Cooking in a dorm is not an easy feat. There is limited space, limited resources, and a limited budget. All the hurdles are in place to cause anyone to Door Dash or stick to a Campus Meal Plan night after night, but fear not! Arm yourself with a few simple cooking gadgets and a low-budget shopping list, and you will see how cooking in your dorm room can be a piece of cake. 

Fair warning: If you are not keen on food puns, this article may not be your cup of tea. I’m feeling saucy and you have been warned. 

Most dorms do not come with a built-in kitchen. If you're fortunate, you might have a common kitchen area to share–but even that is rare in a dorm. Most likely, you’ve got an outlet and can bring your own microwave and mini-fridge–two of the essentials!

Microwave

Up until now, you have probably never had to think about microwave shopping. There's a good chance you probably still don't since your parents may have gotten you one for your dorm. But if you find yourself in need of one, think about getting one that is compact and not too large for your dorm. Seven hundred watts seems to be the college-approved cooking power. Also, consider the different functions of the microwave and what you will be using it for. When looking at multiple stores and brands, this Amazon Basics 700W Microwave took the cake! It checked all of our boxes and even synced with Alexa. "Alexa– buy me a microwave!" A voice-activated microwave will sell out like hotcakes so add one to your Christmas list now.

Mini-fridge 

Every dorm needs at least one mini fridge. There are multiple sizes to consider. While there are some compact versions, most will take up a similar amount of floor space so going larger, vertically, can only work in your favor. We think that this Costway mini fridge is the best thing since sliced bread. It meets all our requirements– affordability, size, capacity, and energy-saving feature. The sizeable freezer is the icing on the cake! 

If you will be sharing a fridge with a roommate, you'll want to coordinate this purchase ahead of time. You can even get a super cool over-the-fridge caddy to stay organized and store some other essentials so they don't clutter up your space.  

Nice to Have 

Now that we got the essentials out of the way, there are a few simple gadgets that, while not essential, can probably make your life a heck of a lot easier. Having them handy in my dorm made it less likely for me to call for takeout after a day of classes or a night with friends. 

Eating in also means saving money and is generally the healthier option. We all know those are two areas college students could use a little extra help.  

Omelet Pan

Eggs are a huge win in the dorm. They’re inexpensive, packed with protein, and can be easy to make with an inexpensive microwave omelet pan. For under ten dollars, this one is a no-brainer. If you are a smart cookie, you’ll add one to your Amazon cart now.

It was such a lifesaver for me! Whisk an egg or two and pop them in your handy little omelet pan. If you have veggies on hand, you can dice them up and add them with a bit of shredded cheese. The clean-up is a cinch too, since nothing sticks to the pan. Add a slice of toast if you have a toaster and you have yourself a breakfast sandwich! I do not want to be the one to egg you on here, but really, you should grab one of these things!  

Pasta Cooker

Pasta is another easy, budget-friendly, go-to for the dorm. Unfortunately, not all dorms have the capacity to boil water on a stovetop. Thankfully, the insanely simple Fasta Pasta Maker was invented and college students everywhere went bananas! The non-stick, easy-to-wash gadget doesn’t get much easier than this. You just fill it with water and pasta, then microwave it. Your pasta will be a perfect al dente every single time. The patented design allows the water to circulate evenly and your meal will be ready quicker than it takes a pot of water to come to a boil. While your Italian grandma may be a tough nut to crack on this one, you can leave it in your dorm room when you go home for the holidays. This one (and the budget-friendly store-bought tomato sauce) can be our little secret.

Electric Hot Pot

Add the Topwit Electric Hot Pot to the list of gadgets you did not know you needed! These are so perfect for a dorm room! Make yourself some soup, oatmeal, noodles, dumplings, hard-boiled eggs, or anything requiring you to boil water without a stovetop or pot. Convenient, small, easy to clean, and simple to use. If you are worried about this being a fire hazard in a dorm, you can simmer down because this one is equipped with overheating and boil-dry protection so it shuts off when the temperature gets too high or if there is no water inside. 

