10 Ideas for Holiday Cooking in a Tiny Kitchen

I think tiny kitchen cooking breeds invention. [Today On The Spruce]( [The Spruce Daily]( [Today On The Spruce]( [Today On The Spruce] [The Art of Holiday Cooking in a Tiny Kitchen]( [The Art of Holiday Cooking in a Tiny Kitchen]( [READ MORE]( [Heather Ramsdell](, Senior Editorial Director I love to cook in other people’s apartments during the holidays because I get to feed my friends [delicious things](. And I love cooking in [tiny kitchens]( because the ingenuity, discipline, and adversity needed to cook in them breeds invention. Plus, pulling off a party in a tiny space makes me literally so much closer to my friends. I learned a lot about cooking neatly when I worked as a cook at a teeny 25-inch-long restaurant station where I could not raise my elbows without hitting the fish cook. This made me more organized and less freaked out. Here are some ideas that may help you become not-at-all freaked-out preparing your season’s feast from a tiny kitchen—or any kitchen you want to keep [super tidy]( while also entertaining. 1. Clear the decks: Unusual objects force their way into your tiny kitchen at this time of year. Suddenly [gingerbread houses]( appear, cookie tins, [Panettone]( which you may have baked yourself, [whole hams](, [champagne bottles](, and new [kitchen gadgets]( show up. Find homes before your party. 2. Build upward: Pretend it's a city. Vertical space is key. Clear the counters by moving everything that is not in use to higher ground. Use stackable [storage containers](, even in the refrigerator or freezer. 3. Eyes on the prize: Remember why you are doing this: You love these people. Ditch anything on the menu that stresses you out, or hampers your ability to share and make guests happy and comfortable. If you won’t sweat making a yule log do it! But know that [chocolate cake]( is just as kind. 4. Time is on your side: Plan a diverse menu that includes foods you make ahead (like [pastries](, [stews](, [dips]() and some you finish at the last minute (like steamed [dumplings](, [tamales](, [salads](, quick-cooking [seafood](). Wash, pick, and prep [herbs](, chop [garlic]( and [onions,]( store them in towel rolls in the fridge. And complete any [desserts]( well before you start meal prep. 5. Breathe: You knew I was going to say that. It has nothing to do with food, but breathing is good and perfection is boring. Happy holidays! [Today On The Spruce](#) What to Make This Week [Our Best Comforting Beef Stews ]( [Our Best Comforting Beef Stews]( [Get the Recipe]( [15 Middle Eastern Dips We Love]( [Get the Recipe]( [Festive Christmas Salad Ideas]( [Festive Christmas Salad Ideas]( [Get the Recipe]( [22 Sensational Seafood Soups]( [Get the Recipe]( [Today On The Spruce](#) The Spruce Eats on YouTube [10 Holiday Appetizers for All Your Seasonal Parties]( [10 Holiday Appetizers for All Your Seasonal Parties]( [Watch & Learn]( [Today On The Spruce]( [Spruce Eats Banner]( [Today On The Spruce](#) Did somebody forward you this email? [Sign Up for The Spruce Eats Newsletter!]( Have feedback? Send us an email at contact@thespruceeats.com, subject line: Newsletter Feedback. [The Spruce]( [The Spruce]( Follow us: You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to The Spruce Eats newsletter. [Unsubscribe](page=spruceeatsprefnew) © 2021 Dotdash.com — All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy.]( A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005