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18 Dorm Kitchen Essentials Students Need
Having the right dorm kitchen essentials in college can save you a lot of time and energy. If you’re planning out your dorm packing list, be sure to include kitchen supplies. This way, you’ll have a place to store, prepare, and cook food — even in a small dorm room.
Instead of getting an expensive meal plan just to eat at the dinning hall everyday, you can make your own meals in your dorm, which is more convenient and more cost-effective. But what exactly should your dorm kitchen consist of? Check your school’s prohibited items list before you do anything so you know what you’re not allowed to have in your dorm.
Additionally, communicate with your roommate about sharing certain items so you don’t end up bringing duplicates. Keep two things in mind when shopping for dorm kitchen essentials: price and functionality. High-end appliances might be nice to have, but there’s plenty of other options that are more affordable and can perform just as well.
Besides price, make sure each kitchen essential you purchase doesn’t take up too much space in your dorm. Below, you’ll find everything you need to create a function kitchen space in your dorm without sacrificing key square footage.
The items in this list are specifically for students who live a traditional-style dorm room. If you live in a suite or an off-campus apartment, consider reading my ultimate college kitchen checklist.
Mini Fridge
A mini fridge will always be a must-have item for any college living space. Without a mini fridge in your dorm, you won’t have anywhere to store perishable foods or keep drinks cold. While smaller size models might fit better in your dorm, it’s best to go with a larger size model because it’s more practical.
Smaller mini fridges are only good for storing drinks and some small food items. With a capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, this mini fridge from Black+Decker is spacious enough to accommodate all your food and drink needs. Plus, it has a freezer to keep your ice packs and frozen meals cold.
Egg Cooker
Eggs are one of the best foods to eat in college. They’re cheap, nutritious, and easy to cook, especially when using this egg cooker. For boiled eggs, just pour water onto the heating plate, place your eggs on the rack, and put the cover on. It can boil a maximum of seven eggs to your desired firmness in just a few minutes. It also comes with trays to make omelets, scrambled eggs, and poached eggs.
Water Filter Pitcher
Instead of filling up your dorm with a bunch of disposable water bottles, which are bad for the environment, invest in a water filter pitcher. The best way to maintain proper hydration and enjoy contaminate-free water on campus is with a Brita water filter pitcher. Brita is known for making top-of-the-line pitchers with long-lasting filters to ensure you have fresh, clean drinking water all the time.
Microwave
Another college staple, the microwave can be a valuable addition to your dorm kitchen setup. They’re great for heating up frozen meals, leftovers, or a pack of ramen noodles. Your residence hall might have one in the common area, but it’s probably beat up from being used by other students dozens of times a day.
Make your life easier and get a durable, compact microwave for your dorm. This 600-watt microwave from Commercial Chef is an affordable option for students on a budget. It comes with simple dial controls and is the perfect size for a small dorm at 0.6 cubic feet.
Popcorn Maker
Having a movie night with your roommate? This easy-to-use popcorn maker is exactly what you need. It’s made out of food-grade silicone and has a collapsible design for easy storage.
All you have to do is put your desired amount of kernels in the bowl, then put it in the microwave for a couple minutes. Once it’s done, you’ll have a bunch of delicious popcorn (up to 15 cups worth) ready to eat while you watch movies and hangout in your dorm room.
Keurig Coffee Maker
Getting up early for class is easier when you have some coffee to boost your every levels. Owning a coffee maker in college saves you the trouble of walking to the nearest coffee shop and spending money on an overpriced cup of coffee.
The Keruig seen here is the K-Express model. It has a slim, lightweight design and has the ability to brew three different cup sizes (8, 10, and 12 oz) in just minutes so your coffee will be ready and waiting before you even finish getting ready in the morning.
The 42 oz water reservoir on the back of coffee maker will last through several cups of coffee before needing to be refilled. It also features a strong brew button, which brews a stronger cup of coffee.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp
Personally, I would choose an Instant Pot over a microwave any day because of their versatility and convenience, but not all colleges allow Insta Pots or other similar appliances, such as air fryers, pressure cookers, and electric grills.
