10 Tips for Creating an Efficient, User-Friendly Homestead Kitchen

[@grksher]

I keep a ziplock bag in my freezer for little bits of leftovers…a few potatoes, extra veggies, some bits of meat…tomato sauce, whatever….and when the bag is full I dump it in a pot with some homemade chicken broth and make what I call “recycle soup”! It’s always so delicious and it’s a great way to use up little bits of leftovers that would otherwise go to waste (I hate throwing out food!!). 😊❤️

[@gwil1398]

Would love a “How to Keep a Well-Stocked Kitchen” video!!

[@patriciaremonda4789]

Oh the beauty of waking up to a clean kitchen...I too like to reset the kitchen before retiring for the night. A great start to a new day.

[@TheWillisHomestead]

We are currently selling our home and downsizing our home but upgrading the homestead. The kitchen is and will always be the heart of our homestead. This video was a great!

[@mrs.creeksidemaples2866]

As a Country Cook living in an Off Grid Cabin, I appreciate this Video in a priceless manner ✨

[@wilmawagler5058]

I love my dishwasher and don’t understand why people wouldn’t want one. I’m also a cook from scratch lady and love to cook. Even though you’re the age of my daughters I still like to watch your videos and get ideas. This Summer I had extra tomatoes so I canned posatta for the first time ever thanks to you. It was similar to how my mom taught me to make ketchup.we built a small retirement home and I love my kitchen, we have an open floor plan and I love having the table right there and no island, I never liked sitting at an island. I was taught to wash the dishes,wipe the counters, and sweep the floor every evening and have continued that my whole life.I also do the same with any waste,chickens or garden. I can’t make myself put egg shells in the trash.:)

[@patriciaremonda4789]

I had and appreciated my dishwasher when my kids were little. These days I'm a widow with grown children and grandchildren. I no longer have a dishwasher or want one. I clean as I go, usually don't have a ton of dishes unless I have friends or family stay for a meal or two. I actually enjoy hand-washing and linen towel drying my dishes. They are put away spot-free and I get to enjoy the hot soapy water and sweet view of my backyard garden, birds, and occasional wildlife. Life is good, especially when the keeper of the home is content.

[@jessb6555]

Yes! A dishwasher is a must. I’d never live without one.

[@underthemermaidmoon]

I have more stuff on my counters than ideally i would like, but it is all stuff i use every day. I love a pretty kitchen, but it also needs to be functional!

[@fairytale_after_dark6696]

I have found the linen draw string bags are great for storing my bread. Keeps my sourdough soft for 3 or 4 days where it was just 1 day 👍🏻🥰 I have loved your kitchen remodel episodes. They're so interesting to see how your needs would differ from mine. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take care and all the best from the UK 🥰🇬🇧💝

[@KAMLANDER]

I hope you see this Shaye. I was wondering if you would possibly do a "day in the life" kind of video, showing us usually daily things? (I know the common kind of video..)

[@barbarapeterson8030]

Hello Shaye, family, and fur babies. THANKS FOR ALL THE TIPS AND ADVICE...STTB

[@acmom902]

For me it’s a clutter free work area. On the island where I make food the most it has nothing. When I start to make something I gather the things I will be using. I clean up, put things away and wash the dishes I used as I’m waiting on my food to cook. I hate cooking and get frustrated if I have to keep moving things to make room for what I’m trying to prepare.

[@athenlepard2944]

We not a homestead but garden / home cooking and learning more and more. We haven’t had a microwave in about 18 years now and funny as we go to friends and family they will ooh pop it in microwave and we say don’t have one they look at us like we are strange..lol thanks so much for the tips

[@jessicar2214]

Our galley kitchen is about done being remodeled so this video came at the perfect time!

[@silgj1132]

I love cooking from scratch every single day, however havent mastered the organization skills as of yet. There is still hope i guess as im only 58 years young. I love your vlogs. Classy, elegant and informative. ❤

[@CRC_Consortium]

Nice tips. Thank you for sharing. At some pint in my life I wondered why cooking from scratch is a big thing. Now I do. You see in my economy everyone (like 99% of the population) cooks from scratch.

[@jessicaj8148]

2 years ago our dishwasher stopped working. We had to wait 3 weeks for the new one and I’m so happy I stocked up on paper plates! It came in handy for a family of 6

[@LacancheTV]

These are amazing tips. We love the produce in season table idea and keeping things out that you use frequently.

