General

7 kitchen essentials for cottage renters

Published: August 20, 2018 Updated: June 15, 2022
While you may be a master of your home grill, the rental cottage barbecue is an unfamiliar beast. A reliable instant-read thermometer can take the guesswork out of barbecuing larger cuts. A box of fancy, flaky salt (we like Maldon) will elevate your steaks and margarita rims. Photo by Shutterstock/sjstudio6
BBQ must-haves

Ice is the most overlooked cocktail ingredient, and no one likes having their well-laid cocktailing plans derailed by smelly, brittle ice cube trays. Silicone trays are unbreakable, are easy to clean, and they pack well. Photo by Shutterstock/ Edward Fielding
Ice cube trays

Cottage knives are often neglected and in rough condition. But knives are fundamental kitchen tools, and as we’ve all been warned, a dull knife can be more dangerous than a sharp one. (Trips to rural emergency rooms are quick to sap the fun.) Bring a properly sharpened chef’s knife from home or at least a trusted sharpening tool. A bread knife makes cutting good, crusty loaves a pleasure and is also useful for slicing the tomatoes that you bought on the way to the cottage. Get one with a cover— handy for picnics. Photo by Shutterstock/kitzcorner
Sharp Objects

The cottage probably has a drip machine or an ancient percolator. If it’s a drip machine, find out which filter it uses and bring some with you—the filters in the cupboard will have mouse turds in them. Don’t forget to pack some decent coffee. You will know you’re a proper coffee nerd if you bring along a grinder as well. Photo by Shutterstock/ Olyina
Coffee equipment

Cutting board atrocities we have seen include cracked and mouldy wood boards and the ever confounding, knife- ruining glass board. Save yourself from these indignities. Bring an easy-to- clean, picnic-friendly plastic board. Photo by Shutterstock/ Evgeny Karandaev
Cutting boards

Avoid family infighting over the one decent wineglass in the cupboard. Bring six of your preferred style, break two, and leave the rest behind. You’ll probably want to rent the same place again anyway. Pack a Sharpie or a wax pencil for writing names on the base of the glasses. Photo by Shutterstock/ Roman Sambroskyi
Wineglasses

Don’t shred corks with an antiquated butterfly-style wine opener. Pack a lever-action opener, both for any non screw-top wines you might bring along and for opening bottles of crisp European pilsner to enjoy with sunsets on the dock. Photo by Shutterstock/ Marko Poplasen
Corkscrew

Congratulations—you’ve rented a cottage. You’ve scrutinized every online picture and done a fly-by on Google Earth. You’ve emailed your damage deposit to a stranger. You can almost taste that first G&T.

Our parents started renting cottages in the mid-’80s. Eventually, we moved on to renting on our own—multiple cottages for more than 10 years. As people who love to cook on vacation, we’ve noticed a few things about cottage kitchens. Rental kitchens come equipped with vintage gadgets—remember those hard-boiled egg slicers?—and hand-cranked tools of uncertain application. What’s missing are the items that make your meals, and all the preparation, much more satisfying.

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