If you want a change of pace from the dining hall or are just looking for a budget-friendly way to add some diversity to your diet, you might be intrigued by the idea of cooking in your dorm. Cooking in your dorm may sound intimidating, but there are several great ways to get started to add some extra spices to your life!

Is cooking in my dorm allowed?

Most campuses will likely restrict the use of certain items in dorm rooms, so don’t quite grab all your pots and pans from home just yet. Always be sure to check your campus’s list of approved items. You may not be able to bring a grill or a hotplate, but almost all dorms will allow a microwave and a minifridge, which is more than you need to get started. If you can, an Instant Pot can supercharge your options, and when properly used, can make some delicious meals.

What do I need to cook in my dorm?

Since dorms are limited on space, here is what I would consider the most essential things to be able to cook in your dorm:

1. A Minifridge – Ideally with freezer space as well
2. A Microwave – The MVP of dorm room cooking to get hot meals quickly, and it isn’t limited to instant noodles!
3. Microwave Safe Plates, Bowls, and Utensils – You’ll need something to eat off of! Tupperware containers are also a great option to prep and eat your food from

If you have more space, and it is permitted by your university, the following items are also nice to haves, but are in no way essential:

1. An Instant Pot or pressure cooker – Amazing versatile, having one of these opens a whole new world of options when it comes to cooking in your dorm
2. A hot plate – IF allowed. Being able to effectively emulate a stove top is huge, but most schools ban these, so be sure to check before purchasing one
3. Rice Cooker – If you think you’ll eat a lot of rice (Its great for a lot of meals!), using a rice cooker takes a lot of the guess work out of making rice, and some of the higher end models have addiotnal cooking capabilities as well!

What can I cook in my dorm?

You have a lot more options than you think! You aren’t restricted to just ramen noodles, here’s a couple of good ideas to get started:

• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Pastas
• Rice bowls
• Microwave mug meals
• Check back often for recipes!

How do I get started?

While cooking in your dorm may seem intimidating at first, once you try a few recipes and get an idea of the best cook times for your microwave, cooking in your dorm will become like second nature. I first started by making pasta dishes in my dorm microwave, and expanded out to soups and rice dishes. Cooking, in general, is a great skill to have that will last the rest of your life, and getting started early by making meals in your dorm is a great way to learn some basics. The aim of this blog is to help anyone hesitant or nervous by the idea of cooking, so stay tuned for more tips and tricks on how to start cooking!