Ep. 334 | Kitchen Clutter (with

[@rachelhelenfraser6744]

I am moving from Spain to Scotland next month. With 2 children, a labrador and only TWO suitcases! You guys have made this moving process so much easier for me, I will be forever grateful to you Josh and Ryan for introducing minimalism to me, 4 years ago when I first watched your documentary scanning through netflix one evening (surrounded by all that STUFF i used to have)! 4 years later, two documentaries and 4 books later... here I am still living my best minimalist life! Thank you guys.

[@tinameredith8299]

I changed over to glass storage containers when I learned that plastic leeches into our food. And we stopped buying lots of bottled water and bought reusable stainless steel drinking containers.

[@SarahGrant-r5i]

I am a minimalist but I don’t think anyone would think that if they look in my kitchen. I spend hours a day cooking, baking, and cleaning in my kitchen. I use a lot of tools, and they all bring me and my family joy and add value. It used to bother me that I couldn’t get rid of more things, but I’m happy with it now. I’ve realized that a minimalist kitchen for me would probably look too cluttered for someone else. However one thing I have really minimized is the food items I buy. I bake bread, make yogurt, cook everything from scratch. No more pre-packaged, processed “food”. Just real ingredients. My family and I feel healthier and happier this way.

[@danielleradomyski6315]

I don’t have a microwave and most people I tell are shocked, and marvel how I live without it. It’s interesting what one person’s go to, isn’t needed by others.

[@sarahaas3182]

Rice cookers are wonderful and you always get perfect rice. I'm purging so much, but the rice cooker stays🙂. I know it really comes down to each person and their needs. Also love my kettle and french press.

[@sarahrixen2396]

Agreed! I LOVE my rice cooker. Always perfect rice, and I never have to watch it.

[@Sky-Child]

I always think about this. My partner and I go "anti-shopping" for kitchen gadgets. We walk around the shop enthusing about how great they are and how much space they will take up in our cupboards after we've used them once and then go away and spend the money on an activity we enjoy instead. It's a fun way to remind us that we don't need these things (especially when I am feeling that I want all the shiny new things) I'm sure the other people in the shop think we are bonkers

[@maynlily]

I find rice cooker is essential if you eat rice daily, and also if you get Japanese rice cooker with multiple other functions, you can make mixed rice, quinoa, congee with those as well.

[@nancymillet8210]

I always clean as I’m cooking. It makes clean up quick and easy.

[@mrseliephant]

We not only not know where our food comes from, but a lot of people no longer know how to grow food for survival. I think the disconnection is very dangerous.

[@amonralice]

Another great episode, guys. I also have a small kitchen, and I donated my microwave, toaster, sandwich maker, and I'm using the oven instead. 😁 Yes, you can toast bread in the oven. 😉 Also, vinegar and baking soda do magic when cleaning. 👍

[@pipmunday]

Whenever I rarely want toast I make it in the oven! Everyone thinks I'm mad but I have a very small studio flat and it works for me!

[@amonralice]

I do the same. Haha, they don't think we're mad for doing that, I think they're just used to too many appliances on the countertops. 😉

[@pipmunday]

@@amonralice I value my espresso machine too much so that takes priority over microwave, toaster etc

[@GabysKitchen]

same!

[@aubrielegault]

For the tiny kitchen + cooking question: Mise en Place! It's a French term that means "putting in place" or "gather." Every chef lives by this phrase. I have a tiny kitchen and it helps me to gather all the items I will use in a recipe (measure the correct amount out and then put the ingredient away) all before starting to cook. It helps with following a recipe, cleaning as you go and uses your tiny amount of space appropriately. It's a game changer. When I actually follow this principle it's amazing how much cleaner my kitchen is afterwards.

[@darlenecampbell3597]

I do this and I have a larger kitchen. :)

[@GabysKitchen]

💚

[@positivelysimple]

Tidy up is my life mantra and what I recommend all my clients to do! So reassuring to hear that from you guys as well! 🙌

[@alexisbryanto1474]

Wow, this was awesome. I didn’t realize all the chemicals I could be consuming because of my kitchen utensils. 🤯 This area is next in my list to tackle. My husband and I moved/downsized and our things we own have become overwhelming. This will help make the minimizing process easier now that I am more aware of the toxins that my family is around. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@conniebillian7550]

Many people are using toaster oven to reheat food. Doesn’t get soggy and uses less energy than an oven.

[@endgamefond]

I have been listening to the minimalist since the pandemic hit like 2020? This podcast change my life along with Daily Stoic. You guys give value to the world. Thank you for giving us precious knowledge

[@kolitiokada9825]

I'm a microwave girl and when my over the stove microwave died, I thought I would just replace it. I'm so happy that I found something better - an all in one Bake/Convection/AirFry/Microwave counter top unit for only $89! My food choices have expanded. And a water kettle is all that's on my counter.

