The differences between American and Australian kitchens

[@johnlaine2654]

You are doing good,kiddo. Keep the vlogs coming.As a New Australian myself ( many years ago), the Government will accept you formally eventually. Chin up and show your lovely smile.Your husband is a very lucky man.

[@0ctatr0n]

Also why does the Australian kitchen in the cover photo look like a kitchen from the 1940's? That's a little insulting

[@willpugh-calotte2199]

I was about to make the same comment - that it looked like a pre-World War II kitchen.

[@willcairns1184]

About the size of ovens I was surprised, when I first went to the states to see the size of the kitchen ovens there. My host , an Australian , explained that they are that large because Americans regularly roast Turkeys for thanksgiving Hence the large ovens As you have noticed in Australia we don’t eat that much turkey

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Oh but gosh those big ovens are a pain. Take ages to heat up, then heat up the kitchen in summer. Ppl I know in the states have abandoned theirs and looove a mini, bench-top, plug-in they have acquired.

[@juliewoodman2439]

​@VanillaMacaron551 Also use a lot of expensive energy. Pretty wasteful.

[@mindi2050]

True, although turkey is popular at Christmas in Australia. But I suppose because it's in the middle of summer, people are more likely to cook it outdoors in a kettle style bbq.

[@krythe2000]

turkeys and costco pizzas

[@johnlaine2654]

Yes , you have a typical Rental Property or First Homebuyers kitchen, Very small by today’s standards. Your kitchen used to be standard in most homes up to about 30 years ago. Now most new homes kitchens are bigger and have Built in Pantries and Overhead cupboards, and a Built in Microwave space in The Top cupboards or below bench top level.

[@mjb7015]

My house was built in the 1970s, with built-in pantry, fridge hole, built in oven, exhaust fan above the built in gas stovetop, and overhead cupboards. We didn't have a microwave hole until a few years ago when we got the built-in oven replaced with a new one and got a microwave hole built in on top of the oven hole. Aside from microwave space, the rest of the thing you mention aren't all that new.

[@johnlaine2654]

@@mjb7015 Yes, Some homes had overhead cupboards and under bench or wall ovens back as far as the mid/late 60s’ but it didn’t become more standardised till the 70s’ and 80s’.. I actually bought my first home around 1975 and it had everything including a corner built in Pantry. Most First Homebuyer Homes only had the Very basic inclusions as standard ,including a Rod only in the shower for a plastic curtain. All of the Options you speak about were available but they were quite costly as an Add On.I’ve actually Been selling New Homes from the Mid 80s’ to only a few years ago and have seen many changes… as you are aware pricing is also a lot higher now.Have a Good week ahead.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

@@johnlaine2654 Ummm, helloo my house is 90yrs old (1934) and it has kitchen cupboards up and down, stove alcove, built-in pantry, all original. These were not invented in the 1960s!

[@johnlaine2654]

@@VanillaMacaron551 yes, I don’t doubt that at all.But they weren’t readily available or affordable in the early days like in your home.Most average buyers or renters couldn’t even dream of having a large kitchen. It was well after the 2 nd World War most Australians were only able to build Fibro homes with the bare essentials inside due to availability and cost. Whoever built your home and many others like it were indeed very lucky.Sadly with the ridiculous prices now, it could be that homes will start to go without some things again. Have you ever seen a3 bed home with ensuite on a 250 square metre lot? I’ve actually sold them and it’s not very spacious as everything has been scaled down. Thanks for being interested to reply and take part in the discussion.

[@soullessnight6539]

I feel like you have been in a lot of old Australian homes. All the homes I have been have the very wide oven, walk in pantry, large central island bench etc

[@xxillicitxx]

I prefer to rent older places, my last one I actually had to buy myself a pantry! My new place has a reno'd kitchen but the pantry is still a stand alone cupboard.

[@user-gk-y8t]

I don't think you've been to many Aussie homes. My oven is 90 cm wide. That is around 35 inches, and I have a huge walk-in pantry. Possibly, the place you're renting is older and unrenovated.

[@Brightangel55]

I'm in my '70s - I've never seen a free standing pantry in Australia...not even in my grandparent's kitchen 😅

[@xxillicitxx]

I'm in my 30s and had to buy a pantry for my last rental! New rental has the same cupboard but half the size.

[@mjb7015]

About the popularity of pies in Australia: this goes way back to the early days of European colonisation. In the 1860s, there was a Sydney entrepreneur called "The Flying Pieman" who sold hot pies to passengers boarding the ferry at Sydney, and then run to the next ferry stop at Parramatta to sell them another one when they disembarked. He would also dress up in colourful outfits and walk on stilts as part of his act.

[@Phiyedough]

Pies are also popular in UK but I've never seen a special appliance for them. You can buy them frozen and bake them in the oven or chilled and pre-cooked so they can be heated in a microwave oven.

[@Kustom2170]

Apparently ... American coffee is really bad ... Compared to Australia 😏

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

It is.

[@MrTaylor1964]

Without a doubt American coffee is 💩

[@marvindebot3264]

Yup, sitting in a drip machine pot on a hotplate it goes bitter.

[@cathymoss6400]

For reasons that escape me, they like it really burnt. Also popular are flavoured " creamers" . I'm not sure exactly what creamer is, it's obviously not milk, but vanilla or hazelnut flavoured ones seem popular. They do hide the burnt taste but also make it hard to tell its coffee at all.

[@robincardy2994]

I understood Americans weren’t big on cooking- take always being the preferred option. Having said that, the larger ovens exist in Australia in newer homes or those with updated kitchen and I would love one!

[@grgryl]

The reason scales are used is because a recipe might ask for 120g of butter vs 8 tablespoons of butter (in the US)

[@MrRecrute]

Never seen a freestanding pantry, even in a rental property. Most new houses, certainly in the last 30 years, have pantries as part of the kitchen cabinetry. Our ovens are based on European ovens such as Bosch or Miele which are 60 x 60 cms. And warming drawers, which my parents had with their oven, merely dry out the cooked food. Yuk! Drip coffee machines were popular in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s. Then cafes started to make reasonable cappuccinos and inexpensive home expresso machines became available from Australian and overseas manufacturers. Expresso coffee is far superior to the drip coffee. Much smoother.

