Buying guide for Best kitchen carts
If you find yourself constantly in need of extra kitchen space for storage or food preparation, it might be time to consider getting a kitchen cart. A wheeled kitchen cart is particularly useful in a smaller kitchen that has little storage space because it can be easily moved around your kitchen where you need it.
With a variety of storage options like cabinets and drawers and extras like a butcher block cutting board and towel bars, one of these carts can help your meal preparation run more smoothly and efficiently.
Key considerations
Size
Kitchen carts come in several sizes. You want to give some thought to your available space and how you plan to use the cart before deciding on the proper size. This is particularly important in kitchens where space is limited. Be sure to carefully measure your kitchen so you’ll know exactly how large your cart can be.
If you have the space for it, a larger cart can provide you with more room for storage and food preparation. Most kitchen carts measure between 33 and 36 inches tall. Use your height to determine a comfortable working height for your cart.
Design
In addition to size, the overall appearance of kitchen carts varies considerably, from traditional to modern. The material the cart is made of plays a big part in its appearance. Wood is a warmer, more rustic choice, and some carts incorporate such touches as carved molding, a choice of colors, or a distressed finish. At the other end of the spectrum, stainless steel offers a sleeker, more modern aesthetic. See the FAQ section for more on kitchen cart design and how it fits in with your existing kitchen décor.
Expert TIp
Many carts or small kitchen islands don’t come with wheels. If the legs of your cart are made with hollow pipes, you can likely buy four wheels to use with your cart that will insert into the ends of the legs. Check the height though – adding wheels will add three inches or more to your cart.
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Features
Materials
Wood and stainless steel are the two primary materials in kitchen carts. Wooden carts can be very attractive, and they can be either solid wood or particleboard. While wood is less rugged than metal, it comes in a variety of finishes and color options.
If durability is your prime consideration, a stainless steel or chrome-plated steel kitchen cart will meet your needs. Some kitchen carts also have an attractive granite or marble top surface for food prep or utensil storage.
Storage
Kitchen carts can be used for storage in several ways. Most have shelves, and two or three shelves are standard. Decide how many things you need to store on the cart so you can find one with adequate shelving.
Some carts have open shelves that provide easy access to items but can look a bit cluttered. If you’d like to avoid the clutter, choose a cart with the shelves inside cabinets, as well as drawers for storing utensils, knives, and flatware.
Expert Tip
I use a stainless steel kitchen cart that acts as a small work table in my little galley kitchen. The extra counter space makes using the kitchen so much easier.
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Other components
Work surface: If counter space is limited, the top of a kitchen cart can provide more storage or food prep space. Some carts, often the less expensive steel carts, provide simple storage on top that is little more than an additional shelf.
Other cart tops, including stainless steel, wood, and granite or marble, can be used as a food prep area. Some of these also have a drop-leaf design, so you can extend the leaves for more work or storage area or fold them down so the cart takes up less space in the kitchen.
For added functionality, you can choose a kitchen cart with a butcher block or other cutting surface. This can provide a great surface for chopping vegetables and trimming meat while adding an attractive design element.
Towel bar: Some kitchen carts have one or more towel bars, usually built into each end of the cart. These can be particularly useful if you use your cart for food preparation.
Wheels/casters: These are standard on kitchen carts, enabling you to easily roll the cart wherever it’s needed and then back out of the way. Consider a cart with wheels or casters that lock to keep the cart in place while you’re prepping food on it.
Utility hooks: Some kitchen carts have hooks for spatulas, whisks, and other tools you use frequently, keeping them handy yet out of the way.
DID YOU KNOW?
Butcher block is made of either end-grain or edge-grain wood that is usually 2 or more inches thick.
STAFF
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Pricing
Inexpensive
Kitchen carts start at around $40 to $100. In this range, you can expect to find simple smaller carts, usually made of metal, although some may have wood elements. The storage on most of the carts in this range is open shelving.
Mid-range
Kitchen carts in the $100 to $200 range tend to be larger with a number of storage options like shelves, cabinets, and drawers. Locking casters are more common at this price, as are carts made of wood, such as particleboard.
Expensive
For the largest size and most durability, look in the $200 to $300 and up range. These kitchen carts tend to have more elegant designs and include hardwoods such as cherry or oak. These carts offer the most storage options in addition to extras like a butcher block top.
Expert TIp
Your kitchen cart doesn’t have to stay in the kitchen. Load it up with goodies and wheel it out to your balcony or yard to hold drinks and snacks. Wheel it into your garden and use it to hold your gardening tools, cut flowers, or herbs. It can also do double-duty by holding tools in a tight garage, laundry soaps in a laundry room, and a champagne bucket and glasses just outside your front door at your next party.
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Tips
- Use your kitchen cart as a kitchen appliance station. If it’s big enough, you can load it up with a microwave, toaster, or other appliances. But be careful about overloading your cart, particularly a lightweight one. Too much weight can make it top-heavy and more liable to tip over.
- Choose metal for an inexpensive cart. If price is a primary consideration, focus on kitchen carts made of stainless steel or other metal. These are considerably cheaper than carts made of wood or carts with granite or marble elements.
- Replace the hardware. If you aren’t thrilled with the handles and other hardware included with your cart, you can buy replacements you like better online or at your local hardware store.
- Don’t use knives on a stainless steel cart top. While a heat-resistant stainless steel work surface is handy for preparing a wide variety of foods, never use knives on it. Use a cutting board to slice vegetables, meat, and bread.
FAQ
Q. Will I need to assemble my kitchen cart?
A. Most of these carts require some assembly. Some of them are easy to put together by one person and take about half an hour. Others might take a couple of hours and require an extra pair of hands. If you don’t have a lot of experience putting together furniture, your best bet is to try to find a cart that requires no assembly.
There are some things you can do to make assembling a cart easier. First, look through the instructions so you have an overall idea of all the steps involved. Some manufacturers provide videos on their website or sites like YouTube, and it’s helpful to watch the video before starting to put the cart together. Next, check all the pieces that came in the box and make sure you have all the necessary parts. Finally, note any tools that you need and lay them out before you begin.
Q. What’s the difference between a kitchen cart and a kitchen island?
A. While some people use the terms interchangeably, kitchen carts and kitchen islands are really two different things. A kitchen cart is more compact and has wheels. Carts are better for kitchens where space is an issue or where the mobility of the cart is a primary consideration. A kitchen island tends to be larger and is a stationary, permanent fixture (no wheels). Kitchen islands are also usually more expensive than kitchen carts.
Q. Should I match my kitchen cart to my existing cabinets and countertops?
A. This is largely a matter of personal preference, but there are two schools of thought regarding this issue. In one, the cart matches the overall theme or motif of your kitchen décor. Choosing a kitchen cart in a similar color or style can help visually tie your kitchen together into a uniform aesthetic. In the other, you can choose a kitchen cart that differs from your kitchen so your cart stands out and serves as a decorative accent or focal point.
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