Traveling Kitchen for a Digital Nomad - Part Two

How to travel with your multifunctional kitchen utensils

I have shared that I enjoy cooking and some of my previous traveling kitchen gadgets, and I am back to sharing more kitchen utensils for your travels. I love cooking. It is about the art and science of using temperatures, measurements, colors, and textures. 

It is an education in creating tasty meals easily by sometimes combining seemingly odd ingredients. My most recent example was pureed pineapple and cucumber into pancake batter for a savory breakfast treat. 

It is why you will find me having both a perplexed look and a warm smile as I sauté, puree, or dice in the kitchen.

Since I enjoy living an expat life going into my eleventh year, including roughly one year of being a digital nomad, I love the challenge of using local in-season foods and making meals for myself. 

Having some personal kitchen gadgets is handy. I have learned to travel with some checked baggage or team carry-on worthy items. 

Here are four more kitchen items I took with me when I went from being an expat to being a digital nomad.

A silicone pastry brush

Having a small pastry brush (or a whole set) can be handy for cooking, whether for brushing butter on bread or spreading sauce on meats. I have used a pastry brush to mix homemade sauces — salad dressings or marinades. 

Lastly, it can be used for applying gels, scrubs, or liquid-based body treatments without getting your hands too messy. Pack a pastry brush; you might find it quite handy.

Chopsticks

A pair of hard plastic or wooden chopsticks are helpful for cooking. Yes, for traveling sushi lovers, having your own is better than the disposables at a restaurant. However, use it to hang a teabag from a tall mug or water bottle, or use it as a stirrer for mixing up/ sweetening your beverage. 

Chopsticks have also been used as hair accessories for securing hair rolls. So, pack a couple of pairs for multiple uses as you go on your globetrotting adventures.

Thin chopping board

Pack a set of five thin chopping boards, which are great tools for your traveling kitchen. Choose the lightweight plastic, multicolored version. Designate a color for meats versus fruits and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination and food-borne illnesses. 

Use for chopping up food, wash well, then use as a placemat for the table. When packing, use them as a separator between clean and unclean clothes in your suitcase. Many uses for this travel item.

Wooden spoon (traditional)

Yes, we are back to the wooden spoon — this time, a regular-style wooden spoon in the slender version. Having a set in different styles and from a sustainable material like bamboo can be handy for overall cooking. 

It is great for mixing necessities in travel life, like stirring soup, beverages, or a pot of your favorite ingredients. I would not travel without a wooden spoon as it is the handiest kitchen tool in any size or style.

Now, these sets of kitchen gadgets are pretty multifunctional. 

Great for the kitchen but can also be helpful in other parts of travel life, like self-care. You know how you like cooking and what would make your experience different if you just had that one special kitchen gadget, so pack it and take it with you. 

Lastly, some of your locations have some or all of these items, but the condition may not be the best, so having your own helps to eliminate your cooking frustration.

Shopping for travel kitchen gadgets or utensils can be done at various online retailers, your local retailer that carries household items, or even your local dollar store. 

So, have a couple of helpful tools so you can enjoy your cooking experience while traveling short-term. 

Happy cooking!

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