19 Airbnb Kitchen Essentials every Host should have!
As Airbnb hosts, we know that cooking for guests can be tricky. What if the guest is on a strict diet? Or allergic to dairy? Cooking without knowing what your guest needs or likes is difficult. That’s why it’s important to have Airbnb kitchen essentials, so you never find yourself in this situation!
Many people prefer Airbnb because they can choose to have a kitchen anywhere they stay, saving time and money. Still, some Airbnb kitchens just don’t cut it, which can make for a bad review. However, keeping your kitchen stocked with the right items and accessories can help your guests enjoy their stay and make you an all-star host.
Here are the most important Airbnb kitchen essentials every host needs to have:
Microwave
Coffee and tea
Cooking appliance
Refrigerator
Salt, pepper, and oil
Dishes and silverware
Wine glasses
Knives and cutting boards
Pots and pans
Strainer
Cooking utensils
Mixing bowls
Bottle opener
Can opener
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Garbage can
Sponge and dish soap
Broom, dustpan, and all-purpose cleaner
Paper towels and napkins
So, if you are unsure what to keep in your Airbnb kitchen, I’ve covered you. I’ll be going over everything you need to keep in your kitchen so that your guests are always satisfied, and their stay with you is more enjoyable.
Remind Your Guests Why You Provide A 5-Star Experience
What Does Full Kitchen Mean on Airbnb?
Ask 10 different hosts, and you’ll likely get 10 different answers, as defining a “full kitchen” means different things to different Airbnb hosts.
Some Airbnb hosts will say they have a full kitchen if they happen to own a microwave, while others only require that the Airbnb guest must provide their own cooking appliance. To make sure you’re on the same page as your guests and leave no room for confusion, it’s best to include what Airbnb considers a “full kitchen.”
A full kitchen should include a sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, stove, and range.
19 Airbnb Kitchen Essentials
If you’re just starting with Airbnb hosting and putting together your needed items for your vacation rental, you’ll want to ensure your kitchen is well stocked with supplies and other accessories. It will not only help your guest feel at home, it will also help your Airbnb listing maintain good reviews.
Below is our kitchen essentials checklist every host should have:
Microwave
All travelers can appreciate a microwave, especially if they have been on the road for a while. Since they are so good for warming up leftovers, heating water for coffee, and cooking meal-time basics, a microwave is essential for any Airbnb kitchen.
Coffee and Tea
All guests need their morning cup of coffee or tea. Making morning beverages readily available and accessible will keep even the grumpiest of guests happy. You can provide a coffee machine or an electric kettle and French press. Or, if you want to get fancy, you can give your guests a Keurig or espresso machine with some coffee pods. Either way, you should always keep coffee and tea stocked in your Airbnb so that your guests can wake up satisfied.
If you’re looking for some options, we’ve written an in-depth guide on the best coffee makers to get.
Cooking Appliance
If you specified that you have a kitchen in your listing, your guests would expect to have a cooking appliance. Whether it’s a stove, oven, hotplate, or toaster oven, providing your guests with a way to adequately prepare their meals will enable them to grocery shop and dine in while staying at your Airbnb.
Refrigerator
Whether you have the space for a large refrigerator or just enough to squeeze a mini-fridge in, providing your guests with a fridge to store their perishables will make their visit more convenient and relaxing.
You may also want to keep some basics like a water filter, coffee creamer, ketchup, mustard, and butter in your fridge if you wish to get excellent reviews. If you can, get a refrigerator with a freezer in it and supply ice cube trays.
Salt, Pepper, and Oil
When guests come to stay, they won’t want to buy a new container of salt, pepper, and oil just for their few nights in your Airbnb. Keep a bottle of neutral cooking oil, such as canola or olive oil, in your cabinet and provide visitors with a salt and pepper shaker to ensure that they don’t have to eat bland food.
Dishes and Silverware
Always match your Airbnb’s occupancy with a set of plates, bowls, silverware, cups, and mugs. For example, provide four complete dining sets if your Airbnb sleeps four people. Ensuring that your guests have something to eat from and a cup to put their morning coffee in is crucial if you want good reviews.
One pro tip to save money is to get durable, matching dining sets at thrift stores. We’ve also written an in-depth guide on choosing the best dishes.
Wine Glasses
While not all of your guests will drink wine, keeping them in your kitchen for those that do can offer a unique and personalized touch. I recommend stemless, shatter-resistant wine glasses to cut down on spills and messes. You can also opt for disposable wine glasses too.
