Tag: KITCHEN

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Sustainable kitchen practices

The movements of chefs and kitchen staff should be synchronized, to attain a high level of efficiency. Strategic kitchen design and workflow optimization can significantly reduce the time it takes to prepare and serve dishes. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also allows the restaurant to serve more guests with the same resources…writes Devanshi Tripathi

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the restaurant industry, the kitchen transcends its traditional role as a mere cooking space; it emerges as a dynamic nexus of efficiency and organization. As the global economy grapples with uncertainties, adaptability becomes paramount for businesses in the Food and Beverage sector to ensure economic resilience. Consequently, the imperative to streamline kitchen operations ceases to be merely a matter of convenience; instead, it transforms into a strategic initiative geared towards enhancing sustainability and bolstering the overall profitability of the restaurant business. 

In this context, Devanshi Tripathi, the Founder of North Star Café, expresses her perspectives on fortifying the industry against economic challenges through the exploration and implementation of measures for kitchen efficiency. This approach is not only prudent but also represents a pivotal step in ensuring the resilience of the business.

Kitchen: The Heartbeat of a Restaurant

The kitchen is undeniably the heartbeat of a restaurant where the culinary magic takes place, breathing life into the dining experience. Beyond its functional role as a space for food preparation, the kitchen embodies the character and essence of a restaurant. It’s the creative nucleus where chefs curate flavors, textures, and majestic presentations to craft exquisite dishes that stimulate the taste buds, creating long-lasting impressions on passionate food connoisseurs. The energy within a restaurant’s kitchen pulsates with teamwork, precision, and passion, synchronizing diverse culinary talents working seamlessly to deliver a fine gourmet experience. This highlights the pivotal role of a kitchen in maintaining its status as the epicenter of a restaurant’s success, crafting not just meals but memories and elevating the entire dining journey for guests.

A Recipe for Economic Resilience

With the food-service market in India estimated to reach USD 79.65 billion by 2028, optimization of kitchen operations holds immense potential as a strategic move. Each streamlined operation, from ingredient sourcing to plate presentation, contributes to the financial benefit of establishments. Hence, the kitchen’s efficiency is a vital ingredient in the economic recipe for enduring success in the industry and here are some ways to achieve that highlighted by Devanshi Tripathi:

Inventory Management: Effective inventory management is the cornerstone of a streamlined kitchen. By implementing advanced tracking systems and technology, restaurants can monitor ingredient levels in real time, preventing overstocking or stockouts. This not only reduces waste but also ensures that resources are utilized optimally, leading to substantial cost savings.

Workflow Optimization: The movements of chefs and kitchen staff should be synchronized, to attain a high level of efficiency. Strategic kitchen design and workflow optimization can significantly reduce the time it takes to prepare and serve dishes. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also allows the restaurant to serve more guests with the same resources.

Technology Integration: Embracing modern technology is crucial for a kitchen aiming to stand out in terms of efficiency. From automated cooking processes to smart inventory management algorithms, tech is destined to revolutionize the way 21st-century kitchens operate. Smart AI tools can also help in predicting demand, optimizing schedules and even analyzing customer preferences, allowing for better-informed predictive decisions.

Staff Training and Empowerment: Efficiency isn’t just about machines – it’s about the people who operate them. Well-trained and motivated staff can significantly contribute to kitchen efficiency. Therefore, regular training programs, clear communication channels and empowering employees to take ownership of their roles can lead to a more resilient kitchen environment.

Sustainable Practices: In the quest for efficiency, sustainability should not be overlooked. Adopting eco-friendly practices, such as reducing single-use plastic, composting organic waste and using locally sourced ingredients, not only aligns with today’s consumer values but also contributes to minimizing long-term environmental impact and associated costs.

In the challenging market of the food service industry where many external factors can impact profit margins, kitchen efficiency is becoming a necessity. By focusing on inventory management, optimizing workflows, integrating technology, investing in staff training and adopting sustainable practices, restaurants can build a resilient foundation for economic success. A well-oiled kitchen not only serves delicious meals but also ensures that resources are utilized wisely, contributing to long-term economic stability. As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine – investing in kitchen efficiency today is an investment in the economic resilience of tomorrow’s culinary enterprises.

