In college, I was more into cupcake baking than actual cooking. So my list of college kitchen essentials looked a little different back then.
We had a communal kitchen in the dorms, complete with a stove, oven, and fridge. Instead of college kitchen essentials like the ones I’m sharing in this post, I used to grab my hand mixer and piping gear to whip these fancy cupcakes together!
My point is, if I found time to cover the communal kitchen in powdered sugar (instead of studying) you can probably sneak in an hour a two per week to cook some healthy meals for yourself. Self-care is very important in college.
RELATED: meal prep tips every college kid needs to know.
Here are all the college kitchen essentials I would have used if I actually taught myself how to cook instead of how to bake in school.
Small appliances for any college kitchen situation
In most dorm or college apartments, you don’t have much more than a microwave. I remember we were not allowed to have a toaster oven in the dorm building, but we were allowed to have kettles, microwaves, and mini-fridges. That was a huge help.
This egg cooker that will give you a good reason to skip the dining hall
Eggs are cheap, nutritious, and easy to make without a stove. All you need is this egg cooker and you can poach ’em, boil ’em or have yourself an omelet.
Get your smoothie on with this single-serving blender
Maybe smoothies are more your speed. This single-serving blender is perfect because it’s light, easy to clean, and doesn’t take up a lot of space. You can grab fruit from the dining hall and have all the smoothies you want!
Related: 30 Easy Snacks for College You Can Make In A Dorm
Upgrade your hot water situation with this multi-purpose kettle
This kettle is good for more than just a cup of green tea to get you through your study sessions. You can make rice, noodles, and pasta with this bad boy too!
A toaster oven for the crispiest leftover pizza, quesadillas and more
If you can swing it, this is an investment you won’t regret. All of your late-night leftovers (pizza, nachos, quesadillas, fries, etc) will taste even better if you reheat them in a toaster oven. There’s A LOT you can cook in a toaster oven. You’ll forget that you even need a stove at all!
Single burner (if you want to cook, but don’t have a stove!)
Don’t let the lack of a kitchen in your dorm or apartment hold you back! If you love cooking and your building allows it, get a single burner. They’re easy to store and you can use them as a regular stove.
A Slowcooker for people who just want to set it and forget it
Slow cookers are a cheap and easy way to get meal prep done without a full kitchen. This is a piece of equipment that’s built to last beyond your college years too! In no time you’ll learn how to make amazing, super flavorful dishes almost hands-free with the help of a slow cooker.
Hack your microwave – college kitchen essentials
Maybe all you have is a microwave. Don’t worry! You can still cook some healthy, delicious meals.
Keep your microwave clean with this handy cover
Don’t be that guy. Keep your food off the microwave walls, yeah?
And if you want to make eggs but can’t have electronic cooking gear in your room
Can’t swing the egg cooker we listed earlier? That’s okay. You can still make a fancy omelet in your dorm microwave with this fancy little microwave omelet maker.
Microwave noodle bowl – perfect for soups, pasta and noods!
No access to a stove OR kettles for hot water? We got you. You can use this microwave noodle bowl to cook your favorite pasta and noodle dishes, which are so comforting after a long day of classes.
A mug for mug cakes
I will never forget discovering mug cakes in college. If there’s ONE item to get on this list of college kitchen essentials, it’s this one. Mugs are always useful. This one is bigger than your average mug so it is perfect for mug cakes, soups, oatmeal, etc!
Microwave-safe plates that can also double as bowls
Space can be really tight in dorm rooms. Any equipment that multitasks, like these plates that could also be bowls, is worth the investment.
College kitchen essentials for meal prep and food storage
If you’re cooking meals or meal prepping as a student, having the proper gear to carry food around all day is CRUCIAL. You don’t want to deal with any spilled meals in your bag while running around campus, right? That would be a nightmare.
This Snapware by Pyrex set won’t leak anywhere at all
I can say that I confidently put these in my bag all the time, right next to my laptop, with no fear that they’ll leak. And they NEVER do (as long as everything is snapped into place of course). I love plastic containers because they’re light and easy to travel with, which is super important if you’re on campus all day!
A stainless steel bento box that’s worth every penny
If you want to snack in style, go for this bento box. Yes, it’s pricey but it will last you YEARS. It’s safer and more environmentally friendly than plastic, but note that you can’t put this in the microwave.
Collapsible meal prep containers that you can carry around
Got a lot of stuff in your bag? I feel you. If your priority is saving space, go for these collapsible meal prep containers made of silicon. I used to use these in school all the time and loved them.
Micro Fridge so you don’t have to share fridge space with anyone
If you’re sharing a fridge with roommates, you might not have a lot of room to store your meal preps. This is where investing in a micro-fridge can be the best move. Plus, it acts as an extra surface for you to put stuff on, maybe it can double as your night table? (I’m half kidding).
Make taking food to class stress (and mess)-free
In college, I did a lot of eating on the go, and I’m sure you do too. I wish I had these tools to make it easier. Some of these can also significantly reduce how much waste you create, so it’s a win-win!
A travel utensil set so you never have to worry about forgetting a fork
Have you ever picked up a meal or brought a meal prep somewhere, only to realize you don’t have anything to eat it with? How embarrassing. Next time, be prepared and pick up one of these reusable travel utensil sets!
This chic compact lunch bag with lots of fun colors
Lunchbags don’t have to cramp your style. I love the sporty and sleek look of this Adidas lunch bag that also comes in other colors!
If you’re more traditional, here’s a super practical compact lunch bag
And if you prioritize function over fashion, grab this awesome compact lunch bag to store your food and snacks for the whole day.
Ice packs to keep your food fresh all day long
If you know you’re leaving your apartment in the morning and won’t get home until way late, using ice packs is a good idea to keep your meals cool all day long.
Stasher bags – perfect for snackers (and you can cook in them!)
I could probably fill a book of good things to say about Stasher bags (not sponsored, just love them). They’re easy to clean, easy to snack out of and you can even cook scrambled eggs in them! If you’re looking to reduce waste, these are for you. You’ll never have to buy a Ziploc bag again.
This thermos if you’re a soup or chili lover
Soups and chilis are the easiest types of meals to prep and cook (and freeze) for the week. So if you’re a soup/stew/chili person, this thermos is a must.
I hope you found this list of college kitchen essentials helpful! If you did, go ahead and SAVE it for later!