"In the kitchen" - Do you say, "In cucina" or "Nella cucina"?

In speaking or writing the phase, "In the kitchen", do I use, "In cucina", or "Nella cucina"?

Grazie

Hi AR--9, 

The difference between the two is not huge but "in cucina" is used more often than "nella cucina".

Often, when you read "nella cucina" you might find other terms that provide additional information about it:
i.e. nella cucina della mia nonna = in my grandmother's kitchen
you would not say "in cucina della mia nonna"
i.e. nella cucina del ristorante = in the restaurant's kitchen
you would not say "in cucina del ristorante"
i.e. nella cucina vicino al soggiorno = in the kitchen close to the living room
you would not say "in cucina vicino al soggiorno"

However, sentences like "le chiavi erano nella cucina" / "le chiavi erano in cucina" (the keys were in the kitchen) or "vado a studiare in cucina" / "vado a studiare nella cucina" (I am going to study in the kitchen) that simply refer to the kitchen as an area (without any additional details) can be interchangeable - but "in cucina" is still used more often than "nella cucina".

Hope this helps, don't hesitate to let me know if you have further questions!