[@KellysGarden]

amazing tips! Still don't have a dishwasher, so putting the kitchen to bed is kinda happening all day every day.... I would add having a deep freezer (for home grown or local meats and frozen garden veg) maybe even an extra fridge for when you are hosting and need to stick your giant salad bowl somewhere that it will actually fit. Growing your own food and cooking from scratch will have a normal sized fridge and freezer constantly overflowing

[@JustCallMeInsane]

Our dishwasher started failing on the bottom. Turns out, fancy insides can make a dishwasher just not function. SO I replaced the bottom water spout mechanism with a standard 'less fancy' one, and now I can happily wash my dishes 2-3 times a day without having to prescrub or rewash things. My kitchen is slowly getting better each week to make it easier to make everything from scratch :)

[@thegrowinggardener]

With all of the care you give to your utensils and cookware, how do you answer friends or family who come over and ask “What can I do to help?” (Of course, I’m sure you never get as stressed-out looking as I do when I’m cooking) but I hear that a lot and anyways want to answer “stay out of my way and wait as long as it takes!” 😂

[@pennygrimes8425]

Fantastic and so helpful - and inspiring - thank you Shaye!

[@suzannecerrone7110]

Hi Shaye. Are there any types of produce that you would not store together or near one another? I struggle with apples near onions and things going bad quicker than I expect they should. Also I would love a video on what you stock in your pantry or what a typical monthly shopping order looks like, what items you use daily. Thank you for taking the time to share your beautiful life! You are a lovely, talented person and wise sage

[@sharonmorelli6056]

Never knew about beeswax on wooden spoons👍🏼

[@LadyMcGinnis]

Happy belated Thanksgiving! This year along with being thankful for God and family I'm also thankful for you and the information you share. Be blessed

[@eleanorigby5881]

My husband got us a used dishwasher, but it just doesn't really work that well so I'm still doing everything by Hand.

[@9dudley]

My #1 tip: Hang your cast iron skillets. They are unbelievably heavy and I would hate to use them if I had to get them out from under a stack every time.

[@pinkroses135]

Love your super handy pots and pans setup. I aspire to this level of beauty meets workhorsery lol

[@heavenonearth8462]

I'm a newbie to your channel. Maybe I misheard that you do not have a refrigerator in the kitchen, only a walk-in downstairs? I'm trying to visualize how that would be as I find myself opening my fridge umpteen times a day especially if I'm cooking or baking. I would love to hear how you manage that. I love the coziness, simplicity and welcoming feel of your home.

[@katerobbins3349]

She has refrigerator drawers next to the stove as well.

[@heavenonearth8462]

@@katerobbins3349 Thank you

[@jillfernandez2482]

MY SON ORDERED ME A KOMICOTO KNIFE SET USING YOUR CODE ELLIOTT 50! IT’S A THREE PIECE SET WITH SHARPENING STONE AND A SEPARATE HUGE CLEAVER TOO!! THANKS OH YEAH WE WILL BE LEARNING ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOR OUR TUSCANY TRIP.

[@charlottesesco8795]

Just loved this

[@jesskan9828]

I have always washed dishes by hand but recently told myself that if I am cooking so many meals from scratch I am going to hire a helper, my dishwasher!

[@MyLifeRefining]

Great video!

[@jeaniedemmer5860]

Thank you for the helpful video, I really enjoy watching all of your videos. I learned a lot of these tips when we moved to a rural setting and the closest store was 20 - 30 minutes away. Also, what beeswax product do you use on your wooden spoons. I find straight mineral oil doesn’t last long at all.

[@Josetticaskin]

@theelliothomestead what are you feeding your pup!?

[@SJ-fj5jz]

Hi Shaye, I love your copper pans on the wall, but what do you do with all of the lids?

[@lolasteward4982]

Thanks for the tips. I found them useful even if you don’t have a homestead kitchen. I didn’t know that I needed to wax my wooden utensils. Really enjoy your channel.

[@bethshrock1120]

Where it says, "Created from..."

[@jessicahayman8376]

Can I ask where you purchase your olive oil from please? Thank you for this video!

[@eacrt7211]

I think it might be from " Bona Furtuna ", she talked about it in a previous video :)

[@khadijahalamodi1729]

Did the spice make the kitchen and the room smell not good .. what i can doing .. thanks

[@angelacross2216]

Great video. One of the best.

[@lcostantino7931]

lol boy do I need this....lol

[@theelliotthomestead]

Don't we all :)

[@judithryle2113]

Do you spend time with your kids

[@AnneMarieCartier]

😶

[@trudyduggins7253]

I asked my husband once for a dishwasher he said we already had one 😡

[@cynthiafisher9907]

There may be a bigger problem.

[@sweetpie7919]

Wow!. Let him be the dishwasher from now on. Let's see how long it takes to get a dishwasher installed.

[@LOVEHAS1JOYRAINS2]

Hi elliot homestead 😊 Mother Father of all creation is beginning to build a homestead and I'm glad to find your channel. I'm Luna and we'd love to invite you to participate with our creators who are incarnate in person in these monumental and urgent moments. 🎉🎉

[@catherinedanslalune8642]

THIS 🙌🏻 This is exactly the type of content that I'm looking for! Thank you for the beautiful, inspirational and educational videos you share!

