Dorm Essentials for Student Cooking
Residence Room Necessities for Quick and Easy Student Meals
Jul 30, 2009
The dining hall and late-night pizza delivery sound really exciting now, but about halfway through first semester those greasy college meal options become very unappetizing. By picking dorm essentials well new students can keep off the dreaded freshman 15 and enjoy some healthy, late-night meals with roommates.
Before choosing dorm kitchen essentials, be sure to check with the university residence's rules regarding appliances. Most college dorms will allow a mini fridge and a microwave, but disallow crockpots, hot plates, or other heating elements.
Additionally, many dorms have shared kitchen spaces with large fridges, freezers, sinks and a stove. Residence kitchens can be useful, but in most cases the dorm kitchens are shared with many other people, so residents do not always have complete access to appliances. It's best to bring some kitchen dorm essentials so that quick, healthy meals can be prepared at any time.
Dorm Room Mini Fridge
The most important aspect of a dorm room kitchen. Always discuss with roommates beforehand: if everyone will be sharing one fridge, choose a larger mini fridge with lots of door space. If each person will each have a separate fridge, choose a smaller one. Remember that the freezers in mini fridges rarely work, so don't count on storing ice cream and frozen dinners there for too long.
Dorm Room Electric Kettle
The second most useful college essential is also one that most students forget. Bring a good-quality kettle, a French press for coffee, and large heat-proof mugs and a college student will be set for every meal of the day. A kettle makes student cooking easy. A kettle and a large mug or bowl is all that's needed to cook lots of quick and easy meals, including:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Instant oatmeal
- Soft-boiled eggs
- Boiled vegetables
- Ramen noodles
- Instant soup
- Minute rice
Dorm Room Microwave
This one speaks for itself. Entire student meals can be made using a microwave. It's also useful for late night snacks like microwave popcorn and 5-minute mug cakes.
Pots and Pans for a Shared Kitchen
If there is a shared kitchen in the residence, buy one skillet with a tight fitting lid and one large pot. This is not the time to invest in high-quality kitchenware, however. Remember that not everyone in the dorms will be trustworthy, and any dorm necessities left in the shared kitchen overnight are not likely to be there in the morning.
Microwave and Fridge-safe Plastic Containers for Dorm Rooms
Store leftovers in the fridge for tomorrow. Also useful to take home over holidays and bring back filled with home cooking.
A shared kitchen and a room stocked with dorm essentials will never equal a full sized kitchen at home, but with this list of dorm supplies for the kitchen, freshmen moving into a new dorm room can supplement overcooked campus food and greasy take out with quick and healthy student meals.
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