ALSO READ-Infuse Your Kitchen with Stories and Charm

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Infuse Your Kitchen with Stories and Charm

Whether you’re a passionate home cook looking to share your culinary creations or an interior design aficionado aiming to curate a space that’s as functional as it is visually appealing, these tips by thinKitchen will guide you in crafting a kitchen that’s bound to garner likes and admiration on Instagram:

Create a unique kitchen vibe: Dare to mix and match styles, textures, and materials to create a diverse yet harmonious kitchen design. Combine vintage elements with modern fixtures, juxtapose sleek surfaces with rustic accents, and blend various textures like marble, wood, and metal for visual interest. Embracing variety adds depth and character to your space, allowing you to express your unique personality and design sensibilities while still achieving an Instagram-worthy aesthetic.

Invest in Stylish Cookware: Upgrade your cookware with stylish and functional pieces that double as decor. Look for sleek stainless-steel pots and pans, colourful cast iron skillets, or elegant ceramic baking dishes that you’ll be proud to display. Here is where MasterClass enters the picture. Investing in MasterClass Smart Space Non-Stick Saucepan Set from thinKitchen.in would be a smart choice to go for! This smart pan set takes up the space of just one saucepan when stored. The pans nest together neatly, the one-size-fits-all lid sits on top, and the comfort-grip handle can be securely attached and detached with a single click.

Showcase Beautiful Drinkware: Elevate your beverage game with stylish drinkware that adds a touch of sophistication to your kitchen. Choose glassware with unique shapes or intricate designs or opt for trendy copper mugs or colourful tumblers for a more eclectic vibe. Adding that one final touch in your kitchen can be possible with Final Touch glassware intricately designed to include luxury in your home.

Curate Culinary Corners: Transform your kitchen into a haven for culinary creativity by curating dedicated corners for specific purposes. Create a coffee nook with a stylish espresso machine and a collection of artisanal mugs or designate a baking station adorned with vintage mixing bowls and whimsical cookie jars. These curated corners not only enhance functionality but also add unique focal points to your kitchen decor, setting the stage for Instagram-worthy snapshots of your culinary endeavours.

Organise with Style: Keep your kitchen clutter-free by organizing your cookware, drinkware, and dinnerware in style. Invest in sleek storage solutions like open shelves, glass-front cabinets, or decorative hooks to showcase your collection while keeping everything within easy reach. thinKitchen.in’s stellar storage solutions bring to you- The Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Cutlery Tray or the Joseph Joseph CupboardStore™ Under Shelf Storage Containers are the perfect additions to organize with style.

Cultivate Culinary Stories: Elevate your kitchen’s ambiance by incorporating elements that tell a story. Display cookbooks passed down through generations, artisanal spices from exotic travels, or heirloom utensils with a rich history. These curated artefacts not only infuse your space with character but also invite conversation and nostalgia, making your kitchen a true reflection of your culinary journey and personal narrative.

With these tips, you can create an Instagram-worthy kitchen that’s both visually stunning and functional, making it the perfect backdrop for all your culinary adventures and home decor dreams.

ALSO READ-Audible’s ‘Your Mama’s Kitchen’: A Blend of Culture, Memories, and Recipes

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Indian Cooking Goes Smart

These appliances have breathed new life into leftovers, generating step-by-step recipes, and allowing owners to craft gourmet-worthy dishes from the remnants in their fridges…writes Mahek Mody

Indian kitchens have always been the epicentres of ingenious culinary creations, where the art of making something out of nothing reigns supreme. In fact, each state, region, and community boasts its unique leftover-based recipes, nearly all of which are born from resourcefulness. However, as urbanisation leads to more and more people moving away from their homes and into cities, these culinary gems often fade away, especially for those living alone and relying heavily on takeout.

