Student kitchen essentials that you need.
Photo by PNW Production
If you have been offered a position in one of the UK universities, congratulations are in order! Being a university student is an exciting time in a person’s life. Apart from all the adventures that await, being a university student also molds you into becoming a responsible adult. Now that you’re going to be living on your own, certain things need to be taken care of. Finishing off all your pending tasks before you start university is advisable. This is to ensure that you can start your journey without any hassle.
This new journey can also be the start of your relationship with cooking (if you don’t already have one). Learning how to cook will make your life easier by helping you save both time and money. In only a few short steps, you can have a fully-functional kitchen to yourself. If you are going to be sharing your kitchen with flatmates, you can discuss this with them too. The first thing you could do is create a list, so you don’t forget anything. A few companies like Unpacked also send you student kitchen packs, so you don’t have to do the task yourself!
Don’t know what goes up on the uni kitchen essentials list? We are here to help!
Here is the list of all the things you will need to set up an ideal kitchen for yourself:
Kitchen appliances
The first thing you must do regarding your kitchen is checked with your accommodation manager. Ask if the accommodation that you have booked for yourself comes with a well-equipped kitchen or not. Chances are that your student accommodation already has a few kitchen appliances that come along with it. Doing this can prevent you from unnecessarily spending money. Most student places usually have a microwave and a kettle. If yours doesn’t, it’s a good idea to invest in these!
Kitchen utensils and cookware
A functional kitchen is made up of a good selection of kitchen utensils and cookware. So, make sure that you pick wisely. If you’re looking to set up a basic kitchen for everyday cooking and nothing fancy, you won’t need many items. These will include:
Cookware
- A saucepan, a frying pan, and a wok
- Baking trays (if you intend to try your hand at baking)
Cutlery
- A set of spoons/forks
- Knives
Utensils
- Set of plates/bowls
- Mugs
Other kitchen items
- Colander
- Vegetable peeler
- Measuring cups
- Chopping board
- Scissors
- Sieve
- Bottle opener
- Grater
- Coasters
- Mixing bowl
- Oven gloves
Now, if you don’t already know, a kitchen needs constant cleaning. If you don’t keep your kitchen clean, it will end up attracting pests, which will make life hard for you. So, ensure that you clean it up properly at least once a day. If you have flatmates, the cleaning task can be divided amongst y’all, further simplifying it. Another great idea that will encourage you to clean often is having good cleaning products. Let’s not underestimate the importance of good cleaning supplies to ease your tasks for you. Here are a few things that you can add to your cleaning supplies list:
- Liquid and bar dish soap
- Surface cleaners
- Sponges
- Washcloths
- Bin bags
- Kitchen rolls
You can be a university student who cares for the environment! Opt for sustainably made products for your kitchen, that are reusable, making them environmentally safe. Cooking at home will also prevent you from getting frequent takeaways, thus reducing the number of disposable waste. So, know that you’re already doing a good job! Don’t forget to get yourself a reusable water bottle as well, so you don’t have to keep buying plastic water bottles when you’re outside. Keeping a travel-sized cutlery set with a fork, spoon, knife and a metal straw is also a good idea, which is practical and good for the planet. A few storage containers are a great way to help you store leftover food. Some cling film and aluminum will come in handy too and can help preserve the freshness of your food.
We hope that you can create a beautiful kitchen for yourself at your new student home!