Kitchens & Cooking

The entire kitchen and cooking scene is very different in El Salvador. I'd like to go on to say that it also varies ALOT by region, for example what you might find in San Salvador, the capital... is very different than what you might find typically in the more "rural" setting of La Paz.

Traditionally many North Americans and Westerners are adjusted to the standard electric or gas range stove & oven, microwave, dishwasher, sink style setup. In El Salvador, I've come to notice this is drastically different. Maybe for better, maybe for worse... it all depends on you.

In San Salvador you will find that many kitchens resemble North American style (in general). They have the regular appliances (sometimes on a smaller scale) that you are already use to. The one thing you may not see as much, is a dishwasher. They are very uncommon, although once again... in San Salvador you may find them in some upscale apartments and housing.

The more traditional El Salvador Kitchen:

The more traditional kitchen is an indoor space defined as the "kitchen". Refrigerators are much more common these days, but many homes still lack them. In the Kitchen you will typically find a stone structure that allows cooking via Wood burning. This is the most typical means of cooking. The kitchen will typically not have good ventilation and smoke/fumes build up leading to discoloration of the walls, etc and a very uncomfortable sensation in your throat your first week or two around it. Sinks are very rare in the kitchen, you may have a water "well" or bucket system. A table is typical, but not always located in the actual kitchen, sometimes in a dining room, etc. In alot of places you will find showers off to the side of the kitchen space because the water is already ran to the one source, so they join them, not everyone uses this setup but it was common in older homes.

I'd like to point out, in alot more modern homes (which are popping up alot) for salvadoreno nationals and expats aswell... "normal" kitchens are alot more common. A small gas range with oven can be purchased for 300 dollars. A gas tank is only around 3 dollars a refill and lasts a good two months. So gas stoves are common in these days.

Normal counter-tops and sinks are becoming common due to the widespread use of "water-tanks" which provide "running water" allowing for a sink. Microwaves are somewhat more common as the price drops but people are weary of use because they draw a decent amount of electricity which still isn't the cheapest in El Salvador (still about 0.13 KWH which is still high by US Standards).

Many people as fore-mentioned now have refridges and freezers, although much smaller models versus the un-necessary full size models.

The variation in kitchens varies greatly in El Salvador, and mostly depends on where you are, age of the housing/community and the economic status of the owner of the house.

Outdoor "kitchens" are also very typical. These usually consist of an old metal drum/barell (think oil drum), with the top split down, allowing them to make a platform where wood is placed, and burnt and a large pan is placed above, the fire heats oil which cooks typical foods such as "Empanadas", "Enchiladas", "Pasteles", "Yuca".

Either way, kitchens are always present and functional. Indoors and Out. If you can't survive without a modern kitchen, fear-not... they are common. However, don't be suprised to see the good ol' wood cooker!