Kitchens and everyday life in America: 14 useful and incomprehensible features of Russians
The way Americans arrange their kitchens is fundamentally different from the European or Russian way. And this is not surprising, if only because most of the American population lives in low-rise buildings, in single-family houses or townhouses, in which kitchens are combined with a living room or dining room and have an area of 20-60 square meters. Here are 14 features of the American kitchen to take note of, or just take note of as a fun fact..
Americans don’t use dish dryers in the cabinet above the sink.
While Russians are arranging dishes after drying in the cupboard above the sink, Americans are simply stacking plates and mugs and grouping them by type. It turns out that if you have a dishwasher, you can do without a dryer. Moreover, it is even more convenient this way, while the cabinet looks neater..
An electric kettle is a rarity
They are so unpopular in the United States that many do not even know about the existence of such a device! Why have electric kettles not taken root here, if in Russia and Europe no cuisine can be imagined without them? There are two reasons: firstly, Americans prefer to drink coffee, not tea, and secondly, due to the low voltage of the electric networks in America (100-127 volts, while in Russia and Europe, the voltage from 220 to 240 volts is used) electric kettles just heat the water more slowly.
Americans do their dishes with brushes
Americans also use sponges, but they use brushes with handles more often. Moreover, they are convenient for cleaning dishes before loading them into the dishwasher..
Many homes have a pantry
The custom of providing a pantry in houses at the construction stage has been introduced in America since distant colonial times. It can look like a small room in the kitchen, a niche with shelves or a built-in wardrobe. Here, Americans store stocks of groceries like boxes of breakfast cereals, bottled water, canned food, dishes, and household items. Of course, in modern apartments and small houses, pantry is less often equipped, and yet, the habit of buying food for future use can be called a national one..
In any unclear situation, Americans use disposable wipes.
Americans are real fans of disposable wipes and use them for both daily and weekly cleaning of the kitchen and home. In addition to floor cleaning wipes (attached to the mop as a disposable doormat), there are many other types of disposable wipes. They are dry and wet, paper and non-woven, for plumbing or kitchen surfaces, for dust or disinfection, for glass, wood, tiles, steel, wood and leather, there are even organic wipes soaked in vinegar and essential oils. It is very convenient, quick and hygienic – no need to wash and rinse rags. On the other hand, the fascination with napkins (especially those made from non-woven material) is not very reasonable from an environmental point of view..
Coffee bars for coffee lovers
Americans love coffee and drink it at least 2 times a day, which is why they often set up small bars in kitchens with cups, a supply of beans, a set of syrups, sugar and, of course, a coffee machine or a drip coffee maker. If you love coffee too, why not set up a cute corner for it? Here are some photo ideas.
A bar with drinks in almost every home
Strong drinkers are setting up home bars in dining rooms or kitchens. Depending on the area of the room, the bar can be a small cart or shelf, a sideboard or a wardrobe, and sometimes a separate room with a refrigerator and a bar.
Lazy Susan tray – the secret of convenient and compact storage in deep cabinets and more
Why round turntables and trays in America are called “lazy Susan” Americans do not know for certain. However, many people use this organizer in their kitchen cabinets and pantries, storing spices, bottles of oils and sauces on them. Due to the fact that the tray rotates, it is easier to access things, they are stored compactly and neatly.
Love for household appliances and gigantomania – national traits of Americans
In addition to the dishwasher, stove, microwave and refrigerator, a typical American set of household appliances includes:
- Coffee machine;
- Planetary mixer;
- Stationary blender for making smoothies;
- Toaster.
At the same time, almost all the equipment in the American house is large. So, for example, in their kitchens, a standard 60 cm refrigerator can be seen much less often than models with a width of 80 cm and, of course, Side by Side refrigerators..
Boxes, containers, baskets, trays and trays are the foundation of order in the American kitchen
Another American habit to take note of is the use of many trays, baskets, boxes, trays, and other storage accessories..
The secret is that with their help, things can be grouped into categories, and this, in turn, makes it easier to find the necessary items and helps to maintain order. It also helps reduce visual noise and makes cleaning easier..
Garbage shredder – an essential item on a par with a microwave
The disposer was invented in America and it is here that it is most popular. This is very convenient: put vegetable peels or any other organic garbage into the drain hole, turn on the button and you’re done – the waste was crushed and merged into the sewer pipe.
Americans only recognize gas stoves
Some states, such as Florida, as well as some apartment buildings use glass-ceramic hobs, but most American kitchens are equipped with large stationary gas stoves..
Typical kitchen design – framed wood / wood grain or white
Here are some of the characteristics of typical American cuisine:
- The most common kitchen design: a set with frame or paneled facades in white or lacquered (mahogany or oak).
- Most often, the headset body is made of plywood, and not of chipboard (however, there are exceptions, at least because Ikea is also popular in America). Doors are mostly made of solid wood;
This is what the typical American cuisine looks like.
- Sizes of kitchen modules and household appliances (microwave, stove, oven, dishwasher, etc.). differ from European and Russian. Instead of the standard width of 60 cm, Americans use the 80 cm standard;
- The most common countertop material is granite or quartz agglomerate. Economy option – building board.
Washing by the window
Washing by the window allows Americans to save on lighting, and most importantly, to enjoy the view while washing dishes.
It is possible to repeat this decision in a private house without problems, but in an apartment it is difficult, but quite possible if the pipe leads are not too far from the window. At the same time, it is important to provide for the installation of radiator grilles in the countertop above the radiator (and preferably a warm floor), to beat the difference in the height of the window sill and the countertop, if any, provide a dishwasher and a place for storing dishes, and also buy a deep sink with a not too high mixer, so that avoid splashing on windows. Here is an example of transferring a sink to a window in an ordinary panel house in Russia.
Island table – in the house, in apartments – a peninsula or a bar
In large houses, Americans set up islands, and in apartments and small houses, you can most often see a more compact peninsula or a bar counter (more precisely a breakfast counter, because it is really very convenient to have a quick breakfast behind it). Such tables are convenient for preparing food and are good for zoning space. The main thing is that around the island / peninsula / bar there are aisles of at least 90 cm, and preferably 100-120 cm.