[@brilliantbutblue]

I've never seen free-standing pantries even in homes that are 40years old.

[@MrRecrute]

@@brilliantbutbluemust be a Bankstown thing. Perhaps!

[@brilliantbutblue]

@MrRecrute : Yeah, maybe 🤷‍♀️. It's great to see Australia from an Americans perspective, things we never think about. 👍

[@amandamandamands]

@@brilliantbutblue I think it was a thing of there wasn't a pantry when the kitchen was built and so that is how the landlord got around giving them more cupboard space. I know someone who has one and they have a kitchen dining area so the pantry is just at the end of the kitchen counter but is an obviously Ikea type deal instead of being a part of the kitchen.

[@freeman10000]

I have seen a free standing pantry but it was in a house built in the Fifties.

[@ricksimpson1377]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Kaitlyn. Keep up the good work.

[@kenr86]

And the power outlets have a switch on them. I can remember my (US) wife and I traveled to Australia in 2009, staying with my parents. The first morning, she got up before me, and went to boil water (in the electric kettle) for our coffee. When I came into the kitchen, she said "I think I've broken the kettle". I switched on the power outlet switch... and she said "what did you do to fix it?"

[@jackeagles1637]

Not always as you describe. I renovated my kitchen and laundry 30 years ago. I have ten power points in my kitchen and a further four in my adjoining laundry

[@shanehansen3705]

yep I have a 2 outlet and a 4 outlet and 2 x 2 outlets in all bedrooms

[@FionaEm]

Most flats never have enough power outlets. Mine never have!

[@shanehansen3705]

@@FionaEm I have only lived in one flat didn't know that but than again we have a lot more devices so we have to use more ever so expensive power

[@resourcedragon]

@@FionaEm: The average Australian flat _never_ has enough power outlets or enough storage space. And I was in one where they had taken the laundry door out altogether because it would not have been possible to put a washing machine in there and open or close the door. Much as I love being an Australian, I don't think we do flats well, they are not intended as long term dwelling places. And I have never moved into _any_ property in Australia [well, that's the only country in which I have ever moved into properties] that has enough bath and sink plugs. If you're lucky there's one for the kitchen sink that can be shuttled through to the bathroom for use in the tub. That includes the property I purchased - the first thing I had to do was get some plugs.

[@2DogsVlogs]

I have 5 and my house was built in 1976. Still not enough so running 2 4 boards as well.

[@aileenclarke9651]

People like their tea and many years ago the tea drinkers out numbered those on coffee. Not so now, we love coffee and after hearing comments from Americans when they arrive here, they absolutely love our coffee too. They comment that it’s so much better than it is in the states. You also find genuine coffee machines in homes that are far superior to Nespresso machines.

[@robertthomson1587]

I think kitchen scales are more common here in Australia because recipes use metric measurements (e.g. 250g flour) rather than those silly cups.

[@rainbows_trees_clouds_dais1766]

I must be the only Australuan who doesn't have scales?? Whenever I see a recipe with weight measurements, I think "who on earth has time for weighing [or a scale for that matter!]".... unless it comes in a packet or tin with the weight. I should add scales to my Xmas list!!! I think I like cups and ml etc as measurements... because they don't run out of batteries or hsve to worry about dropping them + smashing the screen.

[@2DogsVlogs]

@@rainbows_trees_clouds_dais1766I have a scale. I use it to weigh my guinea pigs so not sure that counts.

[@splashpit]

I’m 50+gst and always had scales , updated to digital in the last few years and it was a game changer when doing meatballs

[@mindi2050]

Silly cups? So much easier. We do have metric cup measurements in Australia. They are very common.

[@mindi2050]

@@rainbows_trees_clouds_dais1766 I don't own kitchen scales and never have bothered with them. My late mother always used cup measurements for cooking too. Although back in my childhood (prior to the metric system being introduced), the 7 oz cup measurement was used.

[@pearlspiers4779]

Hi, I’ve watched a few of your YT vids and have now subscribed. I was sad to see your visa experience with our lengthy and expensive/difficult/sometime idiosyncratic Government bureaucracy… I love your humour, your references to iconic movies like “The Castle”. I wish you well in your endeavour to legalise (what you already are imo) your Aussie status 💕👍🏽 keep going, don’t give up xx

[@just_passing_through]

Lol. It’s quite ironic, and it seems to have gone completely over her head when she says there are fewer electrical outlets in “older” Australian homes. Well, there are two points here. 1. When the older homes were built they didn’t have juicers, blenders, bread makers, electric washing machines, dryers, 7.1 channel surround amplifiers, sound bars , digital set top boxes, Alexa and Google Home, Ring door bells, iPhones to charge bedside long with their Apple watch and ear pods, a TV and smart speaker in every room… the list is list endless. 2. We still “have” older homes in Australia because, unlike the US, we built our houses out of brick, not straw or wood (think the three little pigs) so our older homes are still standing and perfectly functional, add to that, once a house is built, the roof lasts hundreds of years, and for the most part doesn’t ever need replacing like they do in the US, every 10 years, for the life of the building. We build our houses to last generations, so yes, there are older ones around, whereas the US just knocks down and rebuilds once the timber fails.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Excellent points; I agree.

[@stevenbalekic5683]

My house was built in the 20's so it is just about 100 years old, double brick walls, colourbond roofed bungalow. It's not the most ornate example though it still has decorative moulded plaster ceilings with moulded plaster beams separating the ceilings into sections. All the original doors and windows with leadlight panels are still in use along with the hardware. Unfortunately because of its age it comes with a small kitchen that has three doorways taking up wallspace, you had to originally walk out the back door to access the laundry and toilet as it was located in the original leanto...but this area is now inside due to a back veranda turned sunroom extension. Power points are scarce.

[@angelapitts1349]

And building standards have been sacrificed to enable quicker builds, leading to massive problems.

[@antontsau]

100 years old brick house is unusable namely for these reasons - they were not designed for modern life, so obsolete. No sockets, no data cables, no proper HWS, no insulation, very often no carpark at all (car??? what is a car, mate, we are still in 1925, bricks and mortar do not change!), no aircons, no good bathroom and so on, Some things can be redone/renovated, but its much more productive to demolish ancient hut and build new one, for nearest 30 years it will be OK, and then demolish it again.

