Preparing Your AirBnB's Kitchen For Guests

Each year, nearly 1.5 million families around the world gear up for vacations. Some engage in global travel while others prefer to remain relatively close to home. Regardless of their ultimate destinations or how far they travel, they all have one thing in common: they need lodging. While campers, motorhomes, mountain cabins, and traditional hotels remain popular, alternative solutions have become highly sought after. 

Airbnb has risen through the ranks since first being introduced back in 2008. At this point, the company has amassed listings in more than 200 countries and boasts over 300 million nightly bookings. People are drawn to its lodging options because they offer far more than standard accommodations. Of course, having the luxury of a kitchen is one of the most alluring factors for vacationers. 

Stocking Your Airbnb Kitchen for Guests

If you’re planning to offer a home, apartment, or other space for Airbnb customers to enjoy, being sure the kitchen is up to par is essential. If the kitchen doesn’t meet guests’ expectations, it could detract from their entire vacation experience. With that being said, certain inclusions are crucial when preparing the kitchen for travelers. 

Kitchen Appliances

Appliances are basic kitchen equipment, and guests are likely to need them when staying at your Airbnb property. Provide a stove and refrigerator if enough space and the right utility connections are available. For smaller kitchens and spaces that don’t actually have a designated cooking area, other arrangements may be necessary, such as an electric griddle or hot plate and a mini fridge. 

At the very least, equip the kitchen with a microwave and coffee maker. Those bare necessities will allow guests to enjoy their morning coffee and warm meals and snacks. If space allows, a dishwasher is helpful as well. No one wants to spend half their vacation time washing dishes.

Beyond the basics, you can add a few extra kitchen amenities to the mix. With so many small appliances and gadgets on the market these days, it’s possible to create an amazing kitchen even with limited space and other functionality restrictions. Any number of kitchen gadgets and accessories could fall into this category.

Some of the possibilities include a sizable crock pot, an air fryer, and a multicooker. Aside from those, you might add a coffee and/or spice grinder, blender, and food processor to the mix. Those small appliances can make a world of difference in any kitchen, and they’ll delight guests from all walks of life. 

Cookware and Utensils

Furthermore, stocking the kitchen with cookware and utensils is vital. Without those, none of the previously mentioned appliances and gadgets will be of much use. After all, vacationers aren’t going to be traveling with sets of pots and pans and other accessories. 

You’ll find a vast array of cookware and utensils on the market. It’s not really necessary to provide high-end versions for guests to use. Keep in mind, they’ll likely be put through the wringer by visitors, and many guests may try to venture beyond their true culinary skills when cooking on vacation. As such, you may end up needing to purchase replacement pieces here and there. 

Because of that, consider purchasing a mid-grade set of pots and pans that boasts non-stick, heavy-duty qualities. Those won’t be the least expensive sets on the market, but they don’t have to be the most costly, either. Be sure the set includes a large boiler, a large and small frying pan, and pots of different sizes at a minimum. You could add casserole dishes, cookie sheets, and other bakeware to the repertoire as well for even greater versatility.

Utensils help round out the picture. Keep cooking and serving spoons and forks, spatulas, and knives in your Airbnb kitchen for guests to use. Wood or plastic versions may be best as they can help prevent damage to the cookware. Place a good cutting board in an easy-to-find place as well to help protect your countertops when guests chop veggies. 

Dinnerware

Dinnerware is also a critical addition to an Airbnb kitchen. That may include dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, and serving platters to name a few essential pieces. Their specific colors and decorative patterns may not be incredibly important, but they should be attractive and useful.

Countless options are available in this arena. Dinnerware comes in numerous varieties from fine china to disposable styrofoam. In truth, sets on both of these extreme ends of the spectrum aren’t recommended. High-end china can easily get broken, and constantly replacing it will greatly detract from your profits. On the other hand, styrofoam dishes may give off a cheap, chintzy air, and they’re not the best for the environment. 

Affordable, durable dinnerware is your best bet here. Choosing dishes that are capable of withstanding repeated use and ongoing abuse is advised. Pick a set that can handle hot and cold foods, stints in the dishwasher, being dropped, and other common hazards. Melamine dinnerware happens to fill the bill nicely. It’s a great choice for Airbnb kitchens as it can stand up to all those dish dangers. Don’t forget sturdy spoons, forks, butter knives, and other standard eating utensils.

Kitchen Staples

Don’t overlook the value of kitchen staples, either. These are all the items any home chef needs to keep on hand to make meals work. They may include salt, pepper, plain and self-rising flour, cornmeal, vegetable oil, and olive oil depending on the region where your Airbnb listing is located. 

It may also be nice to provide certain basic dried herbs and spices, such as parsley, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and chili flakes. Stock the kitchen with various tea and coffee blends, dishwasher pods, dish detergent, and additional necessities, too. Keep paper towels, napkins, dish cloths, and hand towels on hand as well.

Satisfying Guests with a Fully Equipped AirBnB Kitchen

Though there are no set-in-stone rules for Airbnb kitchens, providing all the basic essentials is the key to getting great reviews and a steady stream of bookings. Not all spaces offer the square footage and utilities necessary for a fully appointed kitchen. Still, it’s possible to meet travelers’ needs and expectations despite limitations. 

Take a look around your own kitchen. Think about the equipment and supplies you truly need for cooking and eating. Be sure there’s at least some version of all those essentials available in your Airbnb kitchen for guests to use. Versatility and durability are a couple of important factors to consider when stocking the kitchen, and you can certainly satisfy guests with a selection of basic items.