But the tides seem to be turning, there has been an increasing interest in cooking at home with the rising popularity of recipe and food content both online and on TV. Technology, like smart cooking devices powered by AI, is playing a pivotal role in this transformation. These appliances have breathed new life into leftovers, generating step-by-step recipes, and allowing owners to craft gourmet-worthy dishes from the remnants in their fridges.

According to upliance.ai food trends report, which has findings from an extensive dataset of 3000 households and more than 15,000+ cooking sessions on the delishUp across 11 cities, the resurgence of crafting meals from leftovers, is an unmistakable trend.  Additionally, the survey also found that people are using AI to create innovative dishes like Pepsi Chicken and finding new ways to eat their old favourites like Tambuli. Overall, the kitchen has just become a safer place for culinary experimentation.

Rotli Nu Shak: “Rotli Nu Shaak” is a delightful Gujarati dish that ingeniously transforms leftover roti into a flavorful curry or stir-fry. The dish typically involves tearing the roti into bite-sized pieces and cooking it with spices, vegetables, and dal.

Fried Rice: Made from leftover rice is a popular and versatile dish in many Asian cuisines. It involves stir-frying cooked rice with various ingredients such as vegetables, meat, seafood, and seasonings. The key is using precooked, preferably day-old, rice, which has had a chance to dry out slightly. Asian-style fried rice can be made easily with a smart cooking assistant – mincing ginger and garlic with only a tap and turning on Wok mode to toss and fry the vegetables and rice.

Idli Upma:  South Indian cuisines include several recipes to use up leftover rice, dals and even vegetables. For this recipe, crumbled or diced idlis are tossed with a simple tadka. The key is to get the tempering right for the whole spices like mustard and cumin and not burn the chillies and onions. Smart cooking assistants offer presets for most complex cooking instructions and ensure that meals are cooked consistently well.

Kheer: This is another classic Indian dessert that can be made from leftover rice. It involves simmering cooked rice in sweetened milk and adding flavourings like cardamom, saffron, and garnishes such as nuts and raisins. Traditionally, this recipe requires constant monitoring and stirring to get the consistency right. But today, people rely on their cooking appliances to do the tedious steps while they carry on with their day.

Households across India are eager to experiment with a wider variety of dishes right in their own kitchens. This shift is significantly influenced by the convenience offered by AI-powered devices and smart cooking assistants. It’s not just about saving food; it’s a transformative shift in the way people approach home cooking in India. With technology as their culinary companion, the future of Indian home kitchens is brighter and more inventive than ever.

ALSO READ-Indians’ Love for Potato-Based Snacks

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Future of Indian Home Kitchens

You can repurpose steamed vegetables into flavourful stir fries and snacks.  Sauté them together with spices like pepper and red chilli flakes and a splash of honey for a quick snack. You can also add some protein to the stir fry to turn into a wholesome meal…writes Mahek Mody

Indian kitchens have a rich tradition of culinary ingenuity, where creating something delightful from meagre ingredients has been elevated to an art form. Each state, region, and community boasts unique leftover-based recipes born from resourcefulness. Yet, as urbanisation has pushed people into cities, these recipes have often taken a backseat, particularly for those living alone, turning to ordering in or eating out.

But the tides seem to be turning, there has been an increasing interest in cooking at home with  the rising popularity of recipe and food content both online and on TV. Technology, like smart cooking devices powered by AI, is playing a pivotal role in this transformation. These appliances have breathed new life into leftovers, generating step-by-step recipes, allowing owners to craft gourmet worthy dishes from the remnants in their fridge.

Making Something Out Of Nothing

As per Food Trends Report, based on a comprehensive dataset featuring 3000 households and over 15,000 cooking sessions using delishUp across 11 cities, the revival of cooking with leftovers is an undeniable trend. Below are some of the easiest dishes you can whip up using leftover ingredients.

