Managing Humidity in Small Kitchens

Kitchens produce significant moisture through cooking, dishwashing, and food preparation. In small apartment kitchens, this moisture concentrates quickly and can spread to the rest of your living space. Managing kitchen humidity keeps your home more comfortable and prevents moisture problems.

Where Kitchen Moisture Comes From

Understanding moisture sources helps you address them effectively:

• Boiling and steaming: Cooking pasta, rice, vegetables, or anything involving boiling water releases large amounts of steam.
• Simmering soups and stews: Extended cooking of liquids adds moisture over a longer period.
• Frying and sautéing: While less than boiling, heated foods release some moisture.
• Dishwashing: Running hot water produces steam, and wet dishes dry by evaporating into the air.
• Dishwashers: Opening a dishwasher after a cycle releases a burst of steam.
• Refrigerator coils: Condensation from cooling processes can add minor moisture.

Using the Range Hood

A range hood or exhaust fan above your stove is your primary defense against cooking moisture. When it vents outside, it removes steam and humidity at the source.

Best Practices

• Turn it on before you start cooking: Establish airflow before steam begins rising.
• Use the appropriate speed: For boiling water or steaming, use a higher setting. For light sautéing, a lower setting may suffice.
• Keep it running after cooking: Leave the fan on for 5-10 minutes after you finish to clear residual humidity.
• Position pots toward the back: Cooking closer to the exhaust vent means more steam gets captured.

When There's No Exhaust

Some apartment kitchens lack range hoods, or have hoods that only recirculate air (with a filter) rather than venting outside. Recirculating hoods help with odors and grease but don't remove moisture.

If you don't have external venting:

• Open a window while cooking
• Place a fan near the stove to direct steam toward the window
• Be more diligent about covering pots and reducing steam

Cooking Habits That Reduce Moisture

Use Lids

Covering pots keeps steam inside rather than releasing it into your kitchen. This also cooks food faster by retaining heat. Get in the habit of keeping lids on whenever practical.

Match Pot Size to Burner

Using appropriately sized cookware means less excess heat around the pot edges. Less wasted heat means less evaporation from splashes and spills on the stovetop.

Reduce Boiling

Once water reaches a boil, you can often reduce heat to a simmer. A vigorous boil releases more steam than a gentle simmer that still cooks your food effectively.

Consider Cooking Methods

Some cooking methods produce less moisture than others:

• Baking and roasting (oven) produce less kitchen humidity than boiling on the stovetop
• Pressure cookers seal in steam
• Microwave cooking produces minimal steam that escapes into the room

Dishwashing and Drying

Hand Washing

If you wash dishes by hand, use the hottest water you need but don't let hot water run unnecessarily. A dishpan or filled sink uses less total hot water than continuous running water.

Dry dishes with a towel or let them air dry in a rack. A full dish rack continues to add humidity as water evaporates. In humid conditions, consider towel-drying dishes immediately.

Dishwashers

Modern dishwashers are efficient, but opening the door right after a cycle releases concentrated steam. Options include:

• Let dishes cool inside before opening
• Open just a crack to let steam escape gradually
• Open the dishwasher near an open window or while the range hood runs
• Run the dishwasher at night when you can leave the door closed until morning

Ventilation Strategies

Open Windows

If your kitchen has a window, open it while cooking, especially for steam-heavy cooking. Even in cooler weather, a partially open window vents moisture outside.

Cross-Ventilation

In open floor plans, opening windows on opposite sides of your apartment creates airflow through the kitchen. This helps carry cooking moisture outside rather than letting it settle in your living space.

Door Management

Closing the kitchen door (if you have one) while cooking can prevent moisture from spreading to bedrooms. Then open it and ventilate after cooking is done.

Wiping Surfaces

After cooking, wipe down wet or damp surfaces—countertops, stovetop, sink area. Water left sitting will evaporate and add to humidity. A quick wipe removes it before evaporation occurs.

Under-Sink Moisture

The cabinet under the kitchen sink can be a humidity hotspot due to:

• Proximity to plumbing
• Occasional drips or leaks
• Condensation on pipes
• Damp sponges or cleaning supplies stored there

Check under the sink periodically for moisture. Keep the area organized so air can circulate. Consider a small moisture absorber in this space. Fix any drips promptly.

Kitchen-Living Room Combinations

Open-plan apartments where the kitchen shares space with the living area present unique challenges. Cooking moisture doesn't stay "in the kitchen" because there are no walls to contain it.

In these layouts:

• Good exhaust ventilation becomes even more important
• Opening windows in the living area helps ventilate cooking moisture
• Consider the timing of your cooking relative to activities—cook earlier if you'll be entertaining
• Use cooking methods that minimize steam when possible

Signs Your Kitchen Has Humidity Issues

Watch for these indicators:

• Windows fog up during cooking
• Cabinets or walls feel damp
• Musty odor in cabinets
• Packaged food goes stale quickly
• Metal items rust faster than expected

If you notice these despite using your exhaust fan and following good practices, there may be ventilation issues worth discussing with your landlord.