Short-Term Rental Kitchen Essentials
Do you know what makes a vacation rental superior to a hotel room? A great kitchen.
A fully stocked kitchen is arguably one of the biggest perks of choosing Airbnb over a hotel. But a kitchen with little to no supplies isn’t much use. To help you decide how to stock your kitchen, we’ve put together our short-term rental kitchen essentials list below to get you started.
Kitchen Appliances
Every kitchen should have the very basics when it comes to appliances, which include the following.
- Fridge and/or mini-fridge
- Oven
- Kettle
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
Hometime Tip: Make sure the coffee is good quality (not instant!) and provide fresh milk in the fridge. Our favourite Airbnb kitchens, no matter the size, are those that have been intentionally kitted out, with small gestures that make a big difference. Want to go the extra mile? Provide biscuits or crunchies to go with your guest’s coffee - they will appreciate a snack upon arrival.
Tableware
At a bare minimum we suggest including the following:
- Plates and bowls
- Large serving plates and bowls
- Drinking cups
- Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)
- Steak knives
- Coffee mugs
- Wine glasses
- Bottle opener
- Scissors
Hometime Tip: To help your guests create an experience, have on hand decor items, like tablecloths or vases, to help create a homey dining experience.
Cooking & Baking
At a bare minimum we suggest including the following:
- Small skillet
- Large skillet
- Small saucepan with lid
- Larger saucepan with lid
- Larger pot
- Baking sheet/cookie sheet
- Cake pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Muffin pan
- Loaf pan
- Casserole dishes (2)
- Large serving bowls and plates for family-style meals
Hometime Tip: Always keep in mind your home’s capacity when supplying your guests with kitchen essentials. If your home can accommodate 8 people or more, have on hand enough crockery and cutlery to cook for at least 8 people.
Nice to have additional appliances include:
- Tongs
- Spatula
- Slotted spoon
- Ladle
- Whisk
- Grilling tools (if you have a barbecue)
- Large microwavable measuring cup
- Vegetable peeler
- Can opener
- Corkscrew with bottle opener
- Box grater
- Mixing bowls
- Can opener
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Colander
- Cookie sheets for baking
- Mixing bowls
- Tupperware for food storage
Hometime Tip: A good rule of thumb for your entire kitchen is to put yourself in the guest’s shoes and anticipate what they might want on any given day. Don’t forget consistency is key - if you offer your guests wine, be sure to include a wine opener. If you offer your guests coffee - have enough coffee pods and mugs per guest.
Pantry Items
At a bare minimum we suggest including the following:
- Salt and pepper
- Sugar
- Spices
- Cooking oil (vegetable oil, olive oil, etc.)
- Cooking spray
- Coffee and tea
Hometime Tip: Imagine what would be difficult to find in this kitchen space and try to demystify it for your guests by providing a kitchen guide or on a notepad and pen on the fridge with detailed notes.
Cleaning & Maintenance Supplies
At a bare minimum we suggest including the following:
- Napkins and paper towels
- Food storage containers
- Plastic wrap
- Aluminium foil
- Trash bags
- Dish soap
- Sponges
- Disinfectant wipes
- Sink drying rack
- Optional extras
- Paper towels
- Aluminium foil
- Ziplock bags
- Plastic wrap
Hometime Tip: Providing a few extras will provide much-appreciated convenience - and may help bolster your rating. These are items your guests are likely to forget to bring with them or purchase from the store.
Waste removal & recycling supplies
Well marked trash cans and recycling bins are very important. We suggest providing extra dustbin bags in the kitchen so that guests can take out the trash as and when they need to.
Hometime Tip: Don’t forget to tell your guests where the trash and recycling are located at your house and how the system in your building/ area works.
The above is our go-to list for creating a beautifully stocked kitchen upon your guests' arrival. For more advice and short term rental support, get in touch with the team at Hometime - we love to chat!