Steamed Vegetables:  You can repurpose steamed vegetables into flavorful stir fries and snacks.  Sauté them together with spices like pepper and red chilli flakes and a splash of honey for a quick snack. You can also add some protein to the stir fry to turn into a wholesome meal.

Uncooked Vegetables: You can transform your leftover vegetables into a tasty Pav Bhaji. A great recipe to clean out the fridge end of the week, it has been made easy to cook using smart cooking appliances. Automated chopping and stirring and one pot cooking can make home cooked Pav Bhaji part of your weekly menu.

Leftover Rice: South Indian and Asian cuisines have a host of recipes that find new ways to use up any leftover rice. Lemon Rice (Chithrana) and Tamarind Rice (Puliyogare) are easy to make – a quick tadka and aromatics – making these great options for your lunch box. Asian style fried rice can be made really easily with a smart cooking assistant – mincing ginger and garlic with only a tap and turning on Wok mode to toss and fry the vegetables and rice.

Bread : Make the most of the last few slices by making ‘Bread Poha’. You can make it with Paneer or toss in some sausages for a non-veg version. A quick tadka and some sautéed aromatics along with mint, peanuts and you will have a great meal in under 30 minutes. A fusion and easy to make alternative to making puddings or croutons.

Households throughout India are embracing cooking so they can make healthier choices and not rely on ordering in to meet their needs. This transformation is largely driven by the convenience provided by AI-powered appliances and smart cooking assistants. It represents more than just a focus on food preservation; it signifies a fundamental change in how people engage with their own health and their family’s nutritional needs. With technology as their cooking partner, the future of Indian home kitchens is poised to be both brighter and more inventive than ever.

ALSO READ-Unveiling the Beauty of Traditional Craftsmanship: Roohme Chikankari Couture

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Saakshi’s Kitchen: UK’s Largest Home Kitchen Delivering Meals Across UK

Exclusive Feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International 

Saakshi’s Kitchen has a passion for making sure their brand’s discerning diners have a delectable meal time enjoying their delicious, home-style Indian food in the comfort of their home, office or anywhere else, nationwide across the UK on a daily basis. With so many Indians across the UK, the brand feels especially should these Indians in the UK miss authentic home-cooked food this is where they need to order as the brand motto is that no one here anymore should feel food in India is more authentic than served here in the UK as this brand is here to bridge that gap and they do so with simplicity and aplomb. 

Saakshi’s kitchen are passionate about cooking delicious food with low oil, low salt and high nutrition. Saakshi’s Kitchen is founded by Home Chef Saakshi who has been passionate about cooking since a very young age and her family, friends ate out of her hands literally when she was living back in Delhi until last year. 

Since moving to Brighton in 2022 with her family she has catered for the Brighton families for weekend takeaways and for special occasions. Since September 2022, Saakshi’s Kitchen has grown and is now catering tiffins, takeaways and catering nationwide across the UK as well as in Brighton. The business is co-founded by her entrepreneur husband and a London Business school graduate Jasjit Singh Ahluwalia to create UK’s Largest Indian Home Kitchen to deliver daily home-cooked meals nationwide in the UK. For more information, please visit their website at www.saakshistiffin.com (UK Nationwide Delivery) and www.saakshiskitchen.com (Local Brighton Delivery).

Jasjit fondly recalls “It all started with a simple Next Door post in November 2021 which said that ‘Dear Friends, my wife Sakshi has been passionate about experimenting with food, cooking, feeding her family friends and loved ones ever since her parents could remember. Ours was an arranged marriage and we are one hell of a foody family. Well, we didn’t know about  Sakshi’s love for culinary art.

The entrepreneurial couple

On our wedding pre-engagement ceremony she single-handedly cooked for over 100 people! It was unbelievable for us. After marriage, she moved in with me in our parent’s house where my parents entertained proper Indian-style dinners for 30-40 pax at least twice a week and occasionally had much larger gatherings.