Single Cup Coffee Maker

When it comes to single-serving coffee makers, Keurig is, without a doubt, the cream of the crop. There are many options, but this Keurig mini beat the competition for its compact design, brewing speed, cord storage, and super cute style. You have your pick of six colors and an add-on frother if you are a latte lover like me. The only downside to this one is the constant purchasing of expensive K-Cups, but I have found two ways around this. First, get yourself on a monthly Amazon ‘Subscribe and Save’ membership to get your coffee pods auto-delivered and save. The second is to use a mini reusable pod. I prefer the latter! This handy brewer is also great for making soup, tea, hot chocolate, cider, and oatmeal. 

Purifying Water Pitcher

When it comes to tap water, you have bigger fish to fry. A water purifying pitcher will ease your worries about the tap water you are drinking and also save you from using plastic water bottles (and having to lug them home from the store and up all those flights of stairs!). This particular pitcher is budget-friendly, compact, independently certified, and a trusted brand. I find myself drinking far more water when I have this pitcher than when I try and rely on tap water or bottled water. And when you are well-hydrated, your overall quality of life improves. So add this one to your list of ‘must-haves' along with a few of those filters too. 

Popcorn Maker

A simple popcorn maker will double as a healthy snack and a crowd-pleaser. The smell of popcorn can draw in crowds from floors away so have plenty to share! Do not make the mistake of overcooking your popcorn because it can have the exact opposite effect. Burnt popcorn is a putrid smell! 

If you are tired of just regular old butter on your popcorn, try the combination of sunflower oil and Himalayan pink salt. Just watch out because it is addictive! 

Vegetable Steamer

If you can’t live without your vegetables, then a vegetable steamer is a must for your dorm. Whether you buy fresh or frozen, this gadget will steam them in four minutes or less and doubles as a leftover reheater. You just need your microwave, water, and whatever vegetable you like. It is so simple to use that you can't mess this one up! It is easy to store and clean, making it a convenient gadget to add to your dorm room, and it is under twelve dollars! With this gadget, I promise you will not bite off more than you can chew, especially because the serving size makes it perfect for one. 

Blender

I wanted to love those cute, compact, colorful blenders on the market, but I always find myself coming back to my trusty Nutribullet! It never disappoints. This one is great because there aren't too many accessories to clutter your dorm–just the basics and all you will need for a nutritious fruit or veggie smoothie, protein shake, or even froth your morning latte. It even comes with a to-go lid so you can bring your smoothie to class. The clean-up is easy because there are not a lot of parts. The blade is attached to the base and is very small. 

Toaster

Whether you just love carbs or are looking for a quick breakfast, a toaster can help you in a pinch. Before you invest in this handy gadget, find out if your dorm rules allow you to have one. Then take a look at all the toasters on the market. Single-slot, multi-slot, plastic, metal, settings, functions–there can be a lot to choose from. Do you want something basic that simply toasts your bread or something more elaborate that defrosts, and gives you more options? In college, I don't think it is necessary to have the whole enchilada so that's why this toaster is my favorite. It is high quality, yet simple to use. The wide slots allow you to toast those yummy bagels and the crumb catcher leaves the mess inside to clean up later. 

Food For Thought:

If you had ample space and money, then buying all of these gadgets would make life easier, but the reality is that you have got to pick and choose what you will use the most. You do not want to clutter your tiny space with gadgets seldom used. But you also do not want to come back to your room each night and wonder what your next meal could be. Door Dash can leave your wallet empty and a Meal Plan can leave you bored day after day. Sometimes it is nice to leave your pajamas on and make some delicious homemade food from the comfort of your dorm. Dorm food does not have to be bland. With the right gadgets and a simple grocery list, you can whip up some tasty and healthy meals. You will soon discover that you can even bake your cake (in your dorm) AND eat it too.

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