For me, the thing that differentiates a stay in a hotel from a stay in an Airbnb is the ability to get groceries and prepare my own meals. It’s fairly straightforward to put together a basic functional kitchen and, if you’ve got the space, a fully stocked kitchen is often appreciated. I’m including links to the products I have and love in my Church Street Airbnb kitchen but if I got something thrifted, don’t like what I have, or don’t have something, I’ll link to other products that come highly recommended.
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The kitchen is definitely the room that has the most “stuff” in any Airbnb. For that reason, I’m going to separate the essentials and nice-to-haves into five categories: Appliances, Cooking and Serving Tools, Tableware, Food, and Cleaning.
Essential Appliances of an Airbnb Kitchen
- Depending on the size of your space, you could go with a mini-fridge.
Cooking device: Oven / Stove / Hotplate / Toaster Oven / Microwave
- Depending on the size of your space, you may be able to get away with as little as a microwave or toaster oven or hotplate. However, if you have a larger space, I recommend a full oven and stove plus a microwave.
- If you have electric hookups for your range, I highly recommend an induction range. In fact if you can avoid it, I would recommend staying away from gas since many people do not know how to cook with gas so it could pose a safety concern.
Coffee maker and coffee
- I have a second-hand drip coffee maker, which most people can figure out how to use, but otherwise I might consider a dummy-proof machine that uses pods. Whatever you choose, make sure you get compatible beans, ground coffee, or pods.
Nice-To-Have Appliances
- Dishwasher
- Toaster or toaster oven
- Blender
- Electric kettle
- Additional coffee making options
Essential Cooking and Serving Tools for an Airbnb Kitchen
Cookware
- This will vary depending on what types of cooking devices you have.
- For an oven, baking sheets and casserole dishes are nice to have. I’d get a few sizes of each. Cake pans would be a nice touch as well if you can find ones that aren’t non-stick, because I can tell you from experience, the first guest that uses non-stick ones will ruin them. Every time.
- For a stove or hotplate, you’ll want pots and pans. Get some that are induction compatible if you have an induction cooktop. I’d also avoid cast iron and non-stick because guests will destroy them instantly.
- For a toaster oven, you’ll need pans that fit.
- For a microwave, you’ll need microwave safe dishes, such as plates, bowls, and mugs, and perhaps some casserole dishes.
Knives (or) and Cutting boards
- Choose plastic cutting boards and get several of them. Store them out in the open so guests are more likely to use them instead of cutting directly on your countertop or on plates.
Basic cooking and serving utensils
- Be sure to include a mixing spoon, tongs, and spatulas
- Don’t forget oven mitts and hotpads
- Thermometer
- Can opener
- Bottle opener and corkscrew
Nice-To-Have Cooking and Serving Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Strainer
- Cheese grater
- Storage containers. I like to have glass ones that can also be safely used in the oven and microwave, as well as cheaper plastic ones that guests may end up taking with them. A few sizes of zip top bags are a good idea too.
Essential Tableware for an Airbnb Kitchen
Plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks
- Make sure you have enough sets for at least as many guests as you can host.
- Consider finding used flatware if you can.
- You’ll want to get melamine or metal chopsticks (or disposable ones) because guests will inevitably ruin wood ones and they’re difficult to keep clean.
- Plastic glasses are a good idea if guests are likely to take drinks outside and they can double as kid cups.
- I’m a big fan of Corelle plates and bowls as they’re completely dishwasher and microwave safe and easy and affordable to replace on the odd chance that they do get broken.
If you have a child-friendly Airbnb, don’t forget special dishes for kids
Nice-To-Have Tableware
Essential Food for an Airbnb Kitchen
Nice-To-Have Food
- Bottled water or a Brita filter
- Local beer or bottle of wine
- Snacks, preferably local
- Full spice collection
- Coffee creamer
- Alternative sweeteners (stevia, monk fruit)
- Flavored syrups
- Tea bags (black and herbal)
- A selection of condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, hot sauce, salad dressing
Essential Kitchen Cleaning Supplies
Sink
- A kitchen doesn’t function without a sink.
- Along with the sink, you’ll want dish sponges, dish soap, and a dish drying rack.
- If you get an electric one, I think that would count as an appliance? I just have a simple one. I obviously line it with a bag and keep a few extra bags in the bottom so that guests aren’t tempted to use the trash can without a bag in it.
Nice-To-Have Kitchen Cleaning Supplies
Here’s the complete Amazon list of kitchen products I have in my Church Street Airbnb as well as a few I’m considering adding.
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