[@just_passing_through]

@@antontsau Ever been to London? Many, many thousands of homes well over 200 years old and still as sturdy as the day they were constructed. Solid, and stable, and well insulated by thick brick walls. You can add a HVAC system to any home. You don’t need to keep replacing everything. That’s how we got in this mess to begin with.

[@davidjohnpaul333]

I finally made home made pies after having a pie maker for 2 years...they were out of this world 😋

[@garycorbin2789]

Drip coffee makers were popular in the 1970's but when the coffee crazies brought in the home espresso in the late 80's to present day those drip machines were tossed out . I still have one and it sits alongside my Sunbeam CafeSeries . And yes The toastie is also known as a Jaffle Maker and it Was breville that introduced them

[@cathymoss6400]

Yeah, we had a drip coffee machine in the 70s, but the coffee it made wasn't particularly good. These days my automatic espresso machine is my pride and joy.

[@tukicat1399]

i got 3 as wedding presents..

[@2DogsVlogs]

3 things that never got put away. The kettle, the toaster and the toastie maker. I couldn't survive without a nice melted cheese toastie.

[@2DogsVlogs]

@@cathymoss6400Same, threw out the drip coffee machine and got myself an espresso. Sadly it died last year and haven't replaced it yet.

[@mindi2050]

Yes, drip coffee makers were very popular at one time in Australia.

[@diamondrose123]

I agree with the lack of power points (outlets) over here. I have a large kitchen with one outlet, and it drives me crazy! I had a smaller galley style kitchen in the States, and that had lots of counter space and outlets for a small kitchen. And I miss my big oven! As for American coffee, it smells amazing when you turn on Mr Coffee in the morning, but the taste is another thing all together! I could never get used to it, so had Aussie coffee sent to me. Do you miss the powdered creamer? The first thing that stood out to me about American homes was the amount of furniture and appliances. It seems that any nook and cranny needs to have something in it. Not messy at all, but just full. Plus the different decorations for the different occasions and seasons. I enjoyed that part a lot! What I learnt having lived in both countries is that Aussies spend a lot more time outdoors, and homes reflect that. Whereas the part of the US I lived in, you couldn't spend too much time outside(it rains nine months of the year in Oregon) and homes reflect that. What is interesting about your video is that I thought it was me that didn't like a lot of appliances on the counter, I didn't realise it was an Aussie thing. Go Aussies!!!

[@mary-annedoon8317]

Why dont you get an electrician in for more power points

[@diamondrose123]

@@mary-annedoon8317 We did have an electrician come in, but as most of the kitchen wall is tiled, they did not want to deal with cutting into the tiles. Otherwise, we definitely would have had more outlets installed.

[@antontsau]

sparkies are bloodsucking arshanders thats why. Moreover. When you force them (chain to pipe and do not feed until they do everything is the best way!) to install multiple GPOs in kitchen you discover they all connected to one CB. So kettle + mw + fridge instantly trips it out. Surprise. Some extremely talented sparkies also connect laundry to the same CB with washing machine, dryer, iron and so on, I had this in house which I rented. And it is extremely difficult to order proper connection/circuit distribution even in new construction, you have to spend crate of rounds and hand grenades to achive it.

[@AnneMB955]

Add in more power points, just ask an electrician.

[@alex.is.here.]

I am in new zealand, so we are on a par with Aussie for kitchens and appliances, and out lets. I have a large kitchen with loadsmof counter top and built-in pantry, loads of cupboards... only appliance on my counter topmis electric jug, toadter and cake mixer... apart from that, i like my counters to be clear. Microwave is uo on wall. I also have 7 outlets around my kitchen..I have both a drip coffee machine and a pod machine and a plunger. I only take out of cupboard when using them

[@snoopy13946]

You forgot to mention that in the USA it’s common to have the microwave oven built in to be positioned over the top of the stove. You’ll NEVER see that in Australia and I think for good reason, the reason being obvious.

[@BrettNoneya]

Well, seen heaps over stoves in Australia. The 40 year old kitchen I pulled out of the house I bought had one there and I put the microwave back above the built-in stove. Now if you mean a free-standing combination stove / cooktop well that is different. That is in cheap houses.

[@Kustom2170]

The stove is a cook top that creates heat and needs ventilation ... imagine having a microwave above it 💭

[@mindi2050]

@@Kustom2170 There is a range hood or exhaust fan below the microwave and above the cook top. Same with Australian homes that have the same setup.

[@Kustom2170]

@@mindi2050 ah yea ... that makes sense ☝🏽

[@ElfriedeWingett-h3c]

Have never seen a free standing pantry. I certainly have a drip filter coffee making. Also nespresso machines are popular.

[@petertimbrell1964]

Just a note: the word is spelt "Barbeque" or "Barbecue" - take your pick. However, Barbeque is most common to justify BBQ.

[@TerryOCarroll]

Wellactually, it's Barbie Queue.

[@petertimbrell1964]

Only if you get in line before me!@@TerryOCarroll

[@jenniferfrede4681]

Bar-b-q 😂Barbie

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Yes I believe it's "barbecue" in the Macquarie Dictionary.

[@margi9103]

We upgraded our kitchen quite a few years ago. The original kitchen was smallish, and some of the cupboards were unusable as they were right against the wall and wouldn't open. We had a wall knocked out and put in a new kitchen with a walk in pantry, wall oven etc. We had the electrician put in 5 power points. The kitchen is 5 x 2.4 metres in size. The old kitchen was half the size. We had a soda stream years ago. We have a jaffle maker with interchangeable heating plates so we can use it to make waffles or regular toasties.

[@Greg....]

sandwich toasters....... tinned spaghetti, yep the rubbish stuff, slap it in between 2 bits of bread and margarine the outside (my mum didn't like butter) and that sums up part of my childhood.

[@michaelfink64]

I'm surprised that fridges count as part of the house when you sell your house in the USA. In Australia, the house includes attachments but nothing else. I remember going to an auction and the auctioneer explained it in an interesting way. He said if you could pick up the house an tip it upside down, everything that stayed with the house would be considered part of the house (attachments) and everything that fell off would not be. So, light fittings, curtains, carpets would be sold with the house but furniture and white goods (including the fridge) would not.

[@amandamandamands]

From what I have seen they usually leave washer/dryer behind too.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

I think it's just that they often have such huge fridges in the US that's it's logical to leave them in the giant spaces where they currently fit.

