Electric Kettle

Whether you’re in a dorm or in an apartment with a full kitchen, I cannot stress enough how important an electric kettle is. If you’re a tea or coffee fan this may seem like a given, but it can be used for so much more. With an electric kettle you can make ramen, oatmeal, instant mac and cheese, and many more easy meals that will be clutch during late night study sessions, finals period, or if it’s just too cold to make the trek to your cafeteria.

I strongly recommend getting an electric kettle that’s metal. While the glass options may look nicer, the metal ones are more durable. Trust me, you want to avoid fragile items as much as possible in dorms. Plus, if you keep it nice, you will be using this long past graduation. If it’s available, I also suggest getting a model with temperature controls rather than one that strictly goes to boil. I say this especially to any fellow tea or coffee drinkers as specific temperatures are better for brewing certain teas and coffees.

Large Pan

A large, multi-functional pan is a must for college. With a tighter budget and less time for doing dishes, getting one pan that can do it all makes life infinitely easier. This pan will give you the flexibility to make any style of meal while keeping your dish count to a minimum. It is also big enough to make food for more than just yourself if you want to show off your cooking for your roommates or friends.  

This pan should have a large surface area and have high sides that give it a good amount of depth. The combination of circumference and depth allows for a variety of meals, it’s ideal for stir frys, sauce heavy dishes, and even for searing meat. I recommend a stainless steel pan with a non-stick inside for both durability and easy cleaning. You can get a good pan without breaking the bank if you take the time to look, I got mine for around $20 a few years ago and am still using it today!

Medium Size Pot

When your workload has you struggling to find the time to cook, pasta, rice, and canned soup are ideal ways to get a solid meal without any hassle. A medium size pot is perfect for all of those needs and is easy to clean quickly afterwards. 

A 3-4 quart pot is ideal as it won’t be too big for any small pot needs while still being big enough to cook a good amount of pasta or rice. This gives you the flexibility to make food for just yourself or for your friends too. Plus, I find making a larger portion when you have the time to cook will leave you with leftovers to eat for lunch or your next quick dinner, which is a huge time saver.

Microwave

This one I don’t need to elaborate much on. Whether you believe reheating leftovers on a stove top is better or not, a microwave and the quick meals you can make with it is crucial in every college kitchen. I would recommend keeping a couple of microwavable meals in your freezer at any given time because you never know when a day is going to take a turn for the worse and you’re left with no leftovers, no time, and no energy to cook even a bowl of pasta.

Toaster

This one seems obvious but a classic toaster is something that I believe is a necessity for a college kitchen, or any kitchen for that matter. A toaster is a much more valuable add than a toaster oven, especially if you already have a microwave, as a toaster is faster, more effective, and more energy efficient than a toaster oven. If you’re rushing to class in the morning or drained from a late night, the ease of throwing some bread in your toaster and waiting two minutes for a perfectly toasted slice will be a lifesaver. Seriously, a piece of slightly toasted, plain bread is my go-to hangover food and has gotten me through some rough mornings.

Chef’s Knife

If you plan on doing any semblance of real cooking in your kitchen a decent knife is crucial. Getting a good knife from the beginning will save you time, energy, and frustration. A large, sharp knife will make cooking that much faster and easier as you won’t be struggling to cut vegetables or cube meat with a dull, too small, and ineffective blade. To that end, I also recommend getting some level of a sharpener since any knife will lose its edge over time and being able to bring it back to its original sharpness will save you prep time. A small paring knife is also a good idea for tasks that are too small for a chef’s blade.

Food Storage Containers

Microwave safe food containers are a must for your college kitchen. Buying at least one is a good idea just to make sure you have a large container at your disposal, otherwise I recommend washing out and reusing your takeout containers. Some takeout containers are microwave safe but always check to make sure before using them, otherwise just shift your leftovers to a plate or bowl and accept that you’ll have to wash an extra dish.

Blender

Finally, the blender. If you’re a fan of smoothies, protein shakes, milkshakes, or fruity cocktails (daiquiris, margaritas, etc.) a blender is vital. Whether you’re meeting your protein needs after a good workout, getting a healthy breakfast in before class, or mixing awesome cocktails for your friends, a good blender is a great investment.