Cooking while short

[RamblingRose]

I am 5'1" (with shoes on) and am finding it harder to work at the kitchen counter. The cutting, mashing, stirring, etc. is starting to hurt my shoulder, not to mention it's hard to see inside the pots, especially the back burners.

My kitchen counter height is 36". The gas stove adds another 2" and is 38" high

Anyone else have this problem?

I remember a friend once told me short people in general do not become professional cooks.

[Lars39]

1. Any way your kitchen would hold an island?

We got a cheap $100 stainless steel table that is a few inches shorter than the countertops, and it makes a huge difference in my shoulder fatigue.

[Wingus Dingus]

2. I'm even shorter than you, under five feet with shoes on.

My biggest challenge is anything that requires lots of manual pressure, like grating cheese or kneading/rolling dough. My shoulders and arms ache pretty quick--so I take that stuff over to the table, which is lower.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. A serious problem- have you gone to any "short people"...

organizations for suggestions?

[markie]

4. yes, yes, yes

I do all my work on a shorter table I put in the kitchen ...28-30 inches works for me

[GemDigger]

5. I lost 2 precious inches and am now

at 4'10" I need a step stool to reach the second shelve in the cupboards and to cut and dice on the counters.

[MontanaMama]

6. Most definitely.

I am 5’2” and apparently tower over this group! Kidding, of course…I remodeled my kitchen a few years ago and did away with upper cabinets in favor of wide drawers even for glasses and plates. Best decision I ever made.

[walkingman]

7. That's funny - "Short people have no reason to live" - Randy Newman

[slightlv]

8. I got to the point where I detested the Randy Newman song.

Between back surgery and age, I last measured at 4'9." I carved the turkey yesterday on the kitchen table cause even the island is too tall for me now. I have a "grabber" stick that helps to grab things that aren't too high up, as long as they're not real heavy. Usually I end up calling on my hubby or looking for a stool, foot ladder, or climbing on a chair.

I've given up being sensitive to it in the stores, and just ask people to reach stuff for me on the upper shelves now. I used to climb, but after the dog broke my leg while taking him for a walk, I thought better of climbing in the grocery stores, etc.

I'd love to have me a "Hobbit House"... a house built just for people our size! I've always been short. At my tallest, I was only 4'11". I can only imagine what it'd be like to have a kitchen where everything would be reachable, no matter what shelf it would be on! Pure heaven! (LOL)


*edited for spelling...

[Major Nikon]

9. ...

[northoftheborder]

10. Empathy here from another shortie!

Big mistake in planning my new kitchen: wall oven too high.