The Joy of Cooking with a Two-Burner Stove
I’m pretty much an experimenter in many areas of cooking. I turn to cookbooks for most of my ideas and end up ignoring half of the ingredient lists. My broccoli soup becomes potato, carrot, broccoli soup. The chocolate chip cookies have peanut butter and oats. And the roasted applesauce always changes. Most of the time, my theory of mass alteration works; sometimes my brownies collapse.
It’s hard for me to follow every rule and do exactly like everyone else. A lot of self-expression vanishes when I follow the standard mold, and I guess I find that our kitchen is really no different. Everyone have some very basic ideas about what a kitchen needs like a big sink and an oven. We also believe that every kitchen has to have a four-burner stove. Yet when Martin and I paused to reflect on exactly how we cook, one thing was very obvious: we rarely used more than one, maybe two burners at a time.
So we decided to pick a two-burner stove. In addition to saving us a few bucks, you can see that it’s certainly the most practical solution for our 36 square foot kitchen:
So we’re dying to know: how many burners do you use?
This week, consider stepping back a moment as your family prepares meals just for curiosity’s sake. Not a Thanksgiving day, just an every day sort of day. Then tell us! Think we could we swap spaces?
(Image by Katie for Making This Home)
I’m pretty sure I could make do with 2 burners! the more one-pot-thiry-minute meals the better, right? p.s. i can never follow recipe directions either! it’s not worth doing if i can’t put my own spin on it!
We only use one burner right now, because we don’t have a stove and are relying on a single electric plug-in burner for our cooking needs. We’ve been doing this for a year! Sometimes it would be nice to have a second burner… but you’re right – I’ve rarely thought, “boy, I could use 4 burners for tonight’s meal…”
Having said that, I still can’t wait for a stove. :)
I think you’ve done a great job with the space that you have!
Truth be told, I rarely use more than one burner at once. Except if I am hosting a meal during the holidays or some other day. Actually many days we use the microwave and not the stove. So for most situations two burners would be enough. Clever that you decided to save space by getting only a 2 burner stovetop.
On an average meal, I probably use 2 burners. Occasionally I need 3, but only occasionally. I bet I could get away with just 2 if I needed to.
Your kitchen really looks great! Look at all that countertop space!
I have 4 burners, but have not used all 4 at once. I usually just use 1 or 2. In the event of having people over for a big meal, I might use 3…then you would be in trouble! :)
I’m loving the countertops! Martin fixed the cabinets nicely.
I use just one or two burners, too :o)
Interestingly it seems most of us do use only 1 or 2 burners…myself included…probably because of the microwave…it takes a load off the cooktop for me… ;-) Bo
I can’t think of a time, ever, when I’ve used more than 2 burners. Although we do use our whole oven regularly, and since we have your standard North American stove / oven combo unit, we go with 4. You’re right, though, this is one of those things I just always assumed I needed, that I actually do not.
You’re right. Most every time I cook I only use two burners. I can’t think of the last time I used three, other than a holiday meal. Looks like a perfect solution for you space!
My creativity thrives on structure, I have to have a recipe around but I’m definitely an improvisor :).
I’m pretty sure I could make due with 2 burners as well. It seems like that’s all I ever use anyway! I think you made a great choice. :0)
I cook all day long…everyday….on only 2 burners….I have a JennAir range with a grill on one side and two burners on the other….breakfast is a pain. I have to cook it in shifts…
You’re so right! We only ever use 2 burners (unless it’s a holiday meal or something).
Your stovetop makes so much sense!
In a kitchen the size of yours, this really does make more sense. And you’re right–I rarely use more than two burners at the same time. Funny I never really thought about that before.
Thanks for joining my party! I always enjoy your posts, Katie. Have a great weekend! :-)
First – I love your countertop — gorgeous!!! And the striated wood cabinets are to die for.
I personally could make do with two burners, as my most frequent meal in my single days was an egg with a side of stove top stuffing! hahaha – makes even me cringe now!! but my husband is a fabulous chef and used three burners just last night making us my current favorite meal – enchiladas and rice. Sooo good to be eating home cooking again – one thing I really missed in Wales!
