Like just about everything in the world right now, traveling seems more expensive than ever. From plane tickets to hotels to the obligatory souvenirs, the costs can quickly add up. But one of the most expensive parts of your vacation is the food.
Especially if you’re traveling with a group, going to restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will make a serious dent in your budget. And spots in popular tourists destinations have significantly inflated prices.
Thankfully, Airbnbs with kitchens can help offset some of these costs. By cooking at least a few meals at your Airbnb you can save hundreds of dollars on your trip—and you can get a taste of home away from home.
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As amazing as this amenity can be, it often comes with some drawbacks. Airbnb kitchens are rarely as well stocked as your own. Also, many hosts opt for more inexpensive utensils and tools to avoid potential damage to their own supplies.
If you’ve ever struggled to put together a meal using what was available in your Airbnb, you know exactly what we’re talking about. So to make your cooking experience—and your vacation—more enjoyable, we’ve rounded up the five things you should bring with you to an Airbnb.
Knives
Without fail, every Airbnb I’ve ever visited has a collection of dull knives. I spend what feels like hours sawing through steak with a tool about as sharp as a butter knife.
Making sure your knife is sharp doesn’t just make cooking easier, it’s also safer to use. Dull knives require much more intensive cutting, which can run the risk of accidentally cutting yourself.
Rather than subject yourself to the tedious process of using a dull blade, you should make room for your own chef’s knife in your suitcase. TSA allows them to be stored in checked bags, and they don’t take up too much space.
But obviously, they need to be carefully packed to avoid any unpacking injuries. You can order a knife cover on Amazon for less than $5—a small price to pay for a pleasant cooking experience.
Pepper Grinder
If you stay in an Airbnb, there’s a high likelihood that there isn’t any black pepper in the pantry. And if there is, it’s most likely pre-ground and several years old.
Like most spices, black peppercorns are full of fragrant oils that start to dissipate as soon as they’re ground. So chefs everywhere (including the ones at Delish) recommend that you crack your pepper fresh.
Unless you want your dinner to taste musty, you should bring your own pepper mill with you. Don't have one? Check out our favorite pepper grinders.
Kosher Salt
The salt you can find in most Airbnb kitchens is the inexpensive container of table salt with the iconic umbrella girl on the label.
While this type of salt technically will work in a pinch (pun intended), its dense texture and small granules can be an issue when you’re cooking.
First, it takes longer to dissolve than other salts, which means you’re more likely to accidentally over-season your food. It also doesn’t stick as well to proteins like steak and fish.
Instead of buying an entire box of kosher salt when you’re grocery shopping, bring a small container of your favorite salt from home! You may or may not get flagged in the airport security line, but it’ll be worth it.
Coffee
Everybody has their own specific coffee preferences. Whether you’re loyal to your favorite K-Cup flavor or insist on drinking artisanal single origin, it’s unlikely that your Airbnb host will have what you like in their kitchen.
So to skip the headache (and the caffeine withdrawals), bring your own coffee from home. You can pre-grind it ahead of time so it’s ready to use.
Don’t want to use the old (and probably dirty) Mr. Coffee brewer at the Airbnb either? We don't blame you. Instead, try bringing a collapsible coffee dripper or a compact Aeropress to make a high quality cup of joe.
Spices
This requires some pre-vacation menu planning. If you want to make your family’s favorite taco recipe or a cozy and comforting curry, you’ll need a variety of different spices and seasonings.
The least probable place to find them? Your Airbnb kitchen. But what’s the point of grabbing a jar of paprika from the supermarket and only using a teaspoon of it? It’s a major waste of spices and money.
Instead, measure out your favorite seasonings from home and bring them in your suitcase. But even if you're not planning to cook a specific meal, it's smart to pack a few of your most used seasonings.
What do you bring with you on vacation? Let us know in the comments.
Gabby Romero is Delish’s editorial assistant, where she writes stories about the latest TikTok trends, develops recipes, and answers any and all of your cooking-related questions. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
