How to Keep the Kitchen Cool This Summer

Is your kitchen hot in the summer? From proper ceiling fan usage to simple cooking tips, keep your kitchen cool without going broke paying for the air conditioner to run constantly. Keep reading for a few ways to keep the kitchen cool this summer!

My sanity needs the kitchen cooler!

Summertime in Georgia is HOT and most days I have no desire to sweat over the stove to cook dinner for my family. Since feeding them cereal every night of the week leaves me slightly guilt-ridden, I have had to learn how to keep the kitchen cool while still feeding them real food. Preferably something with a vegetable or two.

Finding ways to keep your kitchen cool in the summer will go a long ways towards reducing your air conditioning bill, not to mention help keep you sane. Anyone who has had to deal with children, pets, and a ringing phone at dinner time knows it is 10 times worse if you have sweat dripping in your eyes while you stir boiling pasta!

 

Ways to Keep the Kitchen Cooler

Learning how to keep the kitchen cool requires two key factors. Create less heat and improve air flow. The tips below are mainly ideas on how to create less heat in your kitchen during the summer.

If you are looking for a new DIY project, installing kitchen ceiling fans is one easy way to improve air flow in the kitchen. You can also put UV film for windows in your kitchen or just go ahead and install new windows that are better insulated to help reducing air conditioning costs.

If you aren’t up for a DIY project this summer, here are a few easy ways to generate less heat in the kitchen.

Get creative with pasta salads:

Pasta salads are a great way to keep your kitchen cool this summer. Cook the pasta first thing in the morning when the temperature is cooler. Just rinse and throw it in the refrigerator to make into a pasta salad at dinner time.

You can throw in tuna, bits of leftover steak, veggies, or whatever else you find in your pantry. Check out a few of my pasta salad recipes for inspiration!

• Creamy Asparagus Pasta Salad Recipe with Bacon and Bleu Cheese
• Cold Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe with a Rainbow of Veggies
• Chicken Taco Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe

Learn to love your slow cooker:

Slow cookers are a great way to have a hot meal ready at dinner time without sweating over the stove. They allow you to set up dinner in the morning and then spend the day at the pool with your kids and not have to cook dinner when you get home.

Look for a slow cooker that is big enough to meet your family’s appetite needs. Check out these  slow cookers that have multiple heat settings. That is a very handy feature!

Make a cold soup to go with a sandwich:  

Most people think of soup as a fall meal but there are many cold soups like Gazpacho or Cucumber Dill soup that don’t require any heating at all. And while soup and sandwiches may sound like a lunch time meal, I have found that they are perfect for a summer dinner.

We are usually not as hungry during the hot summer months as we are during winter. That means we are happy to eat less and soup and sandwiches are perfect! Check out my Chilled Pear Soup if you want to try a cold soup recipe this summer.

Invest in a solar oven to keep the kitchen cool

This might seem a bit extreme but why not put the power of the sun to good use by letting it cook your dinner for you? Solar ovens are becoming much more popular and come in a wide variety of sizes and prices. If you have space on your patio, why not consider letting the sun cook your dinner for you this summer!

Make a no bake dessert:  

Nothing says desserts have to bake for an hour, right? There are a number of easy no-bake desserts that will keep your kitchen cool while still feeding your family’s sweet tooth.

Try my  Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats or this  No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake. No bake desserts are usually quite simple to make and don’t create any additional heat in the kitchen. My No Bake Pumpkin Balls are very popular.

Learn how to grill out!

You can throw meat, veggies, potatoes and even fruit on the grill so that you never once have to turn your stove on! Make sure to grill up extra that can be thrown into the microwave the next night. Homemade pizza on the grill is one of our favorite easy weeknight meals. Check out a few of my grilling tips to get started!

• How to Grill Seafood for a Mouthwatering Meal Every Time
• Easy Tips for Grilling Vegetables Perfectly
• Eco-Friendly Grilling Tips

Learning how to keep the kitchen cool this summer means that you will end up spending considerably less when it comes to cooling your home. Remember, kitchen cooling requires that you create less heat AND improve air flow.

More Tips for Keeping Cool in the Kitchen

Try to do your cooking and run your dishwasher in the morning while it is cool enough to open the kitchen windows for a bit. Then, fill up the crockpot and make a no bake dessert before heading out with the kids for a day at the pool. Here are a few more tips that might help”

• Turn off the lights.  Even the energy efficient ones create a small amount of heat.  
• Close the blinds (or install one).  Sun streaming in kitchen windows generates a lot of heat.  Block it out whenever possible. 
• Make a tiny DIY air conditioner.  Set up a small fan on the counter and drape a wet towel over it as it runs.  Instant air conditioner!
• Use small appliances first.  If you can use a toaster over, do that rather than heat up the stove. 
• Keep YOURSELF cool.  Glasses of ice water and a cold washcloth on the back of your neck will help keep the chef cool when all else fails. 

It’s hard to avoid the excess heat generation in the kitchen.  But, from grilling to microwave meals, there are some easy solutions.  Of course, sometimes you have to use the oven on a hot day. 

Hopefully, the tips in this post will keep your cool  as the temps rise in the kitchen! If you need more help getting air flow in the kitchen, check out This Old House.  Have any other tips on how to keep the kitchen cool?

Recipes for the Grill

Grilled Shrimp with Cheddar Grits

 

Grilled Papaya Dessert Recipe