A Kitchen Full of Familiar Favorites
Grandma's kitchen always seemed to have a little bit of everything, whether she was preparing a full Sunday dinner or simply making coffee in the afternoon. Some items were practical, some were sentimental, and others had been sitting in the same cupboard for so long that nobody remembered when they were purchased. You could probably open a random drawer and find something useful, unusual, or completely mysterious. These are the kitchen staples that many people remember seeing at Grandma's house.
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1. A Cookie Jar
Most Grandmas had a cookie jar in their kitchen. Whether it was the classic ceramic kind or looked like your favorite cartoon character, I'm sure most people had a cookie jar that looked older than the people living in their homes. You probably knew exactly where to look when you wanted a snack.
2. A Recipe Box
My grandma had tons of recipes in her box. Before we started using our phones to save recipes, my grandmothers all had recipe boxes. Some recipes were nicely written, while others were on random pieces of paper and copied from magazines, and opening the box could reveal years of family meals in one small container.
3. A Set of Measuring Cups
You know your Grandma must have had measuring cups. I don't think I know any grandmas who didn't have a set of measuring cups. There were probably plastic ones, metal ones, and all different types that she collected through the years, even though she didn't really need to measure anything since she already knew how much to put in a recipe.
4. A Wooden Spoon
Your Grandma most likely had a wooden spoon. They can stir any soup, sauce, or mashed potatoes. It was simple, inexpensive, and somehow became a permanent resident of the kitchen, and you might even remember seeing the same spoon sitting beside the stove whenever cooking was underway.
5. A Coffee Percolator
Coffee was always made in most of my grandmothers' kitchens. If they had coffee on their stovetop, it was probably brewing already in the morning. The kitchen often smelled like coffee before anyone had finished saying good morning, and if someone stopped by unexpectedly, Grandma was probably ready to make another cup.
6. A Big Mixing Bowl
Grandmas have the biggest bowls in their kitchen. When they make anything that you need a big bowl for, they'll take that one out. There is never enough room in that bowl, but Grandmas can always feed you and any extra guests that show up.
7. A Set of Dish Towels
You name it, your Grandma will have it in her kitchen. There were probably a bunch of dish towels hanging around her kitchen. Some may have been used to dry off dishes, while others had holidays on them or words, and Grandma will always have more dish towels.
8. A Collection of Casserole Dishes
Every Grandma has casserole dishes. When they're making macaroni and cheese, potatoes, or any of their other family recipes, they'll use one. Most grandmas had multiple casserole dishes just in case their family showed up for dinner, and they were especially likely to appear whenever there was a holiday meal or family gathering.
9. A Spice Cabinet Full of Basics
There are many seasonings that every Grandma must have in their cabinet. Black pepper, cinnamon, paprika, and many others that you would normally use. There's always one that you can't find where it goes, but it's usually right in front of you.
10. A Butter Dish
A butter dish was a common sight on the kitchen table or near the stove. It kept a stick of butter handy for spreading on toast, adding to vegetables, or using in whatever was being cooked. Many families had a particular dish that stayed in use for years, and it was one of those ordinary objects that became part of the kitchen without anyone thinking twice about it.
11. A Rolling Pin
If your Grandma cooked and made many desserts, there is probably a rolling pin in her kitchen. If not, then she definitely should have had one laying around. Rolling pins are used for pie dough, cookies, and homemade baked goods, and finding one in the kitchen usually meant something good was about to come out of the oven.
12. A Tupperware Collection
No Grandma's kitchen would be complete without Tupperware. She will have containers to store her food and maybe even have some leftover cookies in there. Your Grandma's kitchen will always be full of Tupperware and containers, and nobody left her house surprised if they were sent home with leftovers in one.
13. A Cast-Iron Skillet
There's probably a cast-iron skillet in your Grandma's kitchen that's been used for years. There are many ways to use a cast-iron skillet when your Grandma's making you dinner. From eggs to dinner and even cornbread, you can make it in your cast-iron skillet, and they weren't necessarily pretty, but they were useful.
14. A Flour Canister
Another thing I'm sure your Grandma had is a big canister of flour. She may not even need it all the time, but there's bound to be flour somewhere in her kitchen. Flour is a must when you're making biscuits, cakes, cookies, and more.
15. A Potholder Collection
Your Grandma most likely had many different potholders. Some were quilted, some were crocheted, and others were probably picked up at a store because they happened to be on sale. They protected hands from hot pans while adding a little personality to the kitchen, and during holiday cooking, every available potholder seemed to be needed.
16. A Pie Plate
Every Grandma needs a pie plate. Apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, whatever kind of pie they may have, you'll always see it in Grandma's kitchen. There are several types of pie plates, and they all have a purpose.
17. A Can Opener
A basic manual can opener was an essential tool in kitchens where canned vegetables, soups, fruit, and other pantry staples were common. It wasn't fancy, and it didn't need to be. Grandma could probably open a can quickly without giving the process much thought, and the little gadget stayed in the drawer because sooner or later, something needed to be opened.
18. A Bread Box
Maybe there's not always bread in Grandma's bread box, but there is almost certainly a bread box. Some were made from metal, while others were wooden or decorated to match the kitchen. It was particularly useful when Grandma regularly bought bread for sandwiches, toast, and meals, and opening it could also reveal buns, rolls, or something homemade that had been saved for later.
19. A Refrigerator Covered in Magnets
You'll probably notice your Grandma has many magnets on her refrigerator. It's filled with magnets from every trip she took or from a local shop she stopped at. Maybe there were pictures or things that were important to her that she stuck on her refrigerator.
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20. A Secret Stash of Treats
Everywhere you'll look in Grandma's kitchen, she will have candy hidden away. There's bound to be a secret spot that only she knows about. It could be a cupboard or container somewhere, so make sure you know where the candy is before you see Grandma.
