Student Cooking 101: Kitchen Equipment

Moving out for the first time can be daunting. You’ve got your bedding, clothes, car if you’re lucky… but what kitchen equipment do you need for student cooking?!

Don’t worry, I’m here to help! This is my guide to the basic kit you need to cook in your Uni kitchen. You can’t rely on it being stocked with these things (or for other people to bring it) so if you can at least tick these bits off, you’ll set yourself up for culinary success.

The Essential Kit For Student Cooking

Pots

Pick up a multipack from the supermarket, or scour Facebook Marketplace or even Vinted! A small pot will be useful for single portions of rice, veg, soup, etc. while a big pot will help you batch cook pasta, chilli, stews, and more.

Pans

You can definitely get away with having just one pan. But you need to pick well! Make sure it’s a good all-rounder – not too thick, or too thin (too much like a wok). If you can find one with a metal handle it will be safe to put in the oven which is great for getting a crispy, cheesy topping on lots of recipes. TK Maxx usually have some great priced pans in, it’s always worth checking.

Baking Tray

These are super cheap in the supermarkets, or The Range. Make sure you have a couple as, if you’re partial to a beige dinner, you might need the room! It’s handy to have them in a variety of sizes, too.

Utensil Set

Again these are readily available in a supermarket, The Range or Argos at quite low cost. The necessities are a Spoon, a Fish Slice, a pair of Tongs and a Spatula. Anything else is nice to have, but those are the four keys to student cooking if you ask me!

Cheese Grater

Need I say more? Trust me, you’ll want grated cheese. I find that having a box like this is perfect for fuss-free grating (and storing, if you grate too much… which is never) but you might prefer a handheld one that allows you to add a little cheesy finish to your favourite student recipes.

Knives & Scissors

The three knives I think you need at Uni are: A large knife, for all the hard work like chopping. A small knife, for precise cutting or small produce. A serrated knife, for breads, pastries and meat. You can usually find these in a standard set of 3 knives anyway. On top of that, a solid pair of scissors will see you through most things (including pizza!)

Chopping Board

 Buy a pair of cheap chopping boards and you’ll be able to prep food anywhere in the kitchen. I find it helpful to have one for meat and another for everything else. My advice would be to avoid the super cheap, flimsy types and opt for something a little more robust that won’t break in your first week!

Vegetable Peeler

This might come in handy more often than you think! I’d opt for a vegetable peeler with a tip versus the T-shaped ones, as they can be handy for a plethora of tasks. Most supermarkets and Home Bargains will stock these.

Tin Opener

No matter how careful you are at buying tinned food with ring pulls, there will always be one sneaky tin that catches you out. And it will usually be when you are at your hungriest! Be sure to keep a tin opener in the drawer, just in case.

Oven Glove

It’s much harder to drop an oven glove than it is a tea towel. Take it from someone who has dropped many tea towels (or accidentally picked up a damp one) – the burns really hurt! Use an oven glove to be completely foolproof.

Other things that are helpful but not essential to your student cooking journey are:

Foil and Greaseproof Paper

Whether it’s to help store your food or preserve your baking trays, they’re super helpful to keep in the cupboards.

Mixing Bowls

If you’re baking or simply marinating some meat in your favourite spice mix, a mixing bowl is handy to have. You can also get these with lids, which I recommend. They are incredible for tossing salads and shaking up spices!

Tupperware

Useful for saving leftovers, storing spares and reheating dinners. If you can afford glass containers, invest in those – they will last much longer and cope much better in a microwave or dishwasher. Also, you can put them in the oven! If your budget won’t stretch that far, plastic will be absolutely fine, just try and look after them to make them last that bit longer.

That’s everything! If you have any questions about kitchen hacks, or perhaps you need some student cookbook inspiration to inspire your creations – pop me a message anytime.

Happy cooking X