MAISON VICLEE FROM KOREA

Summer in Korea can be very unpredictable.

One moment, it rains suddenly. A little later, the sun comes out strongly again. The air becomes hot, humid, and heavy.

On days like this, cooking at home can feel more tiring than usual – especially if you live in a small home like mine, where I also do not have a dishwasher.

So these days, I naturally reach for kitchen items that make cooking feel lighter, quicker, and less stressful.

They are not fancy.

They are not necessarily the “best” kitchen products in Korea.

They are simply the things I keep reaching for because they make summer cooking easier, cooler, and less tiring.

Also, just a small note before we start: my home is a two-person household. These items work really well for one or two people, but they may feel too small or less useful for a larger family.

1. Microwave Ramen Mug

This was originally made for cooking instant noodles in the microwave. You put the noodles, water, and seasoning inside, microwave it, and the ramen is ready without using a pot.

But I actually use it for more than ramen.

Sometimes I put soft tofu and egg inside and make a simple steamed dish. It feels light, warm, and quite good when I want something easy but still filling.

Sometimes I use it almost like a bowl and add fruit with Greek yogurt.

What I like most is how flexible it is.

It is not just for ramen. It works for quick one-person meals, simple egg dishes, yogurt bowls, and small snacks.

For a small kitchen, I like tools that can do more than one thing.

What I like:

It is easy to use.

It is good for one-person meals.

It is more versatile than I expected.

It works well when I want something quick and simple.

2. Greek Yogurt Strainer

Greek yogurt is known for being healthy.

People talk about protein, fat, probiotics, and all kinds of nutrition details.

But honestly, I eat it because I like it.

It is simple, cold, creamy, and easy to eat for dinner or as a light meal.

The problem is that Greek yogurt can be expensive if you buy it ready-made all the time. So I make it at home using a Greek yogurt strainer.

I buy a large container of plain yogurt, put it into the strainer, and let the whey separate.

Technically, this is not a machine that makes yogurt from milk. It is more like a strainer that separates the whey from plain yogurt and turns it into thicker Greek-style yogurt.

With one large container of yogurt, I can make several servings of Greek yogurt at home. It feels much more affordable than buying small ready-made Greek yogurt cups.

What I like:
It saves money.
It is easy to use.
I can make several portions at once.
It is useful for quick dinners, fruit bowls, and simple snacks.

What to keep in mind:
You need time for the whey to drain, so it is not instant. (need at least 24 hours) It is something you prepare in advance. I usually do this on Sunday for the next week.

3. Small Egg Cooker

The third item is a small egg cooker.

I found this while looking for something cute, small, and affordable. I think it was around 10,000 Korean won, and for the price, I am quite satisfied.

It is not a fancy machine.

It does not have a timer. If the eggs are a little large, the inside can feel slightly tight.

I use boiled eggs often, especially when I want something simple and filling. So this small machine has been surprisingly useful.

It is also small and cute, so it is easy to store in a small kitchen.

What I like:
It is affordable.
It is small and easy to store.
It saves me from boiling water on the stove.
It is useful for quick snacks or simple meals.

What to keep in mind:
It is very basic. If you want a precise timer or a larger machine, this may feel too simple.

4. Microwave Rice Cooker

This might be the most recent item I bought.

It is a microwave rice cooker, and honestly, it feels a little revolutionary to me.

My home is small, and I am actually quite good at cooking rice in a pot. Because of that, I never bought a regular electric rice cooker.

But this summer, cooking rice in a pot started to feel too hot and tiring.

So I finally bought a microwave rice cooker.

With about 12 minutes in the microwave, I can make freshly cooked rice that looks glossy and warm.

This product is also designed like a low-sugar rice cooker. The starchy water from the rice drains down to the lower part, so the rice is said to have fewer calories than regular rice.

I remember seeing this kind of product advertised on Instagram and YouTube for maybe two years. I only bought it recently.

So far, I do not regret it.

I have not found anything seriously disappointing yet.

What I like:
I can cook rice without using the stove.
It is good for a small household.
The rice comes out better than I expected.
It is useful when I do not want a big electric rice cooker.

What to keep in mind:
It is probably best for one or two people. If you cook rice for a whole family, it may feel too small.

5. Microwave Pasta Cooker

The last item is a microwave pasta cooker.

I had seen this kind of product on Instagram and YouTube for years. People kept saying it was useful, but I only understood why after actually using it.

You put pasta and water inside, microwave it for about 7 to 8 minutes, and the noodles are ready.

Technically, you can add the sauce directly into the cooker after the pasta is done.

But I usually do not do that because I add onions, bacon or meat in the sauce.

So I use it mainly for boiling noodles, then move the pasta to another bowl or pan for the sauce.

My husband likes pasta, so we make it at home from time to time.

Sometimes he says, “Should we make something simple, like pasta?”

And I always think: eating pasta is simple, but making pasta is not always simple.

Usually, I have to take out at least two pots or pans, boil the noodles, make the sauce, stir-fry or mix everything, and clean everything afterward.

But with this pasta cooker, at least the noodle part becomes much easier.

I also use it for other noodles, such as Korean noodles, rice noodles, or glass noodles.

For the price, I use it quite often.

What I like:
It makes pasta easier.
It reduces the need for boiling water on the stove.
It is useful for different kinds of noodles.
It is affordable and practical.

What to keep in mind:
You still need to prepare the sauce separately. It does not make the whole pasta dish by itself, but it makes the most annoying part much easier.

Final Thoughts

These five items are not luxury kitchen tools.

They are small, practical things that help me survive hot and humid summer days in Korea without turning my kitchen into a sauna.

For a one-person or two-person household, they can be very useful.

For a larger family, some of them may feel too small.

But for my small Korean kitchen, these are the things I keep using almost every day these days.

Maybe they are not perfect, but they are useful.

And sometimes, that is exactly what I need.

I may share more detailed posts later about how I actually use each item in my kitchen — especially the simple meals and small routines that make them useful in real life.