16 Kitchen "Essentials" I Ditched from Our Small Space (And Never Missed)

When my husband and I wandered the kitchen aisles more than a decade ago, scanning items for our wedding registry, it seemed like more kitchen gadgets meant more possibilities. (And not going to lie, I still dream of what life could be like with an ice cream maker on hand.) But fast forward through 11 years of daily cooking in the compact kitchens where we've actually lived—first a 360-square-foot tiny house and now our 750-square-foot condo—and I've learned that the opposite is often true.

In a small space, every inch counts—any new tool or appliance means less cabinet space and more stuff crowding the counter. But rather than cramping our lifestyle, these constraints have clarified what we truly need versus what we think we should have. By eliminating items that promised convenience but mostly just created clutter, we've saved money, freed up space, and simplified our cooking routines.

Here's what didn't make the cut, and why we've never looked back:

1. Toaster

Bread toasts beautifully under the broiler or on the stovetop—just drizzle with your favorite cooking oil and give it a minute or two.

2. Microwave

Reheating leftovers on the stove or in the oven improves texture instead of making everything soggy. We just pop it into our favorite cast-iron skillet—it’s always worth a few extra minutes.

See: How to Reheat Leftover Pizza at Home Like a Pro

3. Crock pot

Our Instant Pot handles all slow-cooking needs and then some, doing the work of multiple appliances in one.

4. Air fryer

Our convection oven does everything an air fryer can do, just in a space that we already have.

5. Rice cooker

The Instant Pot makes perfect rice every time, plus it pressure cooks, slow cooks, and sautés.

6. Coffee maker

Our simple pour-over setup stores in a cabinet and makes better coffee than bulky machines.

7. Full-size plates

We switched to 9-inch plates instead of typical 10- or 11-inch dinner plates—they're perfect for most meals and take up less cabinet space.

8. Matching pot and pan sets

Instead of buying pieces we'd rarely use, we rely on two high-quality cast iron skillets and a couple of small pots that fit exactly what we need. Ours are vintage Griswold—high quality and easy to find on eBay or at local antique shops.

Related: Why the Best Kitchens Aren’t Perfect

9. 9×13 baking dish

Our baking sheets and cast-iron skillets handle the occasional casserole or baking job just fine.

10. Stand mixer

For our minimal baking needs, our immersion blender with whisk attachment handles everything without dominating the counter.

11. Hand mixer

See above—the immersion blender does it all, and makes for one less thing to store.

12. Full-size blender

Our immersion blender handles daily smoothies perfectly and stores easily in a drawer.

13. Salad spinner

We've never owned one because it seemed like a ridiculously large appliance for what it does. My husband and I still laugh about an impassioned salesperson who once tried to sell us on one—we often joke, "if only I had a salad spinner right now!" while easily washing greens in a colander and patting them dry with a towel.

14. Citrus juicer

I usually just squeeze by hand or buy quality bottled lemon juice rather than dedicating drawer space to a single-use gadget.

15. Countertop knife block

We use a compact knife block that fits in a drawer to keep one more bulky item off our counters and out of sight.

16. Paper towels

We use cloth napkins and dish towels instead. They're more absorbent, reusable, and one less thing to buy and store.

Related: We Found Out Why Homeowners Are Ditching Dining Rooms in 2025

Tips for Streamlining Your Kitchen

Our minimalist kitchen approach can work for any space or budget—it's all about keeping the high-quality, multitasking items you truly use and love. I still have plenty of "extras" that spark joy, like green glass goblets inherited from my grandma and a massive cast-iron griddle I love pulling out for weekend pancakes.

Your list will look different from mine. I've probably outed myself as someone who's not much of a baker, but if you love serving homemade bread, you'd rightly fill your kitchen with baking tools that would be unnecessary for me. The goal is a cooking space that functions for your day-to-day life instead of meeting traditional expectations. A family member once bought me a pie server after being horrified that I didn't have one. I lovingly donated it a few years later because we hadn't made a pie since their visit.

Start small: pick one cabinet or category in your kitchen and honestly assess what you love and use regularly. Your counters—and your cooking routine—just might thank you for it.