[@maryglover8283]

I have loved all phases of your kitchen. 🩷

[@theelliotthomestead]

I have too, though some of them were incredibly inefficient! I've learned over the years that efficiency really do drive a lot of what I do in the kitchen. Maybe it's because the kids are getting older and needing more food? Ha

[@freedomjam3670]

Hi Shaye! You’re so helpful and kind to offer sage advice. If it’s not too much trouble, please consider posting a screenshot of your weekly menu plans. Myself and I’m sure many others would visit your channel most days to see what’s on your menu. I hope you and your beautiful family had a blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you for your consideration 💓😊

[@leighannoliveira6875]

Yes! Whenever she shows shots of it on IG, I always screenshot and try to read it haha

[@clairedolan9596]

Would love to see a video on maintaining all your kitchen tools ie how to properly wash the pots and pans and the wooden spoons

[@cynthiafisher9907]

I always wash mine by hand and never leave the wooden utensils in water for any length of time. It would be interesting to hear what Shaye has to say about it.

[@emilywadman6113]

Very helpful! Your onion, carrot, celery, etc scraps, put them in a reusable freezer bag (I use Stasher bags), and then you'll have scraps to add to your bone broths! Its a continuous bag I'm always adding to.

[@somethinggood9267]

I'm really inspired by your videos. You show the difference that a woman who loves her family and loves homemaking can make in the lives of those around her.

[@TheFabFarmer]

Great advice! I just got a dishwasher after 3 years of being hard-headed and refusing to buy one. I am so grateful that I did. I’m pregnant with my 4th and it is a life saver. Most meals are from scratch and between the chores and children, dishes seemed to get me grumpy so I went ahead and indulged!

[@brittabeveridge1514]

Yay! 👏 Please share which dishwasher you got! I just had my 4th and would sooo love a dishwasher. 😊

[@purseypurslane]

Oh please tell us where you got that wood table, it's perfect and I'd love to have one! Maybe not quite as long, but hey..... love it!

[@katieociardha2196]

Spreading a sheet of newspaper when youre cooking and dumping all your scraps, bench sweepings etc into it and folding it up in a neat little parcel, then putting it in the compost bin keeps the kitchen and bin much tidier, plus it's super quick

[@juliecarns]

Recommended paper if we don’t get a newspaper?

[@CaroleBoulware]

butcher paper works, basically any uncoated/unbleached paper!@@juliecarns

[@donnaadkins2429]

Great tips, most of which I use! Nothing beats a well organised kitchen for me! ❤

[@gs-vg8uf]

Really loved this video. The setting and the tips were just wonderful. Thank you for continuing to produce such quality for others to enjoy.

[@kararh9060]

What cookbooks/baking books do you have that you draw inspiration from. Always looking for new gems.📖

[@dhawk766]

Enjoy your kitchen now while it stays put to bed until morning. It’s a dream of mine. Once your children grow to young adults/working age/teenagers with different work and sleep schedules the kitchen never gets a break! If I have a sleepless night and wake at 3 or 4 in the morning it’s a mess all over again. 🙃 Oh my! It’s all fine. We gotta feed the people. ❤😊 I love your advice. All good and so inspiring.

[@juliecarns]

Yes, this putting the kitchen to bed on Saturday night perfectly turned into be daughter making Cc cookies for a group of 20 she invited to come Sunday night; this almost 😬 letting go of my perfectly clean kitchen has been a needed assignment for me.

[@JamieLC82]

Years ago our dishwasher went out and I tried to hand wash because we didn’t have the money for one at the time. That lasted about a month and slapped that new dishwasher on the credit card. I’ve never regretted that decision and the card was paid off quickly. 😂

[@karinjudge7277]

Here’s a take on dishwashers. You bake a cake. Put your measuring cups, bowls etc in the dishwasher. While your dishwasher is washing you want to make something else. Well your measuring cups are being washed. And most dishwashers take forever to wash dishes. So you either need another set of measuring cups or you wait. When you hand wash. You already have them clean or you can wash them up quick and get to cooking again. Right ? Lol A lady wrote a article about this and I thought how right she was. But dishwashers are certainly a blessing for other reasons. To me by the time I get hot soapy water and scrub the table, counters and stove. Wash certain things you hand wash. You might as well hand wash everything else. Lol Great videos and ideas Shaye :)

[@aliciaspears7847]

Lol we must be the outliers here. I haven't had a dishwasher for ten years and I don't ever miss it

[@PaniTanguera]

I chose the 1h program. And also have a second measuring cup. Those things are pretty cheap.