[@blueycarlton]

When my cousin (an Australian) married an Englishman and bought a house there. The sellers dismantled the kitchen and took it with them! She couldn't believe it.

[@amandamandamands]

@@blueycarlton I have heard someone say that happens in Germany iirc. Kitchens would be built very differently if you are taking it all with you.

[@antontsau]

everything that can cause hassle for lord will come and go with tenant! One of the worst case is washing machine, 2nd is fridge - they are expensive to buy and repair but very easy to break, spoil and so on by tenants. So why to bother with tenants problems, let they bring their own appliances and the problem (for the lord) disappears! Very rare exclusion is built-in MW, also sometimes builders provide something like simpliest dryer (for $100 price, huh) so it stays forever in the property. Modern new homes often equipped with dishwasher but it regularly creates problems, in my house they were supplied by builder and now, after 7 years of use, most of them failed (I know how to fix them, its just manufacturing flaw, but no one else can do it) and require replacement.

[@RumperTumskin]

10:08 that'd be a jaffle - sealed triangles. Distinct from a toasted sandwich which can have open sides (so that all your cheese can escape onto the plates, instead of reaching thermonuclear temperatures inside a jaffle)

[@DaddyStoat]

The Breville sandwich maker got me through my student years. You could put almost anything in it. My favourites were a couple of spoons of pasta sauce and a cheese slice for a pizza-style sandwich, or leftover spaghetti bolognese, complete with the pasta! Also experimented with Nutella and various other sweet options. An essential thing to have around, in my opinion!

[@marvindebot3264]

The US doesn't have jaffles? Poor sods, I need to send some to my friends over there.

[@resourcedragon]

Actually there are probably a lot of things that we could send to the US in the form of a care package. The thing is, though, they don't just need jaffle makers over there, they also need Aussie bread and butter. Our bread is made with unbleached flour, which makes it safer for consumption by mammals than bread made with bleached flour. Our butter is made from cream that comes from cows that can graze in paddocks year round. This is not the case in the US where the cows have to be kept in barns in winter and fed silage or whatever. This results in US butter being a rather pale, unappetising white-ish colour for much of the year. From what I've seen of US cheese, I would suggest that Australian cheese is better. Then there are real Aussie hamburgers. Our best hamburgers are a gourmet feast. Maccas would have gone broke here if they'd stuck with the US menu.

[@AT-nq6cu]

@@resourcedragon There are a variety of butter in the USA, not just one type.

[@arokh72]

Depending on who you ask, the toasties are also known as "Brevilles" or "jaffles", growing up in NSW, in the 80s, and even today, my family and I called them jaffles, and the machine a jaffle maker. They are a great light lunch or light dinner, my favourite was a tin of Tom Piper Braised Beef and Onions with Kraft singles.

[@greenhouse3505]

Honestly, the wife and I bought a new 'deep dish' one from k-mart online this week. Had them for lunch today after we got home from voting (Tassie). Forgot how good and easy they are. 👍

[@mjb7015]

spaghetti jaffles are the best. ham and cheese is another winner. I've been to a few pubs and microbreweries where the kitchen specialises in gourmet jaffles. Pulled pork with house-made pickle and slaw, for example.

[@greenhouse3505]

@@mjb7015 Wholeheartedly agree. Got nostalgic a couple of nights ago and made mums good ol' savoury mince & macaroni on toast for dinner. First time I've ever made jaffels with the leftovers though. Just added a little grated colby and think I might have found a new top 3 contestant. lol

[@mjb7015]

@@greenhouse3505 Oh man, savoury mince with macaroni takes me back. Classic Aussie dinner.

[@garycorbin2789]

Bully beef and cheddar cheese , Tom piper and tomatoes, onions with cheese, and apple and apricot tinned fruit for a mean rival to McDonald's got apple pie

[@Minris1]

I’m Australian. I’ve never seen one look like the one in the intro picture. Ever. They look the same as the USA obe.

[@abekane7038]

Thanks for the fun video. I can see why you were confused about the different uses of barbecue and grill and that other one, very interesting.

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

I just can't believe that Americans don't have electric kettles.

[@ForTheBirbs]

Yeah, with 120V supply, you don't get the same amount of power from a standard outlet (put simply). Ohms law and all that. I gather it's becoming a thing to fit a 240V outlet in kitchens there, with people importing UK/European/Aus appliances. Technology Connections has a great video on all this. Cheers

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

@ForTheBirbs Well yeah. Kettles are such a basic appliance you'd think everyone had one.

[@2DogsVlogs]

I tell you, waiting 15 minutes for the kettle to boil is a pain. Takes less than 5 minutes on the stove top.

[@mindi2050]

Kaitlyn explained why.

[@willpugh-calotte2199]

@@ForTheBirbsSo our power is about twice as dangerous as well!

[@soundsoflife9549]

Thanks. We have a drawer under our oven and a built in pantry though our kitchen is about 30 yr old and is overdue for replacement! (I've had to put more power points in for the appliances we use.)

[@home8630]

Toastie maker is a sandwich maker. Other people in Australia call them toastie, but we don't. Then there is the sandwich press, which I have never used. My son has one.

[@perryschafer5996]

I recently got rid of my stove top/oven combo. I have a microwave/ convection oven, an air fryer, a multi cooker, a couple of George Foremans, an induction plate and a large grill plate.

[@ozboomer_au]

This was a fun video, f'sure... 😀 I'll prefix this with the fact that I'm a 'senior person' 😁... Soda Streams: These are modern versions of the 'soda siphon'. I still have our 'ball-shaped' version... but the 'soda bombs' (metallic cylinders/bulbs containing CO2) are harder to get now. It was certainly a thing in the '50s... where, to have a 'proper' bar, you'd have to have a soda siphon for mixed drinks... and it was much more sophisticated to have the siphon than to be pouring the soda water from a bottle or can. They were derived form the really ancient Schweppes glass versions that you used to be able to buy. Toastie Makers: The diagonal versions are almost the only style you can get now... but I still have the 'rectangular & scalloped' version. Either way, they were derived from 'jaffle irons' (Go Oz innovation again!). While most will use them for toasted sandwiches, they were often filled simply with baked beans or similar... and you CAN also use the pasty sheets in them, so you don't really need a separate pie maker machine.

