Running a Rental Business

Airbnb Kitchen Essentials: How to Stock Your Airbnb Kitchen

Many guests want the whole package when they choose to travel or vacation through Airbnb. This includes a kitchen that provides a home-away-from-home experience. Learn more about how to prepare your Airbnb kitchen for guests, what supplies and appliances to offer, and the importance of keeping your kitchen stocked and clean.

By Angela Rush

Last updated: March 05, 2024

How to Prep Your Airbnb Kitchen for Guests

The kitchen is the heart of your home. 

Creating a welcoming yet functional atmosphere in your Airbnb kitchen can be done so long as you pay attention to guests’ needs. Airbnb kitchen requirements revolve around the basic appliances and supplies found in any traditional kitchen. Prep your kitchen to ensure guest satisfaction through a quality experience. 

The following will help you consider what you’ll want to have readily available, keep extra stock of, and stay organized.

Buy in Bulk

To ensure that your kitchen is always ready for guests, buy items in bulk. This will eliminate guest dissatisfaction if something runs out. Also, it will save you time and money from having to travel back and forth from the property.

Consider buying the following Airbnb kitchen essentials items in bulk:

When providing dishware, ensure everything is dishwasher and microwave safe. This is especially important if you provide these appliances in your Airbnb.

Even though some guests may prefer to go out to eat, you still want to have your kitchen fully stocked to accommodate any cooking needs. Buying extras of commonly used kitchen items will help you do so.

Provide an Organized Layout

In addition to buying in bulk, think about how you want to organize your extra items. Having a layout of item placement for guests to follow when they use your kitchen will aid in keeping the kitchen well-kempt. Spice racks, organization bins or baskets, labels, and more are great starters for keeping your Airbnb kitchen organized.

Keeping that extra stock handy and neatly stored or displayed in your kitchen will let guests know that you have put extra thought into their overall experience. This can help raise reviews and potentially lead to them booking with you again.

Create a Kitchen Essential Checklist

Before getting started on stocking your Airbnb kitchen, create a checklist of the essential items. Your checklist should be itemized and easy to follow. This will help you identify what you need, keep you organized, and save you money from purchasing unnecessary items.

rustic airbnb kitchen

What Are the Airbnb Kitchen Essential Checklist Basics?

Wondering what should be included in your kitchen essential checklist? Luckily, an Airbnb kitchen does not have to be completely stocked like a homeowner’s. Basic kitchen items and appliances are all that guests typically need to make their Airbnb kitchen experience positive.

Main Appliances

  • Toaster
  • Refrigerator with adjoining freezer
  • Microwave
  • Coffee maker
  • Tea kettle
  • Dish drying rack
  • Fire extinguisher

Not all Airbnb kitchens need to be equipped with a stove, oven, or dishwasher. Basic amenities like those listed above are perfect for business travelers and other busy vacationers.

However, if you would like to set your listing apart from your competitors, offering these larger appliances may get you more bookings. This is especially true if you tend to get longer bookings with several guests.

Everyday Cooking Supplies

  • Pots and pans
  • Cutlery
  • Ladle
  • Spatulas
  • Silverware
  • Strainer
  • Measuring cups
  • Standard spices like salt and pepper
  • Cutting boards
  • Can opener
  • Bottle opener
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Oven mitts, if applicable
  • Cooking oil
  • Pair of scissors
  • Dish gloves

Providing a ready-to-use kitchen can increase your bookings and positive reviews. When adding kitchen supplies, try to remember your own kitchen basics. What are the go-to supplies that you cook with daily? Those are the items you will want to start with when stocking your kitchen.

