The Best Kitchen Trends Of 2020

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Ah, 2020, a real doozy of a year. Along with it came changes in just about every aspect of our lives. Seemingly overnight, our professional and personal lives were turned upside down. We now find ourselves in Zoom meetings from our living room decked out in our finest pajama bottoms, and instead of dining at our go-to restaurant, we're ordering contactless takeout. A big change came in the way we now consume food. Restaurants were met with the unprecedented challenge of pivoting their business strategies in order to survive. Consumers, as well, were forced to change their own habits to adapt to these changes. 

While we've spent a ton more time in the house, that didn't halt our palate's desire to be stimulated. Creation and inspiration in the kitchen could still be found, but sometimes in the most unusual of places. Need some mid-week recipe tips? Just head to TikTok for the latest dish from your favorite influencer. Fancy a wine tasting of the best of what Napa has to offer? Just log into a virtual tasting room with your favorite sommelier. If we've learned anything during this time, it's that it is human nature to crave connection. Food is the ultimate way people connect, and that's been ever so present and important to us now. Let's have a look at the best kitchen trends of 2020. 

While 2020 may have been rough for many, it was a major success for TikTok, beating out Facebook to become the top app globally for 2020, per Fast Company. Bored people took to the social media platform to let out a bit of creativity (whether witty content or totally irrelevant), socialize, and most importantly, be entertained. Avid cooks turned to the app to share with all of us their quarantine creations and even some kitchen mishaps. In tow, recipes quickly went viral, like the now-famous mini pancake cereal. 

Major corporations have even caught wind of the viral potential and have gotten in on the action with their own dedicated TikTok recipes. While a trip to Walt Disney World may be out of the question for some right now, that's not reason enough to miss out on your favorite indulgent theme park treats. Disney Parks is dishing out recipes, in easily digestible TikTok form, of some of their visitor's favorite treats, like the Salted Caramel Pumpkin Pie milkshake from Disney's Beach Club resort. Because, in 2020, everything should be topped with a pair of chocolate ears. 

Even with the rise of delivery, more time at home inevitably meant more time in the kitchen. Call it boredom, call it ambition, but the rise of people in the kitchen meant more time to experiment and push ourselves outside of our usual comfort zones. Cue: sourdough bread kits. A phrase not often muttered by the average person pre-2020, but that has since found mainstream appeal. Baking was long synonymous with labor and time-intensive work for a meager reward. Now, with our free time abound we're all claiming our stake in the at-home bakery. 

Carbs, aka heaven on Earth, have been what people are grabbing for the ultimate comfy cozy feeling. According to Refinery 29, local bakeries have caught wind of the trend and begun selling their own sourdough starter kits. These starters are essential when making sourdough bread and are comprised of flour, water, and wild yeast. While you are able to whip this up on your own, it does prove to be a bit of a challenge for the novice behind the apron. Once you've dipped your toe in the wonder that is sourdough, the starter can also be used to impress your household with homemade scones and doughnuts. 

As we've seen first-hand the struggles of many in the industry, consumers have sought out ways to support the brands and businesses they love. In an effort to keep it close to home, the movement of supporting US-made products, as opposed to companies who manufacture overseas, has been ever so prevalent. Quality kitchenware, like pots and pans, is an investment for sure but can prove to be worthwhile. You'll always have long-lasting pieces in your kitchen arsenal. There are numerous reasons to support American companies, but at the top of that list are their far better labor standards that support local economies.

Heritage Steel, a family-owned and operated business in Tennessee, employs a small number of people out of their Clarksville-based facility. Since opening in the 19th century, they continue to produce some of the most highly rated stainless-steel cookware on the market that is available direct to consumer as well as from retail giants. Their products have been met with fantastic reviews, specifically because of their use of titanium stabilized 315Ti steel in their pans, which has wowed the folks at Cook Logic. 

What's that sound? Oh, it's your doorbell, but no, it's not your local pizza or Chinese food joint, it's cocktails. On the very, very short list of pros to 2020, delivery cocktails and alcohol right to your doorstep has got to be at the top of it. While alcohol delivery services are nothing new, they've certainly risen to the occasion this year. How else are we going to keep that bar stocked for virtual workplace happy hours and FaceTimes with the fam? Drizly is one such company that works with retails stores throughout the country to have your essential wine, beer, or booze at your doorstep in as little as one hour. Even with the convenience factor, the consumer pays no mark-up cost and instead just pays a delivery fee and is encouraged to tip.

In an effort to keep small businesses afloat, statewide ordinances were created in certain markets to allow for the sale of to-go and delivery cocktails. Restaurants throughout the country, where allowed, are offering your favorite cocktail alongside your meal via delivery apps. What a time to be alive! We're not sure about you, but a bit of escapism sounds like an absolute delight right now. Lost Lake, a tropical lounge located in Chicago's trendy Logan Square, has excelled at the to-go method by offering a wide range of authentic, hand-made tiki drinks in bottled, ready-to-drink form. They've even created a monthly at-home rum club, a membership program that offers limited edition bottled cocktails as well as other surprises. Beach not included. 

In a time where the animal agriculture industry is more scrutinized than ever, we've all made the move towards thinking more about the ethical complications associated with what we put in our bodies. Plant-based companies, like Beyond Meat and Impossible, have realized these rising issues and began to market towards not only the uber health-conscious but the everyday person. No longer limited to the fresh food section of our local Whole Foods, these plant-based products have partnered with major chains to bring their products to the masses. 

Accessibility and affordability to plant-based products have come together like never before in the form of partnerships with major chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, and even Pizza Hut. A whole new meaning to the phrase eat your greens is about to come to fruition with the arrival of the McPlant. With a 2021 nationwide roll-out expected, the McPlant's patty was created in partnership with Beyond Meat. This meat-alternative is a first in McDonald's line-up, which could lead to more plant-based options on their breakfast menu and beyond (*pun intended*). Pizza Hut also became the first national pizza chain to offer plant-based meat toppings this year with their partnership with Beyond Meat. 

When the discussion of health comes up, we usually think about the physical aspect, but this year, the mental aspect has risen to the forefront as well as how we deal with this often stigmatized issue. With the many fallouts of 2020, so comes the unneeded stress. Suddenly, everyday tasks became difficult to accomplish. As we saw the lack of availability in fresh produce and meats, so we sought out the need for shelf-stable products. These comfort foods, like pasta and baked goods, soothe the soul while also having the ability to survive a very long time in our pantries.

According to Psychology Today, when we eat these foods, that are generally high in fat and sugar, the reward system in our brain is instantly triggered and we experience temporary pleasure, and often, relief. Comfort foods can also take us on a stroll down memory lane when the tastes and smells conjure up memories of good times with the family. Next time you're contemplating grabbing that second helping of macaroni and cheese, think of it as self-medicating. Because, treat yo' self.