A quick guide on kitchen etiquette in a group setting.
By Willem Gokemeijer
Not all kitchens are created or inhabited equally. If more than one of you is sharing a massive kitchen, congratulations. You can probably each cook three meals a day and never see each other. For the rest of us sharing a kitchen that is probably apartment-size can be a daily battle. The crisper drawers become the trenches and every dirty dish raises the DEFCON level. So here are the general rules to follow when sharing a kitchen.
Clean up after yourself. It may seem obvious, but you would be surprised. Remember, putting a pan in the sink isn’t cleaning, and no, you can’t put everything in the dishwasher. It’s fine if you are short on time and leave a dirty dish out for a while, but don’t make a habit of it.
Split the fridge. You may picture you and your roommates as a happy family that can share all your food, but you would be wrong. Make equal segments and stick to your section. Trust me, it’s better in the long run.
If you want to share some stuff it’s fine. Just make sure to split the cost ahead of time so everyone agrees. There are a lot of items you may all use (butter, bread, spices, etc.), and buying in bulk can be cheaper.
Split the spaces: Only use the space that you need. The oven, the counter, and the stovetop are all separate locations. They can be used by several people at once with some careful choreography.
Establish rules. Everyone has different expectations. So sit down and talk it out. No one wants to deep-clean the kitchen, so establish a time and who is going to do it ahead of time. If people have early mornings, maybe establish a pot-clanging curfew. Discuss what everyone wants and codify it.
Confront rule-breakers: If someone isn’t following the rules you should confront them. Whether it’s a simple text or a group-led intervention, it must be done. I know it may be difficult but saying nothing will signal that it’s OK and only lead to more pain and suffering.