These are the Essential Tools and Appliances for Stocking a Second Home Kitchen

Whether its an A-frame cabin in the woods or a beach shack near the ocean, owning a second home might sound like a dream. Unless youre lucky enough to have one, and you find yourself trying to remember whether or not you left the cocktail shaker with the pasta pot back at the vaca house come Monday when youre trying to make dinner and return to the real world. While a second kitchen may not have everything you need to, say, host a holiday meal for twenty, stocking it properly is essentialincluding for guests if its a rental.

Below, the items you just cant shuttle back and forth when youre trying to enjoy the weekend away.

Amazon Basics Microwave with Alexa Capabilities, $59.99 on Amazon

Alexa, microwave for two minutes. Your second home kitchen needs a nuker (especially for movie night when, obviously, popcorn is required). This low-cost, high-tech option has Alexa capabilities, but also a keypad for those technophobes or, you know, your mom.Buy Now

Brevo Cordless Electric Glass Kettle, $29.99 on Amazon

An electric kettle can boil water, but can also be used to prep oatmeal, pasta, and even eggs. For smaller kitchens, its a no-brainer since it takes up little counter space, is easy to store, and maybe a lower cost option if you cant install that Smeg oven you have your eye on just yet.Buy Now

Bodum Pour-Over Coffee Maker With Permanent Filter, $23.87 on Amazon

A pour-over coffee maker is simple to use, (even for pour-over novices, we swear!), and is easier to clean than a drip coffee machine, with parts that can easily be thrown in the dishwasher.Buy Now

18-Jar Bamboo Spice Rack, $27.35 on Amazon

The beauty of this spice rack is multifaceted: You can keep it on the countertop, mount it on a wall, or tuck it in a cabinet; and the square slots accommodate spice jars of various shapes and sizes. It comes with 16 jars of spices, but they may vary, so you can always swap one out for TJs EBTBSS or whatever else you like best. This is the kind of all-in-one package that will ensure you wont be eating bland chicken because you forgot that one bag with, you know, everything by your other doorstep before hitting the road.Buy Now

All-Clad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set, $399.95 on Sur La Table (normally $635)

In a second kitchen, less is more, and one pot and one pan can do a lot. The key is not to skimp on these workhorses. This All-Clad set has a skillet, saute pan, and saucepan and all look pretty slick on the counter if you dont have the cabinet space to store them (but check out these cookware storage solutions to help maximize the space you do have).Buy Now

Corelle LivingWare Winter Frost Vitrelle 16 Piece Dinner Set,$31.99 at Target

When in doubt, go with all-white dishes. This set is microwave and dishwasher safe, and also isnt your grandmothers vintage china, so you wont wince if a guest drops a coffee cup. We say buy two sets so you have matching plates in case you host a larger dinner party.Buy Now

Made by Design Stackable Stemless Wine Glasses, 6 for $10.99 at Target

Do you want to drink your wine out of a coffee mug? Spring for actual wine glassesespecially durable, inexpensive options that are stemless and less prone to breaking (see above regarding several Airbnb guests cycling through). These are also stackable to make the most of your cabinet space, and cheap enough that you can buy two sets for a full dozen.Buy Now

Home Hero 8-Piece Silicone Utensil Set, $22.99 on Amazon

Silicone utensils are safe to use with any cookware, and this set includes pretty much every kitchen utensil you need. Plus, the wooden handles class them up enough for any little cabin in Big Sur.Buy Now

PJ Kabos Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $18.90 on Amazon

When stocking a second kitchen, pantry essentials are a must. And since youre probably coming to your vacation home to indulge in some noshing and drinking wine by the fire, make sure those staples are a little more elevated than your Monday through Thursday stuff. This olive oil, a 2018 winner of the London Olive Oil competition, can stand alone with warm bread or can be used for cooking.Buy Now

Brevo Toaster, $32.99 on Amazon

This toaster, with extra-large slots for bagels, also has a defrost option for frozen bread. Plus, it will dress up any second home kitchen that might need a remodel.Buy Now

For even more ideas, check out the Chowhound Top 100, the most-discussed cookware, cookbooks, and pantry staples in our community. Or get some inspiration from The Top 10 Tools for the Mimimalist Kitchen.

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