Knives and Cutting Boards
Whether your guests are cooking in your Airbnb or decide to get takeout, they will appreciate having a nice set of knives and cutting boards. Keeping a sharp paring knife, a serrated knife, and a chef’s knife in the kitchen is always an excellent idea.
If you are pressed for space, you can install a magnetic strip to keep them sharp and off the counter. Remember to sharpen them during your cleaning routine so that your guests don’t have to prepare food with broken or dull knives.
Pots and Pans
If your guests want to make their own breakfast and dinner, they will need a couple of pots and pans. It’s advisable to keep a non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet, a large pot, and a small saucepan with a lid in the kitchen. Doing so will ensure you get more long-term use out of them, especially if you plan on having multiple Airbnb guests.
If your Airbnb kitchen has an oven, you might also want to include a baking sheet, a casserole dish, and a cake pan for guests who like to bake.
Strainer
If your guests decide to make pasta, they will need a strainer or colander to drain the water out. Strainers also double as a great way to rinse vegetables and fruit. Go with a durable, easy-to-wash option with a built-in stand that will last no matter what your guests put it through.
Cooking Utensils
No kitchen is complete without cooking utensils. Every practical kitchen has a whisk, a large cooking spoon, a spatula, and a set of tongs. Supplying these utensils can make or break your rating, so always ensure that your guests have everything they need to cook good meals in your Airbnb.
Mixing Bowls
No matter what your guests end up cooking, they will probably need a bowl to help them prepare and serve their meals. Provide your guests with a set of stacking mixing bowls, ensuring that there are at least three in the set.
Bottle Opener
Airbnb guests are usually on vacation. Many of them will probably need a bottle opener or corkscrew so that they can enjoy a glass of wine or a bottle of beer after a long day of traveling. So, it would help if you always kept a bottle opener and a corkscrew in your Airbnb kitchen. That way, guests are never stuck with an unopenable bottle of their favorite beverage. Many bottle openers and corkscrews also come as a two-in-one device, which is ideal for saving space.
Can Opener
Not all cans of fruit and vegetables come with tabs for opening, so it’s best to have a can opener on hand. If you plan on having Airbnb guests who are staying for more than one night, I recommend investing in an electric can opener that will make opening cans easier and quicker.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
There are two important tools that every Airbnb host should have in their kitchen. The first is a set of measuring cups, which come with both imperial and metric measurements depending on your region. A measuring spoon is also needed to ensure accurate cooking measurements for your Airbnb guests. These utensils will prove invaluable whether or not your Airbnb has a kitchen with utensils, so investing in them is always worth it.
Garbage Can
While this may seem like a no-brainer, many hosts overlook the need for a good garbage can in their Airbnb kitchen. Nothing is worse than making a mess and having nowhere to throw your trash away. If you want to make cleaning easier on you and your guests, keep a garbage can and bags in your kitchen.
Sponge and Dish Soap
If your guests want to reuse their dishes or do some cleaning before leaving, they will need the right equipment. At a minimum, supply your guests with dish soap and a clean sponge or dish brush. You can also put in a dish-drying rack near the sink or hang up some dish towels to encourage your guests to wash their own dishes.
Broom, Dustpan, and All-Purpose Cleaner
If your guests stay for several days, they want to clean up any messes they make. Providing them with a simple broom, dustpan, and all-purpose cleaning spray can help them keep their space tidy and will make your job easier when cleaning up the property afterward.
Paper Towels and Napkins
Whether your guests need to clean up some spilled water, dry their hands, or wipe down the counters after cooking, providing them with paper towels is a sanitary way to help them keep clean.
Along with the paper towels, you should consider leaving behind a stack of napkins for your guests to use during mealtime. This will allow them to save the paper towels for bigger messes and prevent them from having to use your hand towels or tablecloth to keep themselves clean while eating.
What Should You Leave Out On Your Airbnb Kitchen?
You know that feeling when you’re in a hurry and need something from the kitchen but can’t find it? The worst. Leaving the most important items on your counter is one way to make sure you never have to go through that again. Here are some of our favorite items we like to leave out for convenience.
Salt & Pepper
Oil & Vinegar
Paper Towels
Dish Soap
Hand Soap & Sanitizer
Coffee Station
Napkins
Snacks
Knives
Final Thoughts
If you’re an Airbnb host who wants to make their life easier, it’s important that you invest in some basic kitchenware. The items we’ve highlighted are a few of the most essential and will help your guests enjoy themselves while staying at your property.
Remember that Airbnb is about adventure and exploration, so go ahead – get creative with your Airbnb kitchen essentials.
