When moving away from home, it’s crucial to gather essential items to set up your own kitchen. If you’re a college student or starting a new job right after graduation, this guide is for you. If, like me, you rarely cooked until college, navigating the transition from your parents’ kitchen to your first apartment can be challenging. To assist you, we’ve compiled a concise list of recommended items. Feel free to expand this list based on your specific needs and preferences. So, let’s get ready for some shopping and preparation!
Making a list of must-have kitchen items
The kitchen is most likely the area that college students overlook the most. But don’t forget to budget appropriately for necessary kitchen supplies and organize your kitchen. It will pay you well in the long run. You cannot constantly survive on processed and junk food since food is your fuel. Additionally, what you put into your body has a huge impact on how well you study, work, and perform.
Making a list is a great way to plan ahead and avoid splurging on pointless purchases. The things on your list are likely to come from the following categories:
- Cooking and frying pots and pans
- Easy and beginner-friendly baking tools
- Plates, cups, and kitchen utensils
- Tools to save your time in the kitchen
- Condiments
- Other pantry essentials
- Party essentials
Cooking & frying pots and pans
To have a functional kitchen where you can cook, you first need to buy a few pots and pans. If you are just learning to cook, start by buying 1 or 2 counts of each of these items:
- Large saucepan
- Large carousel dish
- Small frying pan
- Large frying pan
- Small saucepan
- Sauté pan
Instead of buying these pans separately, you can buy a cookware set from Amazon or other stores. Invest in good quality cooking ware. Be aware of the maximum heating temperature limit of your non-sticky pans. If the temperature is higher than recommended, these coatings might not be good for your body.
If you are health conscious, you can buy glass based cookware, ceramic cookware, or cast-iron based cookware. I have personally used cast-iron cookware, and I did not have a good experience since those skillets are heavy, the handles get very hot, and the top layer appears washed off after washing. Additionally, if you fry anything in such skillets, a greasy smell comes out even after washing. But it might work for you. You need to know how to maintain the cast-iron skillets. Another option is to use stainless steel based cookware, which is what I currently use. Cleaning is a bit of a hassle. But considering the health benefits, I am ready to do the extra work.
Beginner-friendly Baking Tools
Plates, cups, and kitchen utensils
Prior to moving in, make sure you purchase some dishes, bowls, glasses, cups, spoons, forks, and knives. Purchase at least two of those products. As you settle in, you can buy additional items.
Invest in high-quality knives as well. Also, don’t waste money on disposable dishes and glasses. While they may save you washing time, they are neither an environmentally responsible nor cost-effective solution over time. So, get the reusable and washable ones.
Also, buy a nice water bottle to carry around. And if you are a coffee-lover, get some cute coffee mugs too!
Tools to save your time in the kitchen
If you consume rice, a rice cooker is an absolute must-have. At the same time, purchase an air fryer, which is a healthy alternative to deep-fried frozen foods, and you may air fry meals such as spring rolls, roasted vegetables, chicken, salmon, and so on. As a result, it will significantly reduce the amount of time you spend cooking. Also, get a nice blender to make smoothies. If you enjoy salad, I recommend purchasing a salad slicer to save on chopping time. If you enjoy coffee, consider purchasing a decent coffee machine rather than spending money on each cup.
- Rice Cooker: Essential for anyone who eats rice regularly.
- Air Fryer: A healthy cooking option for recipes like spring rolls, roasted vegetables, chicken, salmon, etc.
- Blender: Perfect for making smoothies.
- Salad Slicer: Saves time on chopping if you love salads.
- Coffee Machine: A great investment for coffee lovers to save money on daily coffee purchases.
- Toaster: Convenient for quick breakfasts with toast or bagels.
- Microwave: Useful for reheating leftovers or quick meals. If your apartment does not have a microwave, invest in buying one.
- Slow Cooker: Ideal for preparing meals in advance and cooking them slowly throughout the day.
For more information, check out my other article on essential kitchen tools tailored to your preferences.
Condiments and pantry essentials
You can’t have a home-cooked meal without condiments. If you make bland foods at home, you will likely end up eating out every day. To avoid that, buy condiments and cooking essentials that can be used in multiple cuisines.
Here’s a list of essential condiments for a college student:
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cinnamon
- Paprika
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Soy Sauce
- Hot Sauce
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Barbecue Sauce
- Honey
- Vinegar (White and/or Apple Cider)
- Peanut Butter
- Jam or Jelly
- Soy Sauce
- Sriracha or another preferred hot sauce
These basics will enhance the flavor of your meals and cover a variety of culinary needs. Please make sure to buy healthier options. Do not purchase a sauce or other consumable item that contains refined sugar, harmful synthetic sugar, or inflammatory oil.