[@rainbows_trees_clouds_dais1766]

I think soda streams are more popular as healthy alternative to softdrink and alcohol... ie to make sparkling waters etc. In the 80's we used them as substitute softdrink - hardly anyone had them - for fun. My sister's husband uses theirs for sparkling waters as a substitute after quitting alcohol.

[@amandamandamands]

Woolies, Coles, Big W sell the syrups for them to have the flavoured soft drink. Soda Stream has some connection with Pepsi cause you can get their flavours as well as some generics.

[@rainbows_trees_clouds_dais1766]

@@amandamandamands ah ok. Everyone I know is pretty healthy (I'm almost the only person I know who drinks softdrink from time to time)... So, I'm clearly out of touch with what everyone else is doing. That explains their popularity. Same as the 80's just more accessible now I guess. Funny how we all kind of assume everyone does the same things as us and our friends, like the "Aussie kitchen" and scales. Lots of different versions of what's Australian.

[@home8630]

Soda Stream, I remember when they came out in the 70s, they became popular. We didn't have one, because we couldn't afford to have one. Then I never got one because I was not into making soda drinks for health reasons. This Aussie has never had one. Also what I found interesting, USA are going on about the Stuffler. Any wanting to have one, you buy from USA, but the electrics is questionable to us. So I saw a stuffler as an iron. I am trying to not go after cooking irons, because its too heavy for my wrists. So we go without.

[@florianoroso6489]

Thank you for having a camera in the fridge you solved one of the most puzzling mysteries (does the fridge light go off when you close the door)

[@freeman10000]

This video does seem like a Sydney rental point of view. My house and those of other people I know In Perth, Western Australia are quite different.

[@Mediawatcher2023]

the electrical outlet or as we call it here in Australia the power point that design has been around since 1970 introduced in Newly built homes

[@kymyeoward306]

Actually the 3 pin 220-240 volt plug used in Australia and New Zealand has been around since the early 50’s. The straight pin is an earth-to-ground.

[@Mediawatcher2023]

@@kymyeoward306 I was going by design

[@blueycarlton]

​@@kymyeoward306 My parents house was built in 1938 and the baketlite switches were 3 pin as today. It had only one power point in each room.

[@TWR4393]

An Aussie here. I’d say you’re talking about older homes that haven’t ever been renovated or else very cheaply built homes. I don’t think these are typical of Aussie kitchens . I’ve never been in a modern Aussie kitchen without a built in pantry. I have 4 double electrical outlets in the main part of the kitchen and in my walk-in pantry, I have 5 double outlets - so I’d say I have overkill happening there - but I do use them all. All my appliances are in the walk in pantry, out on the pantry bench ready to use and have their own power outlet. I have a 60cm wide double wall oven as well as 90cm wide under bench oven. I think it is unusual to have both ovens, but it’s handy at Christmas time and when I do big batch baking. Underneath my under bench oven, I have a drawer not a warming oven. My trays and cooling racks are kept there. But funnily enough, when I was kid, my mother’s oven had a warming drawer- so not sure why it went out of fashion. I’ve never missed it though, as if I want a warming oven I just sent one of my ovens to ”keep warm” setting. I do have a kettle, but I don’t use it for coffee. I have a barista style coffee machine with a built in bean grinder and milk frother. I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Keep them coming. You’re so wonderful d Australia is lucky to have you.

[@Kustom2170]

Most Australian families have a kettle, toaster, air fryer, sandwich press, sitting on the counter " kitchen bench " ... i have never seen a soda stream ... 🤔

[@yootx]

I have never lived in a house without one. It's always been as much a kitchen standard as a kettle.

[@peterrobbins2862]

Plenty of people have soda stream machines in Australia

[@johnoblues3984]

I have a soda stream givin to me as a Chrissy present..still in the box never been used lol.

[@chrisbates8064]

As an Aussie I tend to agree with pretty much everything you've said. Our kitchens follow European sizing for cabinets these days, mostly because the appliances we have ready access to tend to be from European manufacturers and we're a metric country. I love that you mentioned Soda Stream. Our family had been 'getting busy with the fizzy ' for about 40 years. For those that drink a lot of soda water or are happy to mix with a concentrated flavour, they are the ultimate in convenience, are inexpensive to use and highly environmentally friendly.

[@simonwells4820]

Could not live without my coffee machine... I have the Gaggia Accademia and it makes the best cappuccino's ever !! I have just replaced my previous version after it lasted 10 years and made something like 33,000 cups of coffee... Best money I have spent for a kitchen appliance.

[@Mediawatcher2023]

To keep your dinner warm either you reheat in the microwave or just leave it in the oven

[@JustSomeRando1331]

We're currently renovating our home. I'm true blue, dinky die, dyed in the wool Australian, while my wife is from Louisiana. We're compromising on our kitchen, she's getting her big oven (actually 2), and I'm designing everything else. She wanted a percolator, but I pointed out, she doesn’t drink coffee, and I do, and I detest percolated coffee. I once had Starbucks. Once. We agreed that coffee has to be Australian, because honestly, the only Americans who know anything about coffee, drink Australian coffee. Yes, I'm a coffee snob!! Prove me wrong!! What I haven't told her is I've redesigned our coffee area to have both the percolator AND the kettle. We're definitely blending styles, but overall, the fusion is working.

[@TerryOCarroll]

What you call a toastie maker is actually called a jaffle maker. A toastie is a toasted sandwich, a jaffle is sealed and filled with melted cheese and other tasty stuff

[@cathymoss6400]

As a kid we had one that was cast iron with long handles that you put on the stove top. Then you flip it over half way through to cook the other side. Used to make the absolute best jaffles. Ham, cheese and eta bbq sauce was my favourite.

[@Rosenburge]

And the best thing in a jaffle is tinned spaghetti and cheese.

[@Teagirl009]

To be fair, they are also called a toastie maker. Have a look in any shop and they're more often than not called that these days. Jaffle comes from the old jaffle iron product back in the late 40s. Before electric toast appliances. My grandmother had one and kept it for many decades. I remember seeing it as a kid and asking her about it lol. Toastie was a more newer term in the last couple of decades and gets used interchangeably for regular toasted sandwiches and jaffles.