Moreover, make sure to fill your kitchen with plenty of supplies. Consider purchasing items for a group of six even if you won’t book a party that large. You’ll want to have enough supplies, utensils, and dishware to accommodate each party member and provide a home-away-from-home experience.

set of kitchen dishware on exposed shelving

Extra Amenities

  • Water glasses
  • Mugs
  • Wine glasses
  • Tupperware set
  • Mixing bowls
  • Oven tray set
  • Baking sheets
  • Aluminum foil
  • Coffee and tea
  • White and brown sugar 
  • Blender and/or juicer

Additional amenities to consider adding to your kitchen essentials checklist are non-perishable goods like chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, or canned soup. This is always a nice addition for guests when they first walk in. When traveling, guests may not initially want to go grocery shopping. While you do not need to have stocked the kitchen with multiple meals, you can provide a small amount of ready-to-eat food.

Furthermore, provide guests with a cookbook of sorts that includes favorite local dishes and native ingredients. Highlight farmer markets that sell homegrown fruits and vegetables. Guests appreciate the forethought and consideration of promoting local businesses.

Benefits of a Stocked Airbnb Kitchen

Guest experience can make or break your Airbnb business. Vacation rental hosts rely on reviews to boost their booking offers. Providing a fully-stocked Airbnb kitchen will only improve your overall rating.

Guests want to feel as though they are traveling with an at-home experience. If they did not want this, they may have just booked a stay at the nearest hotel. Giving them a livable atmosphere is always the best way to go when thinking about how to stock your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions about Airbnb Kitchen Essentials

The following are frequently asked questions by other hosts who are concerned about how to stock their Airbnb kitchen.

What should an Airbnb have in the kitchen?

Airbnb kitchen essentials like main appliances, everyday cooking supplies, and additional amenities like tea or coffee are what you should have in your kitchen. When wondering what should go in your kitchen, think of everything you would want or expect. Travelers choose a vacation rental over a hotel for a reason. They want to feel like they are at home while still traveling.

Can you use the kitchen in an Airbnb?

Guests are always encouraged to use the kitchen provided in their Airbnb. It is up to the host what type of appliances and amenities they provide in the kitchen for guests to use. Even if the host provides only a few amenities like dishes and silverware, guests are still able to use them as they see fit.

family gathered together smiling in the kitchen

What is needed for an Airbnb kitchen?

When considering what to stock in your Airbnb kitchen, think about what you have in your own kitchen at home. What could you not survive without? Typically, the answer revolves around kitchen basics like dishes, silverware, pots and pans, and towels.

What does “fully stocked kitchen” mean on Airbnb?

When you see that other hosts have a “fully stocked kitchen” on their listings, they mean that they are providing guests with a complete cooking experience. This can include all essential supplies, appliances, and amenities. Often, they even offer extra stock and additional snacks.

What should you not put in an Airbnb kitchen?

More often than not, the rule of thumb is to avoid perishable items. These include fresh fruit and produce, milk, or anything else that could spoil. Even cereal, grains, or anything with an expiration date close to purchasing should not be included in an Airbnb kitchen as these items go bad quickly.

In addition, these items will wind up costing you a lot of money because they may have to be thrown away and replaced consistently. When stocking your Airbnb kitchen with food items, stick to non-perishable products.

Hire a Cleaner to Keep Your Kitchen Spotless

Keeping your kitchen stocked is only one-half of guests’ experiences within this space of your short-term rental. The other half has to do with the cleanliness of your kitchen.

With Turno, you can connect with cleaners by accepting cleaning bids in your area. Streamline your cleanings by hiring a cleaner to ensure that your Airbnb kitchen is always well stocked and cleaned between guests. Manage your kitchen essentials checklist by having your cleaners take care of inventory management. Instantly be notified when items are running low and need to be replenished. Add amenities such as salt and pepper, sugar, coffee, or tea to your inventory list.

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Angela Rush Avatar
Angela Rush , Angela Rush is a Content Marketing Associate at Turno. Her expert knowledge in content research and writing has allowed her to create articles geared toward the vacation rental industry. Her skill set has helped property managers and owners and Airbnb cleaning professionals scale their businesses.