10 Must Have Kitchen Gadgets for College Students

College can be a stressful time for any parent, but for the student, it can be even worse. Yes, it’s exciting but at the same time, it can also be an incredibly scary time of moving on with their lives into a new area that they have never experienced before. One of those areas is having to cook their means and everything that comes with it. Having this responsibility means that they will need their own kitchen and cooking gadgets. These 10 must have kitchen gadgets for college students are a great place to start.

While it’s true that it is unlikely that your college students will be making an entire meal in their dorm room, they will need some way to feed themselves. Before you buy things like a hot plate, though, be sure to check with your dorm’s rules to make certain that they allow them, since some don’t.

10 Must Have Kitchen Gadgets for College Students

Coffeepot – Chances are good that your college student drinks coffee, so why not save them a bit of money and get them a coffeepot. If they like specialty coffees over regular blends, consider getting them a single-serve coffeepot where they can buy different flavors and types of cups to fit their tastes.

Hot plate – If the dorm they are moving into allows hot plates, make sure you grab one. They can be bought for as little as $25.00 and will allow them to make more than frozen, microwavable meals for dinner.

Medium Skillet – If you’re buying your college student a hot plate, they’ll need something to cook in so pick up a medium skillet and saucepan to cook in. They won’t need a full-sized cookware set, but getting them one or two pieces is a must.

Microwave – If you can’t get your college student a hot plate, a microwave will have to do. Be sure that you don’t buy one with too many bells and whistles or that is too big since dorm rooms usually have limited space.

Cooking utensils – Your college students will need cooking utensils to cook with, so things like a spatula, whisk, slotted spoon, and so on should be considered must-have items. This is especially true if you bought them a hot plate and cookware or are buying them a crockpot.

Toaster or Toaster Oven – Having a toaster can mean that your college student can fix some items, but if you go the extra step and buy them a quality toaster oven they can do so much more. These days you can even buy toaster ovens that are big enough for a 9×13 baking dish!

Mini Fridge – Obviously your new college student will need a place to keep food and drinks even if they aren’t cooks. Buying them a mini-fridge or an apartment sized fridge if they have the room is the perfect option for small dorm rooms and a college student on the go.

Crockpot/Instantpot – If your college students school doesn’t allow them to have a hot plate, get them a crockpot instead. Crockpots are amazing and can make everything from eggs to full meals while they’re busy in class.

Hand mixer or stick blender – nothing makes for a quick blend better than the simple stick blender. Seriously, it comes in handy!

Kitchen Timer – Besides helping things time for cooking, they can help your student find balance in their routing. 30 minutes on class one. 15 minute mind break. 30 minutes on class 2. Eat. It’s really that simple.

Start looking for these items NOW if you have a kiddo going off to college this fall – it never hurts to be prepared!

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