She quickly won everyone’s hearts with her love for feeding some of the most delightful foods to each and every one. Everyone soon started eating from her hands… she made a space for everyone in their heart through her food! Such was her love and passion for cooking that got translated into the most delicious dishes so lovingly fed. Then pandemic happened. After studying from home for over 18 months, Sakshi and I realised that we needed our kids to go to school physically and also diversify our business in other geographies.

On August 16th we arrived in Brighton with two young kids. Over the last few months, we settled well into life here but Sakshi missed churning up delicious food which our large family and friends would enjoy. I hope our Brighton family enjoys the food and we get to make a much bigger circle of friends and family out here. She has got approval from the council and is good to start cooking in a limited way for you. I am attaching the menu for you.’ And as they say, the rest is history. “

Saakshi’s Kitchen became a weekend takeaway ritual for many locals in Brighton, curry nights for the rugby team at Brighton College, the opening of cricket season at the local cricket club, Christmas parties, special occasions like 40th 50th 80th birthdays, anniversaries and many more. Sakshi said ‘It was a delight to cook with lots of love and passion and receive so much love and respect. It’s been truly special.’

Today Saakshi’s Tiffin is a staple for many Doctors, Techies, Students and the Elderly across the UK. Delivering across England, Wales and Scotland their brand food is made for a joint family palette and therefore enjoyed by children and the elderly alike and everyone in between. It is simple home-cooked food cooked in less oil, with fewer masalas, healthy, nutritious and wholesome just as one would cook in their own house. 

Saakshi’s Signature Curries, A La Care is ordered across the country as party food- the food the entrepreneur couple fed their guests when they went to their home in Delhi, something for a special evening by the English and the Indians alike. And when they do Catering they send huge catering parcels to customers for their special occasions. The UK is a large family for them they say and connecting with customers helps them understand their stories and how they can add value to their daily life and on special occasions.

The couple signs off by saying that “We are the Indian home kitchen to everyone wanting home-style authentic Indian food in the UK. You may change your houses and move across the UK but your Indian kitchen will remain the same and deliver to you fresh, healthy and nutritious meals wherever you go.”

ALSO READ-NRAI presents Indian Restaurant Conclave 2022

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Zero waste products to reduce SUP in Kitchen

Wooden cutlery is much more environmentally friendly than you might realize. We are all aware of how long-lasting and sustainable wooden products are…reports N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

Consider all the single-use plastic you employ in your kitchen. A majority of it is disposed of in landfills, which affect the environment by releasing methane into the atmosphere. Fortunately, many of these items are simple to swap out. There are numerous things that can be substituted, repurposed, or ethically recycled, ranging from eco-friendly cleaning supplies to biodegradable garbage bags.

Priyanka Kheruka, the Brand Head-Borosil Ltd shares with a few of her favorite zero-waste kitchen products that won’t wind up in a landfill when it’s time to replace them with new ones if you want to reduce the number of single-use items in your kitchen.

CLOTH/PAPER BAGS

Do you see how the grocery store has those long rolls of thin plastic bags in the produce section? You don’t need them. It makes sense to always carry a reusable cloth or paper bag when purchasing fresh produce to avoid stocking your kitchen with plastic bags and dramatically reduce the amount of plastic trash. Moreover, cloth and paper bags are also breathable, which is a plus for your produce.

REPLACE HARSH CHEMICALS WITH SUSTAINABLE CLEANING PRODUCTS

While it can seem like using harsh chemicals to keep your kitchen clean and prevent contaminations and infections is the greatest option, their eco-friendly alternatives are superior for a variety of clear reasons! The environmentally friendly cleaners work just as well using ingredients you can easily find in your kitchens, such as lemon, vinegar, and baking soda.

BIODEGRADABLE TRASH BAGS

We are all now aware of the severe effects that single-use plastic bags have on the environment. However, even though single-use plastic trash bags have a similar environmental impact, we don’t generally bring them up in the discourse and even though changing from plastic to compostable or biodegradable garbage bags may seem difficult, doing so can reduce waste and the overall demand for plastic products. They are also non-toxic and break down over time when in contact with sunlight and soil.

