If you missed Part 1, read that first!
When you’re shopping for dorm room essentials like sheets and towels, consider creating your own little “kitchen” space. Even on the most idyllic campuses, there will be times you’ll want to have a snack or meal in your room.
Today, we want to share our Guide To The Top 20 Kitchen Items for your dorm room.
You can purchase all of these, or just the ones you think you’ll use. If you’re coordinating with a roommate (and don’t mind sharing), divide the list between the two of you. We’ve already discussed the microwave and mini-refrigerator, but there are more small items that can make your room feel like home–and most won’t take up too much space.
20 Kitchen Items: (alphabetical, except electric appliances listed last.)
- Can opener with bottle opener
- Cereal/soup bowls (at least 2)
- Coffee/tea mugs (at least 2)
- Cutting board
- Dishcloth or sponge
- Dish towel
- Dishwashing soap
- Flatware (knife, fork, spoon, at least 2 sets)
- Knife (chef’s knife is most versatile)
- Large mixing bowl (glass)
- Large serving spoon
- Liquid measuring cup (glass, 2-cup size)
- Measuring set for dry ingredients
- Plates (preferably 2)
- Water pitcher with filter
Electric: - Air popcorn popper (or microwave popper)
- Blender
- Electric kettle or coffee maker
- Microwave
- Mini-refrigerator
MORE DETAILS
- Can opener with bottle opener – This is indispensible for opening some cans and bottles.
- Cereal/soup bowls – We suggest having at least 2 bowls. These may be part of a place setting or not.
- Coffee/tea mugs– We suggest having at least 2 mugs. These may be part of a place setting or not.
- Cutting board – Always cut on a surface designed for cutting. Cutting on a plate or counter top will either damage both the cutting surface and the knife.
- Dishcloth or sponge – Dishcloths are more sanitary if you wash them regularly, but a sponge is best if you don’t do laundry often. Be sure to replace sponges from time to time or zap them in the microwave in a bowl of water to kill germs. Look for a sponge with a non-metal scouring pad on the other side, just in case the food dries up and sticks. We’re sure you’d never let that happen, but your roommate might!
- Dish towel – Please, don’t use your bath towel to dry your dishes! One or two small dish towels are handy for drying dishes and hands.
- Dishwashing soap – Unless you’re planning to use paper plates, which are expensive and not great for the environment, you’ll want to wash your kitchen dishes.
- Flatware – We recommend having 2 place settings (or more) of flatware that include at least 1 knife, 1 fork, and 1 spoon per setting.
- Knife – You don’t need a full set of knives—just one good chef’s knife will do. The 8-inch size is most versatile. It will be very useful for cutting up fruit, carrot sticks, cheese, etc. (Check to make sure knives are allowed on your campus.) If you use a knife often, think about getting a honing stick to keep it sharp. Have someone demonstrate how to use it.
- Large mixing bowl – We suspect this bowl will primarily be used for popcorn, but you might want to heat up soup or other food items in it with a microwave, so make sure it’s glass. You can also fill it with dishwashing soap and water to wash your dishes if a clean sink is not available.
- Large serving spoon – A large solid spoon is the most versatile.
- Liquid measuring cup – We recommend a 16-ounce liquid measuring cup made from glass, which can be heated in a microwave to boil water. Some, if not all plastics, can release chemicals, called hormone disruptors, into your food when heated in a microwave. This can have negative health effects over time.
- Measuring set for dry ingredients – Buy or borrow an inexpensive set that includes at least 4 sizes (1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1/4 cup).
- Plates – We suggest having at least 2 plates. These may be part of a place setting or not.
- Water Pitcher with Filter – Both Rebecca and Greg drank filtered water. It’s not necessary to keep it in the refrigerator, but it’s nice if you have the room. Ask for extra filters in your Christmas stocking or as a gift! Be sure to change the filter as recommended.
Electric: - Air popcorn popper – If you’re a big popcorn eater, this is the way to go. You’ll be able to make fat-free popcorn and flavor it any way you want. Studies show that the extremely high heat required to cook popcorn in microwaveable pouches creates free radicals, which can have detrimental health effects. Another option is a special bowl designed for making popcorn in the microwave.
- Blender – This can be used for your healthful morning smoothies and to make simple recipes like hummus or other dips.
- Electric kettle or coffee maker – If you have a microwave you can always boil water in it to make tea, instant coffee, and instant soups. Otherwise, an electric kettle is very useful. A great gift to receive is a single serving coffee/tea machine like a Keurig. The main downside is the expense of the pods, but reusable pods that allow you to fill them with your own coffee or tea are available for most types. An old-fashioned drip machine, a French press, or a pour-over carafe will also work, depending on your preference.
- Microwave – If your school does not offer microwaves for your dorm room, they are a nice gift to receive! You’d be surprised how much cooking you can do with just a microwave.
- Mini-refrigerator – Many schools supply one or provide rentals, but if not, ask for it as a gift, or go in with your roommate to purchase one.
