Cooking during the summer season can be a nightmare, and that is mostly because of how hot it can get inside the kitchen. So to stay cool, here are six things you can try out in your kitchen during the summer.
#1 Install Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is a must for places where summers can get extremely hot, like Idaho. The Nampa Idaho weather can get extreme at times. Although the summers are short, temperatures can go as high as 100-degrees. Weather forecasts and data suggest that summers in this region, as well as some other states in the US, will show similar temperature patterns during the summer, with little rain showers.
In such extreme summers, an air conditioning unit is a must inside the kitchen. It will keep the temperature cool, and the best part is you can control the climate inside the kitchen. The AC will stop you from sweating, and will also help keep the ingredients inside the kitchen fresh and stop them from spoiling due to excessive heat.
#2 Use a Fan
Using a fan is a more convenient option for many, especially if you are not invested in the idea of installing an AC inside the kitchen. While the air conditioner’s main purpose is to keep your kitchen cool by ensuring a steady flow of cool air, the fan will only help to circulate air throughout the room. And although this may not cool the kitchen as you would want it to, it would still ensure that the hot air is moving away from you, making room for the cooler one to flow in.
Compared to table or ceiling fans, tower fans work far better in the kitchen. Set the fan up in a way such that it does not affect the stove fire. Point it directly towards you, and adjust the speed accordingly.
#3 Set Up a Kitchen Hood
The kitchen generates a lot of heat. So no matter how many fans you set up, you cannot cool it down until you get rid of the heat inside. To do so, a kitchen hood is the best option. Fitting it directly above your stove will help the hot air and fumes to escape outside. That way, they cannot increase the temperature inside the kitchen, making it much easier for you to stay cool.
#4 Allow Fresh Air Into the Kitchen
Ensuring a fresh flow of air into the kitchen is one of the best ways to keep the kitchen cool. Let the cold airflow in through the windows and doors, and allow the hot one to escape. The key is to maintain a continuous flow of fresh air into the kitchen. The fresh cool air will push the hot air outside, bringing the temperature of the kitchen down.
It is always a good idea to keep the doors and windows of your kitchen open early in the day. The air outside is usually cooler at that time. That way, you will be allowing the kitchen to cool down before you begin your day inside.
#5 Close the Blinds When It is Sunny
One way to keep the kitchen cool during the day is by cutting the sunlight. That way, you can stop the sunlight from entering the kitchen and raising the room’s temperature. To do so, you can use blinds or shades. They are more than enough to keep the heat out. You could also use tinted windows to do the job, but they might have a reverse effect as well. While the tinted glass will keep the heat out, it will also prevent air circulation. As a result, the kitchen will end up getting hot anyway.
#6 Prepare Your Meal Early in the Day
The weather is usually a lot cooler during the earlier times of the day. As the day goes by, temperatures increase, and it starts feeling warmer. So you can spend less time in the kitchen when the temperatures have soared if you prepare your meal, or at least the ingredients, earlier in the day.
Prepare the day’s meal early in the morning if you have the time. That way, you do not have to get back in the kitchen when the temperatures are high. This idea is perfect for those who do not mind cooking early and microwaving the food before eating it.
That is all for now. Once you start ensuring these details, your kitchen will feel a lot cooler to you, no matter how hot it is outside.