Taking the plunge and making an effort start cooking in college can be overwhelming. It’s not like at home where the pantry is stocked and all of the supplies you need are already there. It is most cost and time efficient to start off with just the essential basic items and add more to the collection as you go along. There are great sets of affordable tools and cookware sold at places like Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Amazon. It’s also important to get some storage boxes to store everything under your bed or wherever you have space. Here is the list of some basic cooking supplies for the beginner chef:
- A small sauce pan. This is useful for cooking pasta, heating up soup, making oatmeal, and preparing grains like rice and quinoa.
2. A large pot. I use this all the time to make big batches of food like chill, soup, and stews. Throw everything into a big pot like this, put the lid on, let it simmer while you do homework, and it’s done.
3. Small and large frying pans. Frying pans are useful for making food quickly. Stir fry, eggs, pancakes, and sandwiches can be made with a frying pan. Getting a bigger frying pan that is a little deeper is also useful for making sauces and stews. I would also recommend getting one that is nonstick. It’s nice to have a small frying pan and a large frying pan so you don’t have to wash a big heavy pan for just one serving of scrambled eggs.
4. A set of utensils. The easiest way to get all of the utensils you need is to get a set. The most important utensils are a spatula, a rubber spatula, a big spoon, a slotted spoon, a peeler, measuring cups and spoons, tongs, and a can opener.
5. Nonstick baking sheets. Baking sheets are essential for roasting and baking. I would recommend getting one or two so that you can make big batches of roasted vegetables or roast multiple things at the same time. 
6. Cutting boards. Get yourself a big cutting board for chopping fruits, vegetables, and preparing food. You can also get a set with different sizes of cutting boards because it’s useful to have a small one for when you are cutting up a small amount of food. 
7. Knives. Get a small set of sharp knives. If I was living in a space with a real kitchen I would probably invest in a bigger and better set of knives because it makes cooking a lot easier. A set that includes a seraded knife and a small utility knife is enough to start out. 
8. Food storage set. It’s important to get a few pieces of food storage so that you can keep a big batch of food in the fridge for the week. I like the Pyrex set of bowls I have because it’s glass, has colorful lids that are easy to keep track of, and includes a useful variety of sizes. 
9. Blender. I really enjoy having a small blender for making smoothies. Blenders can also be really useful for making sauces, soups, and making your own flours. My roommate and I have even made cheesecake using only a personal blender (do not try this one at home). If I had more space and a real kitchen I would get a real blender, but for now a personal blender is perfect for making a quick smoothie to take to class in the morning. NutriBullets really are great, but this inexpensive one from Oster gets the job done too.
10. Dining set and utensils. Again, finding a set of plates, bowls, and cups makes life easier. All of my dining ware is plastic so that I can store everything under my bed without having to worry about it.
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