Many homeowners, in today’s market, opt for the beauty and germ resistance of a stainless steel kitchen. Its smooth lines and easy cleanup make it difficult to resist, and its suitability for long-term use makes it a great investment. But suppose you didn’t make that choice, or simply need more storage and counter space than you presently have in your kitchen, without doing a complete redesign? Then now would be a good time to consider a stainless steel kitchen cart, or a kitchen cart with a stainless steel top. Either will help maintain the overall look and cleanliness of your existing kitchen.
Where To Start
The first, and most important thing is to decide what you actually want your new purchase to solve. Is your biggest problem counter space? Storage for serving dishes or cookbooks? An extra paper towel or cloth towel rack? An open rack for things like cookie sheets? Or extra drawers for kitchen tools, wax paper rolls and all those Christmas cookie cutters you bought? Figuring size, we’ll deal with in a few minutes, but first of all, decide what is the most important problem to solve.
Will it live in the kitchen, or be stored elsewhere?
If you’re not graced with a lot of kitchen space, then your best solution might be a kitchen cart that will only be in the kitchen when you’re actively using it. It would be stored somewhere else, the rest of the time. If, for example, you’re going to keep it in the dining room when not in use, then its “look” must match whatever décor you’re using there. That isn’t as difficult as it sounds, since kitchen carts come in an amazing variety of selections and colors. Another is that a kitchen cart, with décor that matches another gathering room, is perfectly suited to be rolled out with buffet or party supplies, even onto a patio or poolside.
Understanding heights
When choosing a stainless steel kitchen cart or rolling island, the height of the work surface can be a choice that’s aided by the job you primarily want to use it for. Standard countertops are 36 inches in height, and a lot of folks simply adjust to that. Think of it when you’re rolling dough or chopping veggies. Do you wish it were just a little lower, or just a little higher? Then pick a top height that matches your wishes. Remember, this kitchen has to work best for YOU – not “the standard”. Some want a top slightly lower, perhaps to put more pressure on dough, while those chopping vegetables may want it higher, to make the position of the knife more natural.
Carts And Weight
Your impulse may be to get the biggest cart that can physically fit in your kitchen, and move your favorite cast-iron cooking set, the double boiler you hardly ever use, your favorite fifty cooking tools, and a ten-pound bag of potatoes onto it. Then – you try to move it out of your way for a moment, to open a cabinet door, or even to roll it out into the dining room to put it away- and it doesn’t want to roll very well. Nothing loses weight when you move it onto a cart. Choose carefully.
Try it for size
This will sound silly, but it works. Look at the size of your cart (listed in the shopping guide), and cut out a piece of cardboard that’s the same size. Then just move it around in your kitchen. Take the same path as you would with the cart, and make sure it fits everywhere. It’s way easier to discover the cardboard doesn’t go through a place you thought it should, than to discover the same fact about the cart you just spent two hours putting together.
Cautions
Kitchen carts with a stainless steel top are not as thick as most countertops and not on as strong a backing. You can dent it, which usually takes professional help to get rid of.
You don’t want to use really sharp knives on stainless; you wind up with scratched stainless and dull knives. Use a cutting board, and your cart’s stainless will serve you a long time.
Stainless steel takes fingerprints and water spots; they don’t hurt it, but it doesn’t look as nice. Many commercial cleaners are available, or you can wash it down with a half-and-half mixture of white vinegar and water. .
Now that you’ve done all the “practical” stuff, you can get to the fun part – picking the colors, features, shelf type, and all the rest of the decorating stuff!