[@kforest2745]

No percolator no toaster no microwave no dishwasher no laundry machine no dryer no waffle-maker no vacuum no computer no lights no tv nothing that ‘plugs in’ the house but for fridge radio phone I plug out to work/utilize myself manually/practically I hate monopolizers of time it’s my time it’s not for sale for when you don’t keep to self-ownership creeps create ways to monopolize your time to slave for them while you merely get a monetary exchange that keeps you from accomplishing your own time that keeps economy fraught with fraud and a species indebted to be dependent on petty so-called ‘innovations’ it’s extremely irritating that few ever catch on

[@calliebolstad1345]

This was a fabulous video Shaye with very useful tips!! Thank you! There were one or two things in here that were new, but mostly, these tips encouraged me to keep doing what I am doing because they are valuable and necessary. Currently, we are living tiny and saving for our own homestead and I don't have a dishwasher, and I cannot wait to have help again with ALL THE dishes that comes with cooking from scratch and having little kids. Thanks again, Shaye! Your videos are always food for thought and my soul. :)

[@crystalh1402]

A different view for #3 is that we made it a priority to have the kitchen open to the living room when buying our home. I’m able to be with everyone and in the kitchen

[@cynthiafisher9907]

I’m happy for you to be able to do that. I have ADHD and that would be way too distracting for me. I’m happy we made it a priority when we were restoring our old home to keep the kitchen separate from the living room. We all have different needs!

[@sweetpie7919]

​@@cynthiafisher9907I'm with you, I like separate spaces. The kids might sit at the island and do schoolwork while I cook and that's fine. But I can't stand open concept. It's so boring to always see the same rooms,same walls.

[@KarenSlabach]

Loved this video! I do most of these things but it’s good to be reminded to keep at it and to stay on top on things.

[@annanarivonchik523]

I was watching this sichologist talk about Harry and Megan Markle. At the end ish of the video once she said that it's only a view if the person finishes the video to the end now after I'm done the video and I liked it I run it till the end after I'm done. But she actually told me once and if I can be that helpful I would. No big deal. I suggest you inform your listeners it will help your stats.

[@lailakassardjian3035]

Hello I have been liking your wall paper in the back and I purchased one but now I am thinking how do I put on the wall was it easy or hard do you have a tutorial on that please! Have a great day my friend

[@mariasandoval4960]

Hello Elliott family, Shathe dmire all that you do and you're the best.You are a little of The daily Conisorrour and The Parisianne But the important is you and your husband are parents first and I do admire him too for all he does but you are a homemaker, a chef a decorative mom a gardener and I could go on, I love your travels because you include us we learn important things from you. You have a husband that is the real deal and not a fake Love you both and your wonderful kids May the Lord continues to bless you and family abundantly

[@mariasandoval4960]

Sorry for mistakes as I started my texting Love you lots

[@lindahope1337]

Beeswax on wooden spoons? More info please.

[@judyproctor5305]

thank you

[@cynthiawhitcomb1780]

Good ideas

[@DonnaBorooah]

Lovely video, Shaye! Watching it a second time so that even more sinks in. Side note: Every time I hear you say "Ash wood" I think of Creed Bratton struggling to describe what is job is: "Qua... quar... qual... Quabity! Quabity Ash woods!" instead of Quality assurance lol

[@kellyway5388]

Great tips! Thank you! I've been implementing some of thes tips on our kitchen. My moto for our family is to "do more step to get the job done". It has really helped. It's not always 100% ( we have a 9, 5 and almost 2yr old) but month by month there are little improvements. Also meal planing has helped us out sooo much too.

[@drekfletch]

I am (very) slowly getting my kitchen sorted. I don't cook much as I live alone and am a rather bland eater. But it's my late grandmother's old kitchen, so I'm working on not comparing her experience and joy-in-cooking to my lack thereof. She would cook an entire Thanksgiving Dinner in the space I can barely make an omelette and bacon in. It is a Work to use comparison to show what's possible but not get frustrated at inability.

[@nancyfielden270]

Excellent tips, took me years as well to learn them. Those aha moments. Always reorganizing my kitchen to serve me better. I hardly have any waste because I take inventory of my fridge weekly and plan meals around what I have. My pantry less often but I see what's been there awhile, same for the freezer. I try to use frozen cooked items such as sauces, chili, etc within 3 months as they are at their best. I now readily replace tools that don't do the job.

[@Southernroots1958]

Good Job!!!

[@VagabondAnne]

Perfect timing! It's nice to think about these things the day after Thanksgiving when the chaos is ready to be rearranged. I am especially looking at the "number of steps away" concept. Any chance you can share what dishwasher brand and model is working for you? Ours is on its last "legs"(?), and I remember your struggle with ones that just didn't work properly.