Preparing Your Kitchen for Summer Cooking
Summer in the UAE can turn even the most enthusiastic cook into someone who just wants to assemble a salad and call it a day. The heat, the lighter appetite, and the desire to spend less time by the stove all mean one thing — it’s time to simplify your kitchen.
Giving your kitchen a little pre-summer declutter can make meal prep faster, easier, and more enjoyable. Plus, it’ll save you rummaging through clutter when all you want is a cold drink or a quick bite.
Audit What You Actually Use
Let’s be honest: how many gadgets are gathering dust?
Go through your cupboards and drawers and ask:
Have I used this in the last three months?
Is it suitable for summer meals?
Does it make cooking easier, or just add clutter?
Things like soup makers, air fryers, or fondue sets might not be needed during the summer. Store them away to free up prime space.
Focus on Summer-Friendly Tools
Make space for the items you’ll actually use in hot weather:
Salad bowls and spinners
Citrus juicers
Pitchers or jugs for infused water
Lightweight pans for quick meals
Ice cube trays or popsicle moulds
Keep these in easy reach — the goal is to make your kitchen work with you, not against you.
Declutter the Pantry
Summer cooking is usually quicker and lighter, so now’s a good time to reassess your pantry.
Toss out expired items and things you haven’t touched in a year.
Group food into zones: grains, tinned food, spices, snacks.
Store summer staples like pasta, couscous, canned beans, tinned tuna, and wraps where you can grab them quickly.
If you’ve got things hiding at the back that are still good, plan a few meals around using them up before restocking.
Clear the Worktops
Worktops are not storage space — they’re prep space. If yours are covered in appliances or clutter, meal prep becomes stressful.
Keep only the essentials out: kettle, coffee machine, maybe a toaster. Everything else can be stored or tucked away, especially if you’re not using it daily.
A clear surface instantly makes your kitchen feel bigger, cleaner, and cooler.
Fridge and Freezer Refresh
You’ve already done the fridge in Post 1 — but now it’s time to check your freezer. Summer is great for batch-cooking light meals, freezing smoothie packs, or making your own ice pops.
Clear out any old freezer-burnt bits, label what’s left, and make space for refreshing treats and meal shortcuts.
A clutter-free kitchen makes summer cooking feel less like a chore and more like a creative break in your day. Even if you’re just assembling a mezze plate or slicing fruit for the kids, doing it in a tidy, organised space makes all the difference.