Going off to college is an exciting time in any young person’s life, and living close to campus in an apartment or dorm may seem like a dream come true- until reality hits and they realize they’re missing some kitchen basics. Leaving behind your mother’s kitchen with its zip tapsto move into a dorm or apartment with nothing can be hard, unless you prepare in advance. Student kitchen essentials will vary from one person to another, and from school to school. Before you begin, be sure to ask about apartment or dorm rules.
If you’ll be living in an apartment with a full kitchen, you should find out whether appliances are provided. Even an “efficiency” unit will have a mini refrigerator, but not all have induction hobs. On-campus kitchens may have shared appliances, but dorm tenants may be allowed to keep microwave or toaster ovens. Knowing what you have to work with will make it easier to write up a complete shopping list.
When drawing up your list, you need to think on which utensils and appliances you’ll use most. New cooks putting together only a couple of meals a week won’t need as much as someone who cooks more. If you like to bake, consider buying a set of cookie sheets, baking pans and other items. Spend as little as possible, and if you can, coordinate your purchases with others who’ll be sharing your living space so you don’t end up with multiples of the same appliance.
When stocking your pantry, you need to consider the amount of space you have available. Even if you have a meal plan at the cafeteria, you will undoubtedly want to make meals if classes end after hours. Essentials could include easily storable and preparable items; if you have the use of a full refrigerator and freezer, frozen meals may be a good choice. If you don’t have a refrigerator, opt for canned and packaged foods.
College kitchens also present an opportunity to “go green”. A hand-crank can opener may be a better and more eco-friendly choice than an electric one; it’s also portable and it can be easily stored away. Consider using hand towels instead of paper towels, and use storage containers instead of plastic bags. If you’re buying an appliance such as a microwave oven, check its Energy Star rating.
Finding out what your college kitchen has before you go shopping will make the transition from home to dorm or apartment much easier. College students are known for their ingenuity and creativity, but planning ahead and stocking the pantry will make it easier on everyone, as will considering what you need and how much space you have. You’ll be able to shop more frugally- which means more money for fun!
About the Post
This guest article was written by Crispin Jones for The Kitchen Appliance Centre, who supply modern kitchen gadgets including zip taps and induction hobs. Find out more at kitchenappliancecentre.co.uk or click here to learn more about kitchen appliances.
