I Have Less Than 55 Square Feet of Kitchen Space—These 7 Essential Items Live There Rent-Free

I’ve lived in several different apartments during my adult life, and the kitchen in each one came with its own set of unique challenges. Whether it was a lack of sufficient cabinet space to accommodate all the dishware, food storage containers, and bulky pots and pans that my roommates and I shared, or a dated and noisy dishwasher that sounded like it was preparing to blast off to the moon anytime it started a cycle — I learned to work with what I had. But at less than 55 square feet, the kitchen tucked away in a little nook of my current studio apartment is by far the smallest one I’ve had yet.

After two years in this apartment, I’m still learning to work with the limited space. And I’ve had to make some sacrifices when it comes to what I can keep around. But even with such a tiny kitchen, there are some essentials that I can’t do without. From a cookware set that lends itself to compact storage to a personal blender that serves up the best smoothies, these seven products have become staples for me — and they’re worth keeping around even with space at such a premium.

7 Essentials Living Rent-Free in My Tiny Kitchen

• Instant Vortex 2-Quart Mini Air Fryer $56 (originally $68)
• Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker $18
• Fullstar Tumblers with Lids $15 (originally 18)
• Instant Pot 4-in-1 Electric Milk Frother $40 (originally $50)
• Carote 11-Piece Granite Nonstick Pots and Pans Set $70 (originally $120)
• Nutribullet Pro 900 Watt Personal Blender $90 (originally $110)
• Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker $40

Instant Vortex 2-Quart Mini Air Fryer

I once considered air fryers an unnecessary luxury (and one that didn’t deserve to take up prime real estate in my already limited counter space). However, I found a good deal on a miniature 1.1-quart model a couple of years back and decided that its then-$20 price tag and diminutive footprint were worth giving it a shot. To my surprise, I ended up using it a lot to crisp up everything from golden french fries to air fryer fried chicken. (Yes, I fried chicken legs in the tiny thing — and it even fit two at a time!) 

I’ve since upgraded to a slightly larger model, and the Instant Vortex Mini has become my go-to when I want a quick, easy, and delicious meal. Its touch control panel and dial are extremely intuitive. Plus, it has air fry, roast, bake, and reheat modes for added versatility. While I certainly can’t cook a whole chicken in it, it’s the perfect size for one or two people and doesn’t take up too much space.

Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker

This pitcher for making cold brew hardly takes up any extra space in my kitchen because it practically lives in my fridge 24/7. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but I love making cold-brew tea, and this versatile pitcher makes it incredibly easy to keep a constant supply. Whether it’s juicy hibiscus or a more adventurous blend, I simply add tea to its mesh brew basket, fill it with water, and let it steep in the fridge overnight. It’s super easy to clean too, thanks to the bottom that screws off of the mesh filter so you can empty your coffee grounds or tea leaves without any extra hassle. And you can even remove the brew basket altogether and use it as a pitcher for homemade cocktails (or mocktails).

Fullstar Tumblers with Lids

I’ll admit that their trendy shape and cute design were the main motivators in my purchase of this set of tumblers, rather than how much space they might or might not take up in my cabinets. But every kitchen needs a set of drinking glasses, and the fact that these came with bamboo lids and matching glass straws was an added bonus. While some people may prefer plain glassware, I was instantly hooked when I saw that this set was multicolored. They’ve been great for enjoying iced drinks during the warmer months, and they instantly make any beverage I’m sipping feel fancier. Plus, they’re pretty durable and wash up well in the dishwasher. At less than $20, you really can’t find much better.

Instant Pot 4-in-1 Electric Milk Frother

I snagged this Instant Pot Milk Frother at a steep discount during Black Friday, and it’s had a dedicated home on my counter ever since. It heats and froths the milk for my decadent rooibos chai lattes with the push of a single button, and it even does excellent cold foam. I love its simplicity and easy operation that does all the work for you, which makes prepping my drink for an afternoon pick-me-up effortless. And it’s so quiet that you can hardly even tell when it’s on. How frequently I put it to use and the fact that it takes up so little space both mean that it has quickly earned its coveted spot on my countertop.

Carote 11-Piece Granite Nonstick Pots and Pans Set

Choosing cookware was a unique challenge for this space. Pots and pans are so bulky already, and I couldn’t easily identify a spot in my few precious cabinets that would provide sufficient storage. I considered hanging a frying pan or two, but wall space is also at a premium (and that didn’t provide a solution as to where the pots would go). To make matters worse, most conventional cookware doesn’t stack very well at all. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I found this 11-piece nonstick set from Carote. It comes with two removable handles, which means that all of its components stack together effortlessly and store quite easily. It also means you can use them just as well in the oven as you would on the stovetop. I’ve been incredibly impressed with their nonstick performance when cooking everything from fried eggs to seared salmon, and they’re even compatible with induction cooktops. Right now this set is on sale for over 40% off, so it’s a good time to snag them if you’re on the lookout for compact cookware.

Nutribullet Pro 900 Watt Personal Blender

I’ve become a bit of a smoothie fanatic over the last couple of years, so a blender is a necessity. Luckily personal blenders have become more and more popular, so there are plenty of space-saving options to choose from. But I’ve contended with weak models that struggled to blend up frozen fruit or left chunks of unblended ingredients hiding in my finished smoothie. However, since I’ve had the Nutribullet Pro 900, that hasn’t been a problem for me. With the proper amount of liquid, it powers through even the most difficult of ingredients, producing a finished product that’s irresistibly creamy and, well, smooth. I usually leave it out on my counter with its blender cup sitting on top, but you could also separate the two and store them in a cabinet.

Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker

A rice cooker may not be a necessity, but it sure is helpful. And that’s why I choose to make space for one. I’m pretty hopeless at cooking rice the old-fashioned way, but this Hamilton Beach rice cooker takes most of the guesswork and hassle out of it. While it has a small 8-cup capacity, it’s still plenty for me — and it's a fair trade-off for the smaller footprint. It’s less than 10 inches in diameter and height, so it’s incredibly easy to store away. Its programmable settings let you cook all different kinds of rice and grains, and I’ve never been disappointed with its performance. I’ve even used its included steamer basket to cook vegetables at the same time as my rice.