[@briannab5296]

Where did you buy it??

[@danicegewiss862]

Ryan made me laugh when Josh commented about bringing the snacks out...Josh must be hungry. I have an instant pot which replaced my crock pot, steamer, a frying pan, rice cooker, and more. I freed up counter and cupboard space. I weeded out most of my plastic containers. I have heavy steel pans which I love.

[@pamela_prinkkila]

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent safe disinfection for cleaning. That's my preferred kitchen cleaner. Even removes cooking stains from laundry

[@GabysKitchen]

I agree with not washing any protein because of the danger of cross-contamination. Historically many cultures ( even today) rinse their protein because not only is it a sign of cleanliness ( they use water, sometimes mixed with lemon juice or vinegar), many of their "meats" are from unknown sources, covered in dust, and dirt. In the US, meat and chicken, especially from supermarkets, are washed and sanitized before they get fabricated and wrapped in plastic (no pun intended) for you to buy them! 💚 #askgaby

[@KSix86]

I love my cast iron! It's very non-stick. And I like to joke that I already have an insta-pot. It's called a Dutch Oven! :D I can fry in it, stir fry in it, sautee, roast, braise, and slow-cook, and bake bread. Only thing I can't really do is pressure-cook in it. That's alright, I don't NEED to pressure cook. Now that's not to say anyone should chuck their insta-pot. If you've got it, and it works for you, use it! I just prefer my dutch. It works better for what I do. Do what works for you!

[@BusyLizzy_]

I use my air fryer, vitamix, instant pot and bread maker every week, multiple times each... they all help us get rid of a lot of processed foods and reduce plastic packaging. I make bread (no more wrappers), cook and freeze beans, broth, soups, stews in the pressure cooker (and rice); and use the vitamix for nutmilks, smoothies, soups, fruit ices etc... all these together help my family be more waste-free and healthy! If I use a gadget less than weekly, or for one thing only, it's leaving my kitchen.

[@fernwehchronicles193]

CAST IRON 💕 GRISWALD 💕

[@xtina1610]

I really appreciate his comment on how much of a deterrent having to clean dishes after a meal is. Especially dinner. It's the end of the day. You are exhausted. The last thing you wanna do is a load of dishes. 🙄 I try to have the dishwasher empty before dinnertime. This helps with loading as you cook. My spouse and I try to do the dishes together. That way, we're both suffering. 😊

[@martyohlfest8699]

I had to laugh when Joshua mentioned "flat surfaces". Several years ago I wrote a short story titled "My Flat Surface Affliction". Lol

[@rosehunter7788]

I make my bread using the kitchen aid mixer. Love it. We don’t go to restaurants except when we travel. Even then careful what we eat. That s when we are on the road heading south or north.

[@IrishTwinMaker]

Air fryer is just the convection bake function on your oven in disguise.

[@conniebillian7550]

Good idea to store pans with paper towel or cloth towel in between so they don’t scratch. And high heat should be used with iron pans and ruins most other ones. Look for a pan to sear in.

[@candicemay]

My Dr said not to use a cast iron pan too often cause of getting too much iron in my diet… also what about BPA free plastic?

[@sandysmom100]

I cut out all sugars and white flour, white pastas out of our diets.

[@gwynhigbee1318]

Listening to this podcast talking about over buying of food and avoiding food waste. I live in a small town in Mexico where my mindset of shopping has completely changed due to availability. I have to purchase multiple of many things because if I don't the next time I want/need that product may not be in stock. Being minimal is a struggle for this reason

[@susanstillwell6305]

Food items don’t have to be minimal. I learned a lot from grandparents that grew up during the Great Depression. It wasn’t about having lots of clutter, but about not wasting, canning and preserving in various methods so as not to go hungry later and to have something to share. I categorize that differently than mindless consumerism. Minimalism doesn’t have to have strict rules for everyone to follow. We can all make our decisions to reduce waste, and that might mean keeping extra food on hand. There should be plenty of room for it if the unused kitchen items have been purged and donated.

[@vickiemachen1558]

Experts may say don’t rinse your meat, but at 60 years old I have been doing it & so did generations before me. Chicken comes in with feathers still on it, little bones, slimy & a bloody mess! Chicken should be rinse bc of that reason alone. I sterilize my counter, sink, utensils & hands well afterwards.

[@lastpolarbearcub]

My healthy staples I always want at my house: kale, eggs, milk, onions, garlic, chickpeas, rice, spinach, lemons, tofu

[@iarroyo612]

Non stick pan are my go to and you have to cure before cooking in them. I have a set of 7 and they still look new after 5 yrs. Silicone backing sheets instead of foil paper as well.