SWAP PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR GLASS CONTAINERS

Switching out your plastic containers for glass ones is one of the best zero-waste kitchen storage solutions. In choosing glass jars over alternatives made of single-use plastic, you also get the extra benefits of making an investment and using the product for many years. Moreover, glass containers guarantee that the food items preserve their flavor and taste because they have zero chemical reactions or germ absorption.

REUSABLE METAL STRAWS

Most single-use straws are too light to be picked up by a mechanical recycling sorter, which results in them being discarded as waste and increases the likelihood that they will wind up in the ocean. One of the simplest swaps one can make is moving to metal, reusable straws. Additionally, they produce no waste and are very portable. These stainless-steel straws are rust-proof, non-toxic, and of the highest quality. Since there is no need to buy single-use straws, metal straws are also less expensive.

TRY WOODEN CUTLERY

Wooden cutlery is much more environmentally friendly than you might realize. We are all aware of how long-lasting and sustainable wooden products are. As a result, they demonstrate value for the economy, human health, and society as well as the environment. There is disposable and biodegradable wooden cutlery available. Therefore, using wooden cutlery can benefit both the environment and society. 

Every day, several fresh products and materials are introduced to the market. It’s never too late to begin your path to sustainability from your kitchen and contribute to the improvement of our environment.

ALSO READ-Ban on single-use plastics comes into effect in Abu Dhabi

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Modular kitchen to change the vibe of your home

The coffee table is a useful piece of furniture that serves as a convenient platform for placing items in the living room. Aside from its utilitarian function, the coffee table also serves as an important decorative element in the living room…writes Nishant Shah

During the pandemic, our private spaces inadvertently became our workplaces. A visually appealing, uncluttered, and organised space can have a positive impact on the mood and overall vibe of the home, making ‘living’ there a positive experience. Contemporary functional modular furniture may be the only solution!

Smaller homes in today’s busy and congested metropolises offer small-sized living spaces, which become even more enclosed when one has to stay indoors or work from home. As a result, optimal space utilisation has become critical, particularly in modern spaces. Modular furniture is quickly becoming a popular trend among millennia’s due to a variety of advantages such as being trendy, innovative, functional in design, hard-wearing and robust in quality, and cost-effectiveness.

With the growing desire for aesthetically pleasing homes among Generation Z, functional, sturdy, up-to-date, yet low-cost modular furniture is becoming the go-to option for modern homes. For families, the benefits of modular furniture, with its variety of designs, ease of assembly, and easily customizable options, have proven to be very appealing.

Check out these options:

The breakfast counter is a family hangout for work, homework or meals: No matter how beautifully decorated and comfortable your home is, everyone always ends up in the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a formal gathering, a business meeting, or simply the kids doing their homework, the kitchen, particularly the breakfast counter, is unquestionably the place to be. Kitchens that integrate with the living room provide enough space for everyone.

This floor plan has plenty of room for plush, comfortable seating in addition to traditional dining chairs or kitchen stools. It also provides plenty of space for guests and family members to socialise. Kids can use the breakfast bar or formal diners to do their homework, and workaholics can use it to get their work done.

Wardrobes with in-built dresser to save space: Modern wardrobes are being upgraded to add to the room decor and blend in, with optimised design to create maximum storage space. Wardrobes with built-in dressers are not only an extension of the owner’s personality, but they also help to save space. These aid in the organisation of clothing essentials while also ensuring that they are well preserved and properly stacked. Modular wardrobes provide users with innovative designs ranging from trendy open walk-in closets and sliding door wardrobes to traditional swing door wardrobes, resulting in an accessible and stylish environment.

The classic sofa cum bed: No living room furniture set is complete without a dependable, comfortable sofa-cum bed. A sofa set, as the focal point of the living room, regulates the first impression and sets the tone for the entire space. Place these sets with their backs facing your windows to give you more space. In fact, it should be the first and foremost thing you consider when planning your living room design scheme.

