchen utensils separate. That way you have boundaries and you can have the accountability of the services you provide.
Make sure to tick the Kitchen box in Amenities when you are setting up your Airbnb if you decide to get all the stuff above. If you are providing a service, make sure you use it to market and differentiate yourself!
Make sure that the sink in the kitchen is free from any blockages. It will come as a nasty surprise to your guests if it clogs up. Ensure proper plumbing.
Similar to plumbing, make sure the appliances like the fridge and any others you decide to provide work properly, get the electricity they need and are not fire hazards.
Examine if your countertop needs changing or cleaning. A dirty surface would leave a bad impression on your guest’s mind.
It is a good idea to leave notes somewhere in the house about local eateries that deliver food, in case, some times guests don’t have enough time to cook someday.
Let your guests know that they need to properly maintain cleanliness. Your guests should clean up after themselves if they make a mess.
If you renting out a whole house then most probably the guests booking your property expect a kitchen because they will be coming with their entire families or large groups. In that case, you definitely need to go through the list and provide all the tools.
Maintain a basic mental or rough inventory of what you have and are providing. If something goes missing, you should know which guests to blame or what to replace.
In case the utensils are not being used, it is still a good idea to wash them once in a while. If they are unused for a long time and gather gunk or rust, then they won’t be usable at all.
