I don't remember how soon after starting school that everything in the cafeteria started to taste the same, but it wasn't long. Depending on what school you're heading to -- or back to -- this fall, you may encounter the same problem. Equipping your dorm or college pad with some cooking essentials will expand your options for eats exponentially.
When I was in college, there were far fewer gadgets that one could cram into a tiny dorm space: No air fryers, no Instant Pots. Heck, I don't think the personal blender had taken flight yet. All this is to say, you young folk have it good, so take advantage of some of these compact cookers and kitchen accessories while you're relegated to those teeny-weeny living quarters.
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Cooking in a college dorm has its challenges to be certain. It's a little bit like camping, only indoors and for 15 weeks straight but you do have electricity. That's a big plus. That said, you're likely not going to be whipping up lasagna and three-layer cakes in your 12-by-12-foot box, but you'll be amazed at the culinary feats you can accomplish with just a few simple (and brilliant) tools. If you find yourself in limbo at your parental home base or elsewhere, looking at a longer period of distance learning, a lot of these gadgets still come in handy for feeding yourself, even if you're only at Level 101 cooking.
These are just a few kitchen helpers for when you don't actually have a kitchen, and many are absolute dorm cooking essentials every college student should own.
Read more: 13 great kitchen gifts for grads
Want to avoid the "freshman 15" and maintain a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables? Smoothies, smoothies, smoothies. We like personal blenders better than traditional ones because they're more compact, the blending container doubles as a cup and they come with lids to make them to-go cups so you can sip on your way to class (or as you log in to your laptop at the kitchen island again).
The NutriBullet Magic Bullet is a No. 1 bestseller for good reason: It can crush through ice, seeds, skins and stems for a smooth, even consistency. Ice and frozen fruit is no match for this nifty little machine, so it's great for cold, healthy drinks and smoothies. And, ahem, margaritas…
For more power, upgrade to the 1,000-watt NutriBullet Pro Plus.
If your dorm room doesn't already include a refrigerator-freezer, then you've got to get a mini version. It's a must. If your dorm room is currently your childhood bedroom or basement, it's still nice to have a dedicated place for snacks. This retro-style 3.2-cubic-foot dry-erase fridge with neon markers is stylish and lets you write and erase lists and notes right on the fridge door -- whether it's a warning to stop stealing your oat milk or a note to self about next week's Zoom class schedule.
In a recent test of electric kettles, this sleek Zwilling pot took the top spot, and it's a perfect accessory for tea drinkers or pour-over coffee folks. The Zwilling boils water in under three minutes, has a simple design and won't take up a ton of space. Plus, it turns off automatically if you forget to flip the switch.
To some of us, a microwave is also already an accepted essential, but many dorm vets wave the hot pot flag. (Sunbeam makes a $20 hot pot that boils water in one to two minutes, and you can make pasta, rice, potatoes and vegetables in there, too, along with coffee or tea.) But if you're microwave all the way, this could be the one for you. Go with a small version and then make sure all your plates, bowls and mugs are microwave-safe. To fall under standard dorm safety regulations, you'll want a compact microwave with 700 watts of power or less, such as this stylish model with a retro oval window. It's available in three colors and will add some pop to an otherwise drab dorm.
You'll definitely want some silverware in your dorm, but I say go for a set that's easy to pack in case you're taking lunch or dinner to the quad or a friend's apartment or dorm. This stainless steel set comes fit with a carrying case and has a cool, modern look.
This should've been No. 1, really. You might try to schedule all your classes late in the day, but inevitably, there will be at least one 8 a.m. class (uggghhh) that you have to take. Regular coffee makers have a 12-cup max capacity, and as ambitious as you are, that might be unnecessary. Plus, it's large and takes up a lot of precious space. Enter this top-rated model, which is slim, shiny and uses a mesh scoop filter so you can choose your preferred coffee grounds. The maker brews an 8-ounce cup in 90 seconds, but you're gonna want a 14-ounce travel mug's worth, and that only takes about two and a half minutes to fill up.
With this little robot-looking oven, you can make all the fried favorites like wings, fries, tots, mozzarella sticks, empanadas and other frozen snacks without any oil. The 2-quart size is perfect for a dorm and the digital presets include a 60-minute automatic shut-off for safety. All I'll say is I sure wish I'd had one of these my freshman year. You kids have it so good nowadays.
If you want to kick things up a notch -- maybe a few notches -- spring for this beast of an oven and air fryer combo. With the Ninja Foodi oven, you'll get far more cooking capability than with a solo air fryer including bake, roast, toast and warm functions. Plus, the entire unit folds up against a wall so it takes up way less space than any oven with this much oomph should.
We've tested this one and the air fryer function works like a champ, making ultra crispy wings and fries in 25 minutes or so. Just be aware that it gets real hot, real fast so check with your college's rules and regulations for housing such an appliance.
Getting out the dorm door with a proper breakfast is pretty much impossible, but an egg cooker can definitely help. The popular Dash cooker will make six perfectly cooked eggs in minutes -- hard-boiled, soft-boiled or poached (if you're fancy). Plus, it takes up little space, which is great because space is at a premium in college.
Hooray for protein!
If you're still in a dorm you might not need everything in this set, but keep it for next year when you move off campus and have to stock a real kitchen. A cheese grater, can opener, measuring spoons, measuring cups, a peeler are the types of little things you might forget when you're picking out silverware, plates, cups and bowls. You can definitely find more colorful sets if style matters to you, but this basic collection is cheap and includes both a bottle opener and a pizza cutter, which you just might end up using more than the rest.
One of the most frequent questions you'll ask yourself in college is, "Wait, do I even have time to eat?" It's sad, but it's the truth. You'll need appliances that will help you prepare food in no time so that you don't starve if you're running late to class or an internship or wherever you need to be. This quesadilla maker is cheap and perfect for a quick and easy lunch. Just don't forget to put the top tortilla down before you close it up like I definitely didn't do several times my freshman year.
A waffle maker is a worthy alternative (and is far more versatile than you think; by the same token, the quesadilla maker should be too).
I don't know if everyone is still drinking fruit-infused water, but I am, so this is important. While not technically a cooking item, a reusable water bottle is a smart thing to have in your dorm. Why keep buying water bottles when you can run tap water through a filter for free? And with this sturdy and slick-looking HYDY water bottle (which comes in a ton of great colors), you can add tea, lemons, berries or whatever your heart desires to that all-important H2O.
Even more of an essential than coffee (gasp!), is clean, drinkable water. A filtered water pitcher is a great way to have the most necessary sustenance around all the time. If you can't fit on in your fridge, you'll want this. There are many kinds, but a slim design works best for your limited space. The Brita 5-Cup Space Saver BPA-free water pitcher fits this bill, with color options of white, turquoise and red.
If the dorm allows it, an Instant Pot is a no-brainer, and this compact mini version is a great fit for small spaces (and those who might not want to deal with five pounds of pulled pork at a time). This particular model doesn't do yogurt, but it does double as a rice cooker and steamer -- and of course, it churns out quick dinners, breakfast and perfect boiled eggs every time.
This one may seem a tad obscure, but if you're going to be cooking in a dorm, there are going to be smells and airborne food particles or grease that come along with it -- sorry, but it's true. Save your roommate -- and yourself -- from at least some of that with a compact air purifier like this Bissell.