Multifunctional center tables: This is a centre table that can be used as a dining table or a work table. Along with your sofa set, a coffee table or work table is a must-have piece of furniture in your living room. A centre table is the most functional piece of furniture, offering a useful platform upon which to place items in the living area. It can be easily placed in the centre of the living room.

The coffee table is a useful piece of furniture that serves as a convenient platform for placing items in the living room. Aside from its utilitarian function, the coffee table also serves as an important decorative element in the living room.

Motorized ceiling beds: Where your living room can be transformed into a bedroom! If you need to move your bed out of the way to make more room, or if you want it to disappear entirely, you can now turn to the cutting-edge technology of trendy ceiling beds with motors. These incredible beds are powered by a simple counterbalance system with motors that allow them to glide the bed up to the ceiling with ease.

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Handy gadgets to clean up your kitchen

Leave no stone, or drawer in this case, unturned. Organize your food staples too! Apart from waste minimization, your staples can be maintained in a unit that sustains their shelf life…writes N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe.

One of the many feats of the home becoming everyone’s epicentre is that the kitchen has more people in it than usual. Ultimately, the onus is on you to become a Masterchef and whip out dishes, do the cleaning, etc. Whether it is for the kids who are foraging for a tasty snack or your partner asking for a steaming hot cup of chai at any given point of the day!

In addition one has to ensure that everything is in order and in its place. It is essential for you to be able to make the most of your kitchen space since during the past year in lockdown, the kitchen has become multifunctional.

Starting off might seem like a Herculean task, but the trick is to make an inventory based on different sections of the kitchen and place yourself where it all begins — the counter. Bear in mind the following questions while sorting all stations of the kitchen: Do you really need it? Do you really use it? How often do you use it? Do you still want it? Can you give it to someone else? The idea is to not hoard and maximize space while keeping only what is needed. Fanny Jeanne Jozef Leyten — Interior Design Manager, IKEA India, presents a few handy gadgets to help you get on your way:

Countertops: You can start by emptying all visible things from your counter as it will most likely have too many things on it, which can lead to reduced space and also makes it difficult to clear things up. Search for what you really need on the countertop and keep everything else stacked using the RINNIG utensil rack. Remember to keep things minimal. If it isn’t frequently used, keep it stored away.

* Rails: It’s not only about what’s inside the kitchen cabinets but also what you display from the exterior. Open storage solutions such as KUNGSFORS help store and organize your utensils and crockery after cleaning.

Cabinets: With this tip, you won’t have to fret anymore over what might fall out and induce a mini heart attack. Time to get organized. When it comes to cabinets, you must make an inventory of what you want to keep up front and what can be hidden. Let’s say it’s kitchen utensils, frying pan, crockery. Where are they? Is it close to the sink? Because you would need it there. Maximize your space inside the cabinets by supplementing them with small trays like VAEIRA to utilize optimal space. That way you don’t need extra shelves inside the cabinet.

Drawers: Drawer dividers like MAXIMERA are your best friend to help in storing your utensils or spices in a better way. You can maximize on space and it helps you in time, unlike in a situation when you have an over-cluttered drawer. The same can be applied to your cutlery. Define and accentuate the space with bamboo/plastic dividers.

Food storage: Leave no stone, or drawer in this case, unturned. Organize your food staples too! Apart from waste minimization, your staples can be maintained in a unit that sustains their shelf life. This also ensures that you don’t overspend on food that would otherwise expire sooner rather than later. See-through the IKEA 365+ sustainable range for storage solutions for food and staples. These will help you immediately gauge what is what and wherein the cabinet.

Tables & trolleys: The dining table has evolved into a multifunctional space. Munching down on a meal is no longer its sole application because, in the past year in lockdown, people have taken to using it for office work or keeping a close eye on children doing their homework while they are preparing for lunch/dinner. Now in order to achieve an easy declutter, it would be wise to have an RASKOG trolley next to the dining table for easy cleaning up. So once you are done with the task at hand, you can maintain the space for its next intent.