[@murrayreed2881]

Terryocarroll, Sorry mate I have to step in at this point.The appliance is and was called a "breville". A jaffle maker had no electricity,was put on the stove or fire by your Mum. Was guarnteed to be filled with tomato,cheese ,and designed to rip the lining of your mouth off,ergo to shut you up. The thing is, when we left the burns unit we went back for more, .. because Mum made it.

[@murrayreed2881]

Or as the military describe as "napalm MK1"

[@ForTheBirbs]

Regarding Nespresso, I bought a bulk lot of pods from Podies/Podista in SA and got a free machine and separate milk frother included

[@threestumps7560]

I would say that Australian & US kitchens are more similar than what you make out to be. We don't have washing machines and clothes dryers unlike British kitchens. Perhaps the differences are on the benchtop appliances. Australian homes are more like American homes than British homes generally speaking.

[@Teagirl009]

Your complexion looks lovely and your hair looks shiny and healthy 🙂 With the electric kettle or jug, it has many other uses aside from tea/coffee. We also use it for instant cup of soups or instant noodles where you just add boiling water. And for instant hot chocolate or gravy mix etc. And even just to speed up cooking time boil the jug fast and add to your cooking. The soda streams only made a big comeback in the last few years to be honest. Before that hardly anyone had them here. They were more common in the late 80s and 90s/early 2000s then disappeared. I don't have one. Yeah your oven is small! I've never had an oven that small. Guess I've been lucky. True re bench space, the only thing on my bench is the toaster, electric jug/kettle and air fryer! I love toastie makers(or jaffle maker as some also call it). The sealed edged is what elevates them over any regular sandwich press because the filling doesn't spill or fall out. And you can of course put more filling in. You can buy ones suited for US homes on Amazon. (As in the right plug).

[@theoneandonlyowl3764]

You make the nicest videos. I was supposed to be reading and only half listening... it didn't work, lol. You tell great stories and I think this is only the third video of yours that I've watched.

[@southron_d1349]

About 25 years ago, my (late) wife and I bought a house built in the early 70s. The kitchen had a wall oven, a dishwasher (didn't work), a pantry too big for the room, and was generally in a dire state. Not long after moving in, we had it re-modelled and we made sure to put in four pairs of double electrical outlets. The dishwasher is long gone as is the wall oven. There's a lot more bench space and cupboards. The fridge occupies the space where the pantry was. In terms of appliances, we didn't use many. The electric frying pan is in a cupboard. There's a slow-cook crockpot and jaffle/sandwich maker but neither have been used in several years. I loathe drip coffee and don't have a coffee machine of any kind. No air-fryer, soda-stream (the drinks are crap), nor milk frother or a pie-maker (never seen those before). If I want to bake a pie then it'll be done from scratch, although it has been too many years since I made one. There's a toaster, the electric kettle, and the microwave and all three are used regularly. Maybe I'm a tad old-fashioned or just an outlier, but I simply don't need all so many gizmos.

[@libbypeace68]

Loved this video! Some great points. Especially about power points. As the decades have moved on, we have more and more plug in appliances and older kitchens do not have the capacity we now need. None of the rooms do, lol. I've moved back into my family home that I grew up in and each room has one power point. The kitchen was renovated in the late 70's so it does have an extra couple but still not enough. I've only ever lived in older homes so have never had these large sleek looking kitchens that are all the rage these days, lol. I am about to do a reno and my kitchen will be updated but I'm still going to stick to what I need and not what looks good etc. I'm not sure why a larger oven is necessary unless you are an actual baker. Frozen foods, pasta bakes, potato bakes, a roast chook, weet-bix slice and biscuits are what are most cooked in my oven and all my dishes and trays fit a normal sized oven - I just can't image what a wider one would be beneficial for. And heating up a larger space when it isn't needed is only going to contribute to the dreaded power bill, lol. I have however bought a small commercial fridge with glass sliding doors to replace my normal household fridge as that is what made sense for me. No more standing with the fridge door open and the sliding doors (that slope so that they close by themselves!) mean I can place my fridge anywhere without worrying about the space needed to open the door.

[@Plushybear09]

Do you drive here? If you do you should do a video on you're experiences/differences with driving

[@MelodyMan69]

Your thumbnail shows a 1950s Australian Kitchen and a 1990s American Kitchen, WHY ??

[@tilly8221]

Missing the point

[@MelodyMan69]

@@tilly8221 Which is...? Others are also saying the Australian Kitched shown is a bit insulting. So (Einstein) let us all know the point of the insult.

[@oldskeptic1513]

... Hi there Aussie ... looking good as usual and, as usual, another good presentation ... thanks ... we'll get those papers sorted out and make you a citizen of Oz for good ... keep smiling ...

[@franceskrahe6261]

Also use the grill to make an open grilled cheese on toast.

[@TheSamleigh]

Nice job! Was surprised by the lack of toastie makers in the US. That's the one applioance I have always had.

[@mindi2050]

Drip filter coffee machines used to be very popular in Australia at one time. They were standard wedding presents back in the 1980's as I remember. But tastes change and expresso because more popular. I'm an older Australian. I've always preferred cup measurements for cooking - even before the metric was introduced. I think it's a matter of preference. Having spent time in the United States, I did notice ovens seemed to be a bit wider. Although ovens do come in three sizes Australia. I doubt latest trends in Aussie and US kitchens would be very different. Except US kitchens don't usually include an electric kettle - for practical reasons. Although I admit I did love seeing the attractive coloured kettles sitting on stovetops in the US.

[@WellREDWardrobe]

I love the comparisons! When I first moved here I thought an Air Fryer and InstaPot would be straight away purchases. Nope! There is no counter space and only one outlet in my (shared) kitchen so turns out I can live without them...at least for now :) Still missing the Mr Coffee though, makes many more cups than the French press situation I have going on!

[@ThrawnSr]

The one difference I noted is that in America they tend to have their microwave built into the range hood, as opposed to separate bench units.

[@duncanhunter9403]

I have an electric kettle, and I’ve had one for years in Massachusetts, USA

[@JacquelineHahn1]

Loved my soda stream love bubbly water, love meat pies too. Grew up having toasties for tea Sunday nights using left over roast

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Just a point about Electric Outlets in the Kitchens. One of the very few differences with Australia regarding Electrical Regulations, is that NZ laws allow a standard electric freestanding oven to include 2 wall outlets. Even old electric ovens from over 60 years ago, almost always had one wall outlet in them . Obviously they run through the oven's "heavy duty" wiring connection.

