6 Farm Kitchen Mainstays That Will Be Right at Home in Your Kitchen

updated Feb 12, 2021
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Farms are having a moment. Well… sort of.

While the actual number of farms in the United States has been declining since 1935, according to the USDA, and climate change and other natural disasters are affecting how farmers work on every level, interest in the farm aesthetic is going strong. Taylor Swift’s album Folklore pays homage to cottagecore and on TikTok farmcore videos are bubbling up, all of which can feel like homey escapes during COVID-19 lockdown measures.

If you’ve owned your own farm for years, have recently decided to start one, or just want your kitchen to look like it, there are a few items that can help you achieve the look, feel, and functionality you’re after.

1. A cast iron skillet

Durability, efficiency, and consistency are all important for any cooking tools in a good farm kitchen, and cast iron skillets have all three of those attributes. Cleaning and seasoning the skillet is easier than you think, and they’re built to last for literal decades. Bonus: It works just as well on a camping trip as it does inside your cozy apartment, or anywhere else in between.

2. A composter

Whether you’re fully farm-living or simply looking to be more mindful about your greens, you’re probably eating plenty of produce — which means you have peels and vegetable butts to toss into a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="composter.%20There%20are%20small%20composters%20you%20can%20keep%20on%20your%20kitchen%20counter,%20but%20if%20you%20have%20the%20space,%20try%20out%20<a%20href=" https: data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.thekitchn.com/tips-for-setting-up-a-simple-backyard-compost-system-202160" target="_blank">a larger composter you can put under the sink or even a full-sized one for the yard. 

3. Space to store extra food

Some farmers source their own cuts of meat during in-season hunting, while city slickers might want to load up on a really good deal from a meat delivery site. Whatever category you fall into, a second freezer in the garage or, if you have room, even in the kitchen, can be a useful tool for anyone. Those cuts can take up a lot of space in a freezer, so extra space comes in handy.

Credit: Kristin Prough

4. Greenery you can eat

Everything in a farm or farm-style kitchen doesn’t have to have a use, but it sure is nice when they do. You can grow herbs and edible greenery all around your kitchen, no matter the size, and use them in your cooking. Just like that, you’ve farmed your own delicious produce… sort of.

5. A basket for eggs

Consider getting a nice, deep basket for the counter to hold your eggs, and keep it either in the refrigerator or on the counter. (If you have access to farm-fresh eggs that have been dry cleaned, you can store them in the open. Otherwise, it’s imperative to store them in the fridge.) Not only will the basket make it easy to grab the eggs you need for whatever you’re cooking, but it will protect the delicate shells from any movement and potential breakage.

6. Produce baskets

There’s no bigger trend right now than acrylic storage baskets and bins for everything in your fridge. No matter if you’re sourcing your produce from the grocery store, a farmer’s market or CSA, or even your own backyard, you’re going to want to keep everything organized and ready to use. It’s a practical way to make the most of your fruits and veggies, and the more organized you are, the less you’ll end up with food waste.