For 10 years I lived in a house with 2 burners and a grill option where the other burners should be. We are a family of 5 and at least 3 times a week I longed for more burners! Never once did I use the grill because it was too hard to clean. Then I moved to Belgium and have a lovely stove top with 5 burners!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!! I use more than 2 all the time just because I can.
By the way, you did an excellant job on your kitchen. If you ever move, the next owner will love the “American kitchen”.
LOL right now I use ZERO burners because I broke my stove. Ugh. It’s a glass top electric (yuck) and I accidentally (I swear) dropped a corelle bowl on it. When they say corelle is tough stuff, they mean it. The bowl didn’t even chip but the stove top cracked in two.
So …. one burner remained semi usable provided we were careful not to let any liquid spill. I managed through Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners even! DH wanted to buy me the beautiful stainless gas stove I want but I said NO. We don’t know for sure we’re staying here and if we spend all that money on a stove plus the money to have the gas lines run and then put it on the market, we’ll have to change out all the other appliances too. Let’s wait I said.
Well, we’re still waiting and just last week the oven went out. So now I have one burner (sort of) to cook on and one of those open top rotating pizza ovens that I bake on. It’s big time gourmet around our house!
We should know within a month if we’re selling or staying and then we’ll replace accordingly – gently used white smooth top if we’re selling or nice gas stainless if we’re staying.
I had an ‘apartment’ stove with three burners for years and it handled everything. Even now, with a ‘standard’ American stove, one of the burners is more or less just a place to store the teakettle!
I love how you chose what you did and didn’t use, but I use 4 burners a meal on a regular basis. There have been times where I have to start one pot early so I could get it done to use that burner on another part. I’m the type of person that would use a 6 burner stove, and still be shuffling to get more on. (I cook big meals with lots of colors for lots of people who eat lots.) On the other hand, I don’t use a dishwasher.
I think I found your website on Pinterest. But have become intrigued with your tales. I have a 3 bedroom 11/2 bath, kitchen/dining room and living room. When we moved into this house, which my husband had as a rental unit, only two burners worked on the stove. For twelve years now if I needed a third burner, I would pull out the electric skillet. Many times I just cooked it in the electric and didn’ t use a burner at all. And then of course I love dragging out a crockpot and let it cook for me. Love your site. Sorry I don’t have a website. Just use pinterest all the time. It was your tire house that got me started.
I lived in Germany many years ago while my husband then was stationed at Hahn Air Force Base. I enjoyed my entire three years there. When my Dad and I decided to vist Germany many years later, (His Father was born in Trier), the first place we went to was to visit my landlady. When I identified myself she remarked that I was much fatter than years before. We had a great visit. My Dad was thrilled to talk to a girl on the phone who had his last name and she asked if she could practice her English on him. We called the only Werno in the phonebook just for kicks hoping to stir something up. But, no luck there. I did all the driving and took him from mid Germany to the south and then up into Austria. We also covered part of France, Luxembourg and Holland. We were there for two weeks and I still remember all the good times Dad and I had. He passed away a few years later and was thrilled at having fulfilled a dream of his lifetime. Thanks for reminding me of all the “little” things I lived with while living in a real German apt. Upstairs two bedrooms Converted to a kitchen and bath in one of the rooms. My stove there was a real coal cook stove. Even heated the water in a little side tank for doing dishes. I brought my own refreigerator (which died) and so had to buy a German model, like yours. I depended on electric skillet a lot. Even made pineapple upside down cake in it. Thanks again for all the memories.
I realize this part of your web was written in 2009 and its 2012 now. But felt like saying Hello anyhow.
Shelby nee Werno Dunning
What a cool story, Shelby! I’m so glad you found me and paused to share this.
We have a 5-burner stove….with 1 specifically for the Italian coffee pots. When I cook, I use 1 all of the time, 2 most of the time, and at times, 3. The middle is perfect for when hubby makes stir-fry and then there’s the infamous coffee pot burner (perfect for a tiny pan for melting butter :-) )