Stools: Step stools are a great aid for when you need to reach high cabinets, and stackable ones help to minimize the space in the area, so it’s always good to have a GRUBBAN in a corner for ad hoc usage.

Trash cans: With all the litter that gets collected in a day in the kitchen, the disposal happens only the next day. To avoid a striking stench in your kitchen, consider VARIERA waste bin which is perforated to allow ventilation of the bin and reduce the stench.

With all these hacks at different kitchen stations, you must remember that the key to declutter is to be smart about the size of the kitchen you’re working with and focus on maximizing space. Decluttering your home is decluttering your mind.

ALSO READ-How to de-clutter your kitchen?

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Enjoy culinary experience from home kitchen

We are three food enthusiasts who always loved a good home cooked meal. We noticed that while technology has seeped into all aspects of our lives, the kitchen was somehow left behind…writes Puja Gupta.

A smart kitchen assistant app helps users with planning, shopping, and cooking. Saakshi Jain, co-founder of Zelish, suggests a meal plan with recipes can be easily prepared from home. The app understands a user’s food preferences such as their likes, dislikes, allergies.

After successfully completing the Techstars programme backed by Bosch in Munich, the app was launched in April 2020. Currently, the platform has over 1,20,000 active users who are avidly following the app’s recommendations and enjoying their culinary experiences from their home kitchens. Excerpts from her interview:

Tell us about Zelish, what does it do and how does it work?

Based on the meal plan, a grocery cart is automatically generated with all the ingredients required for the week. In addition to this, there is a step-by-step video guide that helps users prepare their meals with ease.

The signup process is pretty easy and it takes less than 30 seconds. One just needs to answer a few questions about their preferences and voila, it works as a tailor-made cooking assistant. The AI integrated algorithm can help in creating a complete personalised menu by just selecting the number of days for a meal plan.

How does it help in food wastage ?

The meal plans are made taking into account the shelf life of the ingredients, therefore reducing the risk of spoilage of perishable items. If there are extra items stocked up in the refrigerator at the end of the meal plan, one needs to just tap on the app and feed it while the AI ensures readjusting the ingredients usage according to their perishability.

Not just that, there are over 150 recipes that help users creatively customise and reuse leftovers or any extra dishes.

Did you face any challenges while launching the app?

Initially, the app was planned to be launched by July 2020. We were in Munich as a part of BSH Techstars 2020 batch, unfortunately due to the border closing announced by the government, we had to fly back to India overnight and spend countless days and nights working to accelerate the launch of the app. The app was finally launched just a week after lockdown was announced. Since everyone was operating from different places and had to don different hats, we faced quite a challenge to fasttrack things but eventually, communication and accountability helped us turn things around in time.

 What is the inspiration behind this app and what was the Eureka moment?

We are three food enthusiasts who always loved a good home cooked meal. We noticed that while technology has seeped into all aspects of our lives, the kitchen was somehow left behind. The only things people were focusing on was either ordering food from outside or dining out because a majority of meals cooked and eaten from Indian home kitchens are generally pretty mundane and staple.

People refrained from experimenting in the kitchen and preferred trying out different restaurants and cuisines, however the lockdown inspired people otherwise. Everyone wanted a change and started taking steps to enhance their culinary skills and make use of the appliances in the kitchen but no one really focused on the software part. We identified that gap after speaking to over 550 people and decided to cater to them.

Who is your target audience?

Our target audience include working women professionals/ working households where both the spouses are working but are also responsible for managing the daily meals for their families. To add to this, Zelish aims to be the go-to App for anyone who manages the kitchen — young adults who have moved away from homes, millennials who live alone, young urban working professionals, home-makers, individuals who follow a zero-wastage regiment, and men who need assistance for everything related to their kitchens.

What are your future plans?

We realised that people love to replicate dishes made by celebrity chefs and home chefs which is why we are now making their recipes shoppable. We already have celebrity chefs like Ranveer Brar, Ajay Chopra, Meghana Kamdar and home chefs like Hebbars Kitchen, Kanak’s kitchen etc on our platform.

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