[@muchadoaboutkovu]

We use an air fryer for so many things and I got rid of our toaster cuz the air fryer does a better job faster and easier to clean.

[@Janneli2024]

We only use the microwave to heat up the heat pack for our sore muscles aches pains 🤦‍♀️

[@barbaramoore4028]

I do the same

[@lastpolarbearcub]

Agree that cast iron pans are versatile minimalist tools!

[@lindaalaureano]

Basically I'm down to a electric single hotplate, 2 cast iron skillets with lids , hot water kettles big and small . I never replaced my microwave oven or intant pot when they broke. Utensils = Chopsticks , 3 sizes of cutting knives with cutting board , 2 paddles, 2 sets of silver eating utensils , paper plates and 3 coffee cups. This works for me as I only cook for myself .

[@sandyruther2936]

The best place to get cast iron cookware are estate sales. Just make sure it's made by a good manufacturer. Lodge has been around a long time.

[@Janneli2024]

Ours is all the different 10 blades that come with the food processor the only 2 we use is the chopping blade and cake beater after 5 years I just donated the whole container worth to the next sucker at the thrift store 👍🏻👍🏻

[@erikastanger7848]

You'll have to rip my bread maker out of my cold, dead hands. I use that thing all the time.

[@twida9]

I need your help finding an episode about the basics of minimalism for kids. We are exploring a unit about belief and value. Please!

[@brittanyinman1338]

go to their website - they have every episode listed as well as free essays

[@dalecentamore5064]

Meal planning is essential to prevent food waste.

[@conniebillian7550]

Salsa often is ruined by using metal to dish out. Silica. Utensils also are kinder to non stick pans or wooded.

[@lin90210]

Hahaha no wonder my brother said "old George foreman grille" when he saw it. It works well though :) In Hong Kong they eat chicken which is still is slightly raw so that its not over cooked and dry. Being Brit born I'm scared of it because we are told E-coli is common issue but I've eaten chicken in Hong Kong and so far *touch wood* it's been all good

[@helenaquin1797]

I thought it was salmonella and other types that was the concern with chicken.

[@gwenj5419]

Trader Joe's would be a fine store if they weren't so small and crowded. Its exhausting to make my way through the store with too many people and carts per square foot.

[@gwenj5419]

Got rid of my toaster. On the rare occasions when I want to toast a bun, I use the air fryer.

[@angelastein7724]

Instead of the Teflon pans, and if one can’t lift a cast iron, what should I use?

[@TheMinimalistsPodcast]

Consider stainless steel.

[@sandranewinggriffiths3556]

Uncle Roger will be coming for you re: rice cooker.

[@chrisrw8939]

Regarding PFA’s…it’s insaine that everyone has those in their blood….Even new and unborn children have them. Last week tonight with John Oliver has a great episode on it.

[@rosehunter7788]

If you are wealthy it’s easy to buy wonderful fresh good for you foods. Salmon, etc. whole foods, trader joe’s is a good example. Talk about good for you simple foods all can buy and talk about Aldi.

[@lastpolarbearcub]

Instant pot cooks rice well and allowed us to get rid of our slow cooker and rice cooker

[@sandysmom100]

Look into Myers cleaners, lots of toxins in those cleaners.

[@mm6119]

You didn’t mention “Green nonstick pans”?

[@laspilly]

What If I have an apple corer that I only use when I make baked apples once a year?

[@Sky-Child]

Does it bring value to your life in that space of time? I have a canner which I don't use often, but is SO important that one or two times a year.

[@sheilara0622]

I'm keeping mine 🍎

[@Bleufacez]

I'm wondering if cooking with silicone is safe?

[@julithornton2346]

I would like to know as well. What about using silicone scrapers, spoons, etc. like the ones from the Dollar Tree?

[@velocitygirl8551]

Kids don’t love dark chocolate lol. Max doesn’t have kids yet. 😊

[@gwenj5419]

I use microwave mainly for melting cheese and butter, heating my water for tea and warming up leftovers.

[@barbaramoore4028]

Microwaves change the molecular structure of water. Seeds will not sprout if the water has been microwaved. Don't use it

[@tammcphail1995]

Microwaves agitate and whip the water molecules in cells which tear them open, creating free radicals is what I was told

[@barbaramoore4028]

Microwave ovens change the molecular structure of water so that seeds will not sprout if the water has been microwaved

[@ericamciver1293]

I wonder if Max will continue to eat dark chocolate now that there is the lawsuits over high levels of lead?

[@karoana8759]

Veganism is Not just another diet,it is a way of living not only eat vegetables but not use animals on any way at all.possible.

[@loreeryan2348]

My mom's birds died after she overheated a Teflon pan.

[@Sky-Child]

So sad :( people just don't know that birds are so sensitive to these chemicals

[@moritzr05]

2nd

[@christinapennell5073]

fat's not bad dude......