You’ve checked in, you’ve critiqued the knives and double-washed the dishes, and now it’s time to get cooking. But where are the promised kitchen essentials included in your home rental listening? There’s no way that off-brand, definitely refilled bottle of olive oil is the only cooking fat in the house? And salt? Where?
If you love cooking on vacation, and want to amp up your game, or at least, you know, not suffer from under seasoned food in a vacation rental kitchen, there are a few essentials you can easily pack in a dopp kit or lunch bag and have ready to go for your next rental. Mostly TSA-friendly, this small sized seasonings, oils and more will make your cooking on the road, be it camping or at a luxury waterfront beach home, so much better.
Here’s what to get:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Packets
Kosterina Original Extra Virgin Olive Oil Packets
Can’t imagine serving a dish without a drizzle of liquid gold? That’s where these packets come in. Individually sealed to ensure freshness, Kosterina’s on the go kit includes 25 packets of 12ml of extra virgin olive oil, perfect for finishing dishes, making dressings, sauces and more. $20, kosterina.com
Slide Tin Containers
Slide Tin Containers
Swear by nutritional yeast? Need to add cayenne to everything? Dry your own aromatic herbs? Decant a bit of your favorite spices into these .25 oz metal containers that keep spices fresh for months. $6.99, amazon.com
Microplane Zester
Microplane zester
An essential in any avid cook’s home kitchen, microplanes pack up nicely and can be so useful for grating hard cheeses, zesting citrus, mincing ginger and garlic, and so much more. This lightweight mutli-tool is TSA-friendly and slim enough to fit in any bag — even a purse. Keep the cover on to keep the sharp prongs away from the rest of your essentials. $15, amazon.com
Victorinox Swiss Army Knife
Victorinox Fieldmaster Swiss Army Knife
It’s a classic for a reason. Originally designed for the Swiss Army, this multitool can help you slice and cut through packages and food items when the dull Airbnb knives just won’t work. The wine opener and bottle opener of course come in handy too. Note that this tool can’t travel through TSA, but can be in checked luggage and of course is useful on a road trip. $52, victorinox.com
Extra Condiment Packets (Free!)
Keep your mustard packets with you as you travel
Stock up on individual condiments when you’re out — they can be super useful in Airbnb cooking. Just one packet of Dijon mustard can help you whip up a quick marinade, salad dressing, or moisten a sandwich, and a packet of honey can sweeten any of the former or add sweetness that another recipe is lacking. Soy sauce packages can add a depth of flavor and even a squeeze of hot sauce is nice to keep on hand. Having a few common condiments at the ready can quickly boost flavor while cooking and is a limited wasted approach — so much better than buying a full jar of mustard that will get tossed when you check out. And yes, these tiny packets can travel on the plane — and may even zest up an in-flight meal too.