[@Jeni10]

Coffee pods actually give you an espresso. What you do with that espresso afterwards is up to you.

[@fantomghost6213]

I subbed. Well done!

[@mckaypaterson2519]

Great to know about the kitchen comparisons. Could you talk about technology and methodology comparisons. That is what you have found in Australia, in offices, data collection, and processing against, your experience in America. I think sometimes because of different cultures people can often be at cross purposes.

[@BrettNoneya]

When you said the grill and showed the oven with the element up the top well it is not a grill it's an oven. You can use the top shelf to grill on under the element, but you also get a separate grill behind another flip down door above the oven where your controls are on that one in some free-standing combination stove / cooktops that you also use as a food warmer. Soda streams were very popular in Australia back in the 70's too then died off for a long time. Way cheaper than buying bottles of fizzy.

[@Kustom2170]

No .... That is a grill ... either rod elements or gas flames ... it grills with direct heat from above ... An oven heats the unit with air induction ... there is a difference ...

[@Kustom2170]

old style ovens had separate oven and grill departments like you addressed but ultimately its the same thing ...

[@phillipleeds296]

We don’t have huge ovens as we don’t cook massive turkeys. Cheap, basic stoves don’t have warming drawers, go up the range a bit and they are common.

[@treefarm3288]

I haven't used my top of the stove jaffle maker since I separated from my Australian partner, haha. That was a fun video, even though I'm on low power and don't use those appliances. I grind my coffee beans on the moment in a small grinder (39 seconds) and use a French press to make the coffee, just 4 minutes, while I have boiled the water on top of my gas stove (7 minutes).

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Never knew there was such a thing as a pie-maker. I'm perfectly capable of baking a pie in a pie dish, tyvm, and I even have nice enamel ones that can go in the dishwasher. My US peeps have a drip coffee maker and it's actually fine, except that they often put some abomination in there like "choc-roasted coffee". So in case I accidentally drink that, I'm just happiest with a single-cup Bodum French press, on either side of the Pacific.

[@illawarriorhill70]

Those piemakers make TINY pies. Maybe ok for kids?

[@cherielocke6333]

I have always had a built in pantry in every house over the last 45 years. Also so much cooking is done outside on the BBQ.

[@stevep2430]

What, Americans have kitchens? I thought all the food was ordered and delivered, making it unnecessary for a kitchen.

[@aaDoctorLimboZap3585]

Stupid bureaucrats, give this marvelous young woman permanent residency.Concerned Australian

[@2DogsVlogs]

I was also surprised about the size of Australian kitchens. They are huge compared to the USA. A lot of kitchens in houses were a sink, stove and a little side cupboard and that's it. No-where to prep, you had to use the kitchen table. Yes dining rooms are a thing in the USA so the kitchen table is the go to place for cooking. Now I'm talking about older houses in the USA, pre-1940's which are more common than new builds in Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland. Bit hard to compare periods as there seems to be so few houses in Australia built before 1960. My house was built in 1976 and has what a call a small kitchen. Can't even fit a 2 door fridge easy. I've 2 kitchen tables for extra bench space for the microwave, kettle, water bottle, air-fryer and it's about the same size as what you get in the USA.

[@mindi2050]

It's been my experience that kitchens in the US vary considerably - just like they do in Australia. I honestly noticed no differences in sizes of kitchens between Australia or the US. Nor do most of us use cupboards as a substitute for built-in or walk-in pantries in Australia. Kaitlyn was correct about some things though. American kitchens tend not to include an electric kettle. Their ovens tend to be a little wider too. Although obviously you can get different size ovens in Australia and larger ovens seem to be the trend in newer homes nowadays.

[@mindi2050]

PS: I'm a bit baffled as to why you think Australia has few homes built before 1960 though. They are everywhere.

[@2DogsVlogs]

@@mindi2050Not a lot in Qld. Most have either been pulled down or eaten by white ants. It has made timber houses more expensive than brick ones. My house is worth just under $500k and a timber one, same size\condition is worth $650k.

[@Steve21945]

I think built-in pantries rather than stand-alones are pretty normal in Australia (I'm from Melbourne - I assume we're the same as Sydney). But yeah, definitely we don't expect a house that we're buying or renting to have a fridge - we always take our own. But dishwashers stay with the house - you don't take yours with you. Soda streams - never seen one. 😊 But definitely, lots of coffee machines, and often the milk froth-er comes with the coffee machine. And toasted sandwich makers are great - in our family we call it a Breville because that was probably the first brand that made them, back in the day. Love your videos Kaitlyn

[@aksen303]

i dunno if it's different here in WA, but in my 15 years of renting (and looking at rentals), not one of them came with a dish washer UNLESS it was a fully furbished place (i.e. came with everything). always had our own dish washer...

[@Steve21945]

@@aksen303 maybe different when renting? Although we’ve rented out twice and left the dishwasher there for the tenants, and rented a couple of times and one place had a dishwasher and one didn’t have space for one.

[@aksen303]

​@@Steve21945 i feel like such an idiot... you wrote dishwasher. i wrote dishwasher. for whatever reason, in my head i thought we were talking about washing machines. i do not understand how i even WROTE dishwasher while thinking washing machine. my apologies. with regards to dishwashers, yes they stay. though one place i rented didn't have one, which was really weird. had to buy one just for that, then sell it when i moved as the next place had one (and it was a much nicer model).

[@Steve21945]

@@aksen303 don’t worry, that’s a common mixup 😊

[@Kaha-ow1xt]

Why does the Australian kitchen pictured in the thumbnail look like it's from the 1920s?

[@meikala2114]

with induction cooktops we moved to a stovetop kettle, it is even more faster 🤗

[@markleon411]

It seems, in a nutshell, Australians have more appliances but less on show.

