Fridge/food supplies
The crisper (bottom compartment) is our dedicated Soylent storage, and you are welcome to it.
Anything edible in the fridge, freezer top shelf, counters or cabinets is fair game for you to use. Just make sure to
a) check things haven’t gone bad before you consume it!
b) return things from whence they came once you are done with it
Refills for any spices on the fridge (and more niche/exotic spices) can be found in the box at the top cabinet above the rice cooker.
Dishwasher
Our sink is kinda dinky and small, so we use the dishwasher a lot. Almost any dish/utensil in the kitchen except for:
the wok and any (heavy) cast iron skillets chef’s cleaver, and the cutting board ’s bowls can go in here too once you have scraped most of the leftover food into the trash. Dishwasher powder will either be in the cabinet with the /garbage bin, or cabinet next to the dishwasher. Load powder, spin the hatch closed, lock the door, and make sure to slowly turn the dishwasher dial to “Hot start” to ensure clean dishes. Oven
If you wish to use it, make sure to empty it of the pots and pans we store there before preheating.
It’s a very un-fancy oven with no timers or precook modes, but it works well. Make sure to turn it off when you’re done!
Other appliances
Hot water dispenser
. The Zojirushi can provide instant tea-temperature water on demand. It is powered via a smart plug, which we will leave off. If you are not a constant tea-drinker, please turn it on only when needed. Each time, before you turn it on, check the water level, and make sure it’s at least half. The smart plug will be set to automatically turn off at midnight every night. If you turn it back on after that, turn it off before you sleep! Manually turn it on and it should have hot water ready to go for the rest of the day If it has been off for a couple hours or more, it may take a few minutes to come to a boil We have a variety of teas in the cabinet directly above the rice cooker.
Espresso machine
The espresso machine has both 1 and 2 cup filter baskets for making single and double espresso shots.
Fill whichever filter basket you want with coffee (from the mason jar next to the machine) and tamp it down with the tamper spoon. Put the filter basket into the portafilter - the bump on the filter basket should be inserted in the part of the portafilter with the arrow and then turned to either side to lock it in. Carefully insert the portafilter into the machine where the brew head shows the unlock position and then turn it toward the locked position ( with pictures if helpful). Make sure there’s water in the water tank, and then press the switch on the side of the machine towards the bottom to turn it on. Place an espresso cup underneath the spout and press either the single or double shot button. Milk frother/steamer
. It’s great for a variety of single-serving beverages, from hot chocolate/mocha/lattes to even cold coffee. At the simplest level it’s a kettle + stirrer. The magnetic stirring rings are on the refrigerator door (smooth ring for flat stir, serrated ring for foam/froth) Just place the black magnetic ring around the center shaft before pouring your ingredients in (eg: milk + hot chocolate powder), make sure the plug is on (the switch is on the bottom of the plug), and press go. After pouring your drink out, make sure to hand-rinse the magnetic ring and replace it where you found it. The main metal pot and plastic lid can be placed in the dishwasher. We have a variety of hot chocolate in the cabinet directly above the rice cooker.
Rice cooker
The Zojirushi rice cooker is a daily driver in our house, has a timer function and different modes. Measure a flat cup, wash rice in the pot, fill water to mark, choose quick cook for rice in 20 minutes, other modes if you feel like it, go.
You can find a metal tin of white rice and a plastic container of brown rice on the counter near the rice cooker, which you may use. Be sure to use a silicone spatula and no metal/wood implements which might scratch the non-stick, and wash it with the gentle sponge only (no dishwasher). Instant Pot
If you like your Instant Pot recipes, feel free to use it. You probably don’t want to this if you are not following instant pot recipes or experienced with it.
Kitchen-Aid hand blender
Located in the drawer between dishwasher and stove. Some assembly required. Again, if you are familiar with it, feel free, but be careful those blades are sharp!