If your college does allow items like an Instant Pot, then purchasing one can be extremely useful. The Duo Crisp has 13 different functionalities: everything from sauté and pressure cook to steam and roast, there’s not much this versatile kitchen appliance can’t do. Also, the LCD screen on the front provides step-by-step instructions for each cooking function.
Reusable Storage Bags
Ziploc Storage Containers
From fruits and vegetables to candy and snacks, reusable storage containers are must-have dorm kitchen items for storing food. This pack of 20 comes with 12 Twist N Lock containers — great for taking snacks on the go. The larger One Press Seal containers can be used when preparing meals for the week or to store leftovers and larger food items.
Collapsable Cutting Board
I originally had a cutting board and a knife set as two separate items in this dorm kitchen essentials list, but then I discovered the 9-in-1 collapsible cutting board.
Thanks to its multifunctional design, the cutting board can transform into a colander, food storage basket, and veggie chopper — which comes with multiple different blade inserts that are stored in the removable lid, along with two kitchen knives.
For students who like to cut up lots of fruits and vegetables for their daily nutritional needs, this versatile kitchen supply is a must-have.
Can Opener
A dorm kitchen item you might overlook is a can opener. One of these can come in handy if you buy lots of canned foods. Most cheap can openers fall apart super easy, but this heavy-duty can opener will easily last you through college. And it has a built-in magnet to catch the lid of any can you open instead of trying to get it out with your fingers.
College Cookbook
Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean you can’t cook nutritious foods that taste great. Learn how to make healthy, simple, and inexpensive meals with this cookbook for college students. It certainly beats eating junk food and pizza from the dining hall everyday.
The book covers over 100 recipes with just five ingredients in each one. Some of the meals you can make include cinnamon raisin oatmeal, creamy avocado toast, and lemon chicken.
Dinnerware Set
There’s plenty of essentials that make cooking in your dorm less of a hassle, but what about when it’s time to eat? You’re going to need some plates and bowls for all those meals you cook, along with cups to hold your beverages.
Dinnerware just makes eating in your dorm easier and actually allows you to eat decent size meals rather than just a small frozen meal or a snack bar. Your best option for dorm-friendly dinnerware is this 16-piece set made out of eco-friendly wheat straw fiber.
The material is virtually unbreakable, so it’ll be able to take a beating in any chaotic college environment. The set is available in gray or the coastal multicolor combination seen here.
Eating Utensils
Unless you plan on eating food with your hands, you’re definitely going to need silverware to go along with your dinnerware. This stainless steel set includes all the essentials to meet your dining requirements (fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, reusable straw, and cleaning brush). The silverware even comes with a carrying case for outdoor use.
Mini Fridge Organizer Stand
A lack of storage space is common in residence halls. That’s way the best way to store all your dorm kitchen supplies is with a shelving unit designed specifically for dorm rooms.
The addition of this mini fridge stand will help keep your things organized and maximize the space in your dorm. The two bottom shelves can be used to store snacks, drinks, and cooking supplies. The middle shelf is for your mini fridge and the top shelf can be used for a microwave.
Rolling Utility Cart
If your shelving unit is running out of space, consider Investing in a rolling utility cart. They’re perfect for storing dorm kitchen items, as well as school supplies, books, and other college essentials. The wheels also make them easy to move around if you need to clean your room or do some rearranging.
Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner
Creating a functional dorm kitchen setup is only half the battle. Keeping it clean and sanitary throughout the semester is key to maintaining a healthy living environment. Every student on campus should own a bottle of all-purpose cleaning spray so they can wipe down the surfaces in their dorm.
My recommendation is the Method Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner. This stuff not only removes dirt, grease, and grim, but it also eliminates 99.9% of germs. Keeping your dorm kitchen area sanitized and mess-free will be much easier with this cleaning spray.
Microfiber Cleaning Rags
Spills and messes are bound to happen no matter where you live. That’s why you need a pack of cleaning rags to wipe up dropped food, spilled drinks, etc. Better yet, a pack of microfiber cleaning rags that can be used to remove dust from all the surfaces in your room, along with cleaning up messes.