[@carolmitchell8621]

I always look forward to my morning Nespresso too, Kaitlyn 🇦🇺

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

Another common style of kitchen in Australian homes, especially ones built since the 1990s (though I've seen houses built as early as the 1970s with it), is the open plan kitchen. Basically the kitchen is in the corner of a larger living area, with a bench as a half-height partition. It's great if you like cooking and entertaining at the same time, but odours spread throughout the house, and they use more energy for heat and aircon. The big thing that weirds me out about American kitchens is the rangehood/microwave combo. It seems like such a compromise. Meanwhile in parts of Europe, you have to BYO cabinets and appliances. Technology Connections (from Chicago) had a video advocating for electric kettle use in the States. Another coffee maker that's somewhat common in Australia - particularly among the Italian community - is the Moka Pot. It looks like a stovetop percolator - but works in essentially the opposite way, and makes coffee that tastes similar to espresso. They're probably better than a cheap household espresso machine in most cases, and cost a fraction of the price.

[@TheMimiSard]

It is interesting that scales are so common, because Australia is also very cup-measure inclined in cooking. The cups are metric-based, like a 1 Cup measure is 250mls, and everything else is fractions from there. On Soda Stream, I don't have one, but I have recently taken to buying the syrup, because there have been problems with the supermarket having lemon sodas available, with Coles' house-brand lemon soda vanishing, and even Solo supplies sometimes running out. I have been making it with store-brought soda water though.

[@mary-annedoon8317]

This dependends where you live.. sydney is not typical ..to the rest of Australia... i have a huge pantry.. my oven is big ..i have quite a lot of appliances out on the counter.. i also have an American style fridge... BELIEVE ME... SYDNEY IS NOT TYPICAL

[@freeman10000]

Sydney is not Australia.

[@Kustom2170]

@@freeman10000 Sydney is not Australia? How?

[@Kustom2170]

Sydney is not typical ... interesting 🤔

[@blueycarlton]

Tell that to the SBC sorry, the ABC.

[@jenf2857]

I watch a lot of American house reno shows on 9Life. Most average older US houses have relatively small kitchens. I'm always surprised that a lot of the "white goods" stay with the house in the US when it gets sold.

[@rainbows_trees_clouds_dais1766]

Really? I always think how huge they are. I watched some home organisation KZbin videos where the organiser was complaining about the tiny kitchen with no storage. It was the size of what would be considered a large modern kitchen in Australia.

[@kymjames4128]

Some the things described for Australian kitchens is way off and I’ve lived here all my life. Agree Australian kitchens aren’t cluttered with appliances. I don’t know anyone who drinks instant coffee. Yak.

[@paulgerrard9227]

One of the biggest differences would be the abundance of junk food in the usa

[@overworlder]

I miss separate grills.

[@648Roland]

Slow-cookers create great pie fillings.

[@Phiyedough]

Interesting. I've never been to Oz or USA but as expected, some aspects in Australia are the same as UK. I think in recent years there has been a trend toward minimalism so any appliances like mixers and juicers that are not used every day will be put away in cupboards. I've known a few people with sandwich toasters but the only waffle iron I ever saw was brought from USA. It was funny as it belonged to a builder who used his big industrial 110 volt transformer to power it!

[@tomsaunders383]

Is West Sydney actually a part of Australia? I have never seen a kitchen like that in 50 years 😢

[@soullessnight6539]

Exactly 😂

[@amandamandamands]

I think things like the stand alone pantry she has were put in so that there was extra storage space. Sounds like it was a kitchen that was built without a specific pantry. Have seen lots of units do that. Wouldn't be surprised if it is an older style block cause I can't imagine the 'luxury apartments' that they build these days doing it.

[@Kustom2170]

Is West Sydney actually apart of Australia ... the spectrum let a patient loose 😏

[@noone6037]

Not the Australia I know.

[@Jeni10]

The number of power-points is limited due to the load on the power circuit. If you use too much power all at once, such as in the coldest part of winter, plus you’re cooking for a family dinner party, and running an iron and a hairdryer, you’re getting close to the maximum and as soon as you go over, the circuit breaker kicks in and your power turns off as a safety mechanism. Then you have to turn off as many appliances as possible, rug up and go outside and reset the circuit board. Most homes have two circuits carefully placed in the house to share the load. It depends on the size of the house and the number of persons living there.

[@antontsau]

because to make separate circuits (so multiple CBs) is far beyond the possibilities of sparkies and lords. It costs MONEY!!111 No one needs it! We get problems with demand calculations (obligatory formal paperwork for electric installation)! And it will be the problem for tenants, no one cares!

[@johngreen9769]

Jaffles have been around for years, you can get jaffle irons than you put in a fire or over a burner, visit a camping store. Electric jaffle makers came much later

[@brucehewson5773]

Electric kettles work well with 240V, not so much at 110V

[@helixator3975]

I think Australians have kitchen scales because they often cook from scratch, whereas a lot of American cooking is about mixing packaged products together, with little need to measure weight.

[@arjovenzia]

I think the lack of power points also points to the difference in voltage as well. as the higher voltage means less current draw, so extension cords and adaptors, power boards etc, are considerably inherently safer. So the norm is not base your room layout on the points, but to run cords and extensions to whatever you need them. but yeah, its not uncommon to only have one point in each room, maybe 2 in the lounge or kitchen. A bit sad to hear toastie makers are not a thing in the US. such an excellent tool. about the only thing I buy sliced bread for is toasted sandwiches. alot of worksite crib rooms will have a kettle, microwave, and sandwich press. the trick with a pie maker is you dont 'make' the filling, you use it for leftovers. Pasta sauce, Pie. Curry, Pie. Stew, Pie. Sunday roast, dice it up, beat up an egg, Pie. they make a really convenient way to save your leftovers for lunches for school or work, without needing to hassle with tupperware and forks. Pretty much anything edible can be made into a pie if you think about it. Im not sure if this a thing in the US, but the seniors in some highschools have access to a common room with a kettle, a few microwaves, couches, maybe a pingpong table or card tables. usually locked, its a privilege not a right. but somewhere you can go during a free period or lunch, use the microwave or make a cup of tea, study or just hang out away from all the 'kids'. and kinda self policing, which obviously only works when your adult enough to be responsible. but a hot pie and cup o tea on a winters day is pretty decent. usually separated by either your house/faction or home room location, Ive seen both, so you know everyone who's allowed to use it, and teaches young adults how to share a space. you'll pretty quickly piss off your peers if you don't tidy up after yourself, just like in an office or worksite kitchen. probably not, as a 'cafeteria' is almost entirely unheard of.