This post is all about college dorm kitchen essentials every college student needs!
Find the best dorm kitchen essentials for your dorm room!
Dorm Kitchen Essentials
If your college cafeteria is anything like mine, you’re going to need a backup plan.
Yes, a backup plan!
Overall, my college cafeteria was a hit or a miss. So having dorm kitchen essentials on hand was a must.
In fact, at the beginning of the semester, the college cafeteria food was always on point.
But I realized once the semester started to wind down, the food would be okay on some days, and on other days not so much.
Now, if you are super lucky and your college cafeteria is nothing like mine, congrats! But, you still need your mini kitchen in place.
A mini kitchen in a dorm room is great for days you’re craving your favorite snack, or to help you prepare midnight snacks when the college cafeteria is closed.
Here are some college dorm kitchen essentials to help you create your mini dorm room kitchen!
College Dorm Kitchen Essentials
- Mini refrigerators
- Refrigerator caddies
- Refrigerator stands
- Shelving units
- Drawer carts
- Microwave ovens
- Food blenders
- Sandwich makers
- Water filter pitchers
- Food storage carts
- Coffee makers
- Tableware
- Paper towels
- Chip clips
- Food containers
- Food storage bags
- Dash set
- Mugs
Dorm Kitchen Essential 1: Mini refrigerator
A mini refrigerator is a must-have college item – it’s a lifesaver. I swear, everyone had one of these.
I was lucky enough to use one for free while I stayed on campus.
However, if you are not so lucky, but don’t want to pay full price, consider purchasing a used one.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 2: Refrigerator caddy
What a smart idea! I wish I had this for my mini refrigerator in my dorm room.
A refrigerator caddy is perfect for storing and organizing plates, spoons, and forks. Plus, you can also store a few snacks in there too!
Dorm Kitchen Essential 3: Mini Refrigerator stand
A mini refrigerator stand adds height to your refrigerator.
Plus, the drawers can be used to store groceries, plates, spoons, forks, and small kitchen tools and gadgets.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 4: Shelving Unit
A mini storage shelving unit is a key piece that really helps you build your mini dorm room kitchen.
This unit has adjustable shelves, so you can easily adjust your shelves based on your needs.
Overall, this unit is a must-have because it helps you create your own mini kitchen easily in your dorm room.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 5: Drawer cart
These drawer carts are so affordable and useful in college dorms! These were a staple in my dorm room.
Plus, I actually continued using my 3 drawer cart even I moved off-campus.
You can store your groceries, plates, spoons, and forks in these drawer carts easily.
Related: 13 Genius Ways To Organize Your Food In College
Dorm Kitchen Essential 6: Microwave oven
If you’re a foodie, you know what’s up.
I know you’re not leaving home without one of these. I did, but order one after one week living on campus.
You live and learn. A microwave oven for your college dorm room is a must!
This isn’t up for debate!
Dorm Kitchen Essential 7: Food blender
This is a luxury piece in a college dorm room, but fortunately, it is affordable.
You can create so many dishes and drinks with this food blender alone.
Once, you have this food blender in hand, you won’t even worry about bad college cafeteria food.
On days your college cafeteria food is bad, you can easily head back to your dorm room to whip up something tasty.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 8: Sandwich maker
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to create a delicious sandwich using this sandwich maker.
In fact, a sandwich maker is perfect for making a quick sandwich before class.
Plus, it’s great for days you don’t want to go to the college cafeteria, but you’re running low on groceries.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 9: Water filter pitcher
A water filter pitcher is easily one of the top dorm kitchen essentials, plus it’s a money saver!
Overall, that’s definitely one way to stay hydrated and save money in college.
Related: How To Really Save Money Even In College
Dorm Kitchen Essential 10: Food storage cart
This 3-tier rolling storage cart is a dorm room gem.
It’s multipurpose. So you can use it to organize your food, store books, electronic gadgets, and more.
Plus, it’s a cart on wheels, so you can easily move it around the room.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 11: Coffee maker
A mini coffee maker is a dorm kitchen essential. Enjoy delicious cups of coffee in your favorite coffee mug in the comfort of your dorm room.
Plus save money on your favorite coffee shop drinks.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 12: Tableware
Reusable dinnerware and flatware help you save money in college easily.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about restocking them when you are running low on cash.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 13: Paper towels
At home, if you’re frugal, you can easily use a cloth to wipe messes.
Related: Top Best Dorm Room Cleaning Supplies
However, in dorms, maintaining clean mold-free cleaning cloths can become a hassle.
Thus, using paper towels will probably be your best option.
So stock up and look for deals to save some money before buying a set of paper towels.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 14: Chip clips
Stale snacks aren’t appetizing and can easily cost you money. So, keep your snacks fresh with a set of chip clips!
Dorm Kitchen Essential 15: Food containers
A stackable food storage container set and a lockable food storage container set will keep the food in your dorm room food fresh.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 16: Food storage bags
Use a set of food storage bags to pack quick lunches or to store and organize your food in your dorm room in college.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 17: Dash meal prep set
This Dash meal prep set includes the Dash Mini Griddle, Dash Mini Waffle Maker, Dash Mini Grill.
Use this set to create some fun and delicious meals right in your dorm room.
These are perfect for small, tight spaces like a college dorms room.
Dorm Kitchen Essential 18: Mugs
Finally, remember to grab a set of 16-ounce mugs, microwave safe, so you can create delicious mug recipes in your dorm room using your microwave!
So here you have it! All the dorm kitchen essentials that will make your life easier in college!