Hua Hin - Cha Am Condos for Sale or Rent

Essential Kitchen Tools for Beach Condominium Living in Hua Hin Thailand

Kitchens in seaside condominiums are often tiny and the energy source of choice for safety is almost always electric.  Typical beach condominium kitchen unit is equipped with an electric cook top on a kitchen counter, a vent hood, a sink, and a refrigerator.  In condominium living, there is often a rule book regarding cooking and entertaining restraints (noise level –no pounding using stone mortar and pestle, food smell –no cooking highly-spiced paste in high heat oil which may cause severe respiratory allergic reaction to neighbors as well as scented and coated the whole floor or building with old-greased smell for days).  But have no fear, there are countless ways and recipes for easy and delicious Thai cooking that can be done in a typical simple and small beach condo kitchen.   Here are some suggestions on which kitchen utensils, appliances, and tools to have on hand for preparing Thai and western meals to help you spend less time cooking and more time enjoying great meals, company, and the beach.

1. An electric rice cooker is a great convenience if you cook rice often.  A four or five-cup size is best for either family meals or entertaining.
2. A coffee maker.  A sturdy pump is needed to make a good coffee, essential to get both eyes open.
3. A microwave oven big enough to warm up a plate of food.
4. A small countertop oven that can make 4 pieces of toast at a time (also great for heat up slices of pizza).
5. Large skillets with lids –one or two 8- or 10-inch for seafood paella or fried rice.
6. Large and small frying pans- 12-inch, heavy bottomed, with slanted sides, great for stove-topped steak and grilled cheese; one 6-inch for perfect omelet.
7. Small and medium saucepans with lids -1- or 1 ½-quart; 2 ½-or 3-quart.
8. Large pot with lid -6-quart or larger for cooking crab boil or corn-on-the-cob to have with barbeque ribs.
9. Steamer-perforated insert that fits the pot or saucepan.
10. Cutting boards, Polyethylene or wood- small, for garlic and chilli peppers; large, for everything else.  They can be hung on the wall.
11. Knives – one of each: a Chinese cleaver, No. 3 (the number is printed on the blade) made of carbon steel for all-round cutting, slicing, and chopping; 10- to 12-inch knife for cut things like watermelon, heavy steel; serrated bread knife (also good for cutting tomato); 6 ½ to 8-inch utility knife, thin slender blade stainless steel; 3-or 4-inch paring knife.  Keep knives in one drawer.
12. 4-6 sets of everyday dishes, bowls, and silverwares.  Assorted glasses and coffee cups and plastic cold drinking cups (preferably insulated ones for less mess).
13. Colander; medium strainer; vegetable peeler; potato masher; cheese-slicer; and stainless steel grater.
14. Measuring cups and spoons- liquid and dry.
15. Spatulas- metal, wooden, and rubber.  Store all cooking utensils in one drawer instead of utensil holder on the counter top.  The more you store on the counter, the more you have to clean.
16. Long-handled spoons-regular and slotted.
17. Large and small whisks.
18. Stainless-steel mixing bowls –in assorted sizes which can double up as salad and popcorn bowls.
19. Bottle and can openers –use a magnetic strip to hold them in plain sight.

Identify all of the kitchen necessities; the things you and your family must have for efficient meal preparation and give them choice priority in your beach condominium tiny kitchen.  With any size kitchen, cooking can be a joy when things are tidy, easy to find and efficiently organized.  Also, you don’t have to worry about cooking up complicated Thai meals in your beach condominium; most Thais have their favorite highly spicy delicious Thai food at one of the beach front seafood dives.