I know I promised to write about other tools for dorm cooking next, but I have to vent about finding good prices on appliances.
Here are some suggestions
1) Bigger Thrift Stores (Ones that carry more than just clothes and books)- often have appliances, especially smaller ones like microwaves
2) Church/Community Fairs and/or Rummage Sales- sometimes they don't have small appliances, but it is possible to find things like food processors, blenders, and toaster overns
3) Craigslist and other Classifieds- sometimes people don't respond to your requests to buy their things they want to sell, but sometimes you luck out and get a deal you can actually follow through on
4) Shop around the internet- compare prices. Don't only look on amazon, for instance.
5) Home Improvement Stores- just the other day, my dad was nice enough to buy me a microwave from Walmart. Expecting that Walmart is the home of all bargains we didn't look elsewhere before getting that one. Our next stop, Home Depot, had some for half the price they were trying to sell off.
Also, be sure to grab a good deal when you see one. If you have been looking around, you'll know if it is a good price. I recently had the shocking discovery that the fridge I am looking at buying went up $10 from the last time I looked at it. Carpe Diem! and happy bargain hunting!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Dorm Room Appliances
Classes start next week for college students all around the country. Thus begins the dreaded season of cafeteria meals that lack flavor and can even make you sick. To avoid the plagues of the dining hall diet many of us turn to cooking some or all of our own food in our tiny dorm rooms. But, in order to begin the small-time cooking experiments, you need things to cook with and store food in.
After buying books and paying for other unavoidable college expenses, you may find yourself like me with next to no cash with which to buy small appliances. In fact, it seems like the start of this grand cooking adventure of mine will begin with nothing more than a toaster oven.
If you find yourself with a limited budget for buying small appliances to cook with, you should prioritize what you will need first and what is most useful. Here is my list.
1) Microwave- doesn't matter if it is old and you have a dial to turn instead of buttons to push, as long as it works and complies with your school's regulations, you're solid.
2) Compact Refrigerator- these can be rather inexpensive for a small cube-like one, but my
recommendation, if you plan on doing any sort of regular cooking not just storing sodas, is that you try and find an inexpensive 2-door model. You can models that are between 3 and 4 cubic ft that look like a shrunk down version of your standard 2-door refrigerator. The reason to splurge and spend $100-$200 is for the freezer space. Even if you only plan on freezing a few small things, the problem is this: 1 door refrigerators with freezer compartments (even the larger ones) usually will not keep food cold enough. Sometimes you get lucky and your tiny freezer space will actually make solid ice cubes, but even in a larger model you probably won't have room for even a pint of ice cream. If you want to freeze portions of meat and seafood to prepare for yourself, you'll want the larger space and freezer security of the 2-door variety.
You can accomplish a lot of things with the first two appliances on this list. Even if you are only allowed to have a microwave, you can still make spaghetti and other staples. However, if you are able to have other small appliances without open coils, the next item on this list will make a large difference.
3) Toaster Oven- it's not for toast, but it can do that so skip the 2-slice toaster and go this route instead. Anything you can make in a full size oven, you can make in a toaster oven. Well, maybe not your thanksgiving turkey, but besides that, the sky is the limit. Having a toaster oven opens up your options more than almost any additional appliance beyond the basic 2 (microwave and refrigerator). The baker in you will rejoice with the acquisition of a toaster oven, but it serves a greater purpose than just brownies and cupcakes.
If the basic 2 weren't sufficient enough, the triple threat of dorm appliances certainly is. Nevertheless, the following can also come in handy.
6) Electric Skillet or Wok- like having a pan on a stove only without the stove. As with hot plates and spare burners, these may not be allowed or welcomed by your school. You may be able to have one of these but not a hot plate however, which is why I ranked them up higher.
5) Hot plate or Electric Burner- if you are allowed to have one, a hot plate comes in handy. They also make spare burners (even induction burners) that have no exposed coils and plug in to the wall. With something like this you pretty much have a miniature version of a full kitchen. Chances are you are not allowed to have something like this in the average dorm room. WARNING- even if it is not spelled out in your handbook, your residence life staff may frown upon you heating a pot of boiling oil to fry with or other dangerous seeming kitchen activities. Get the lay of the land before you go ahead and purchase one of these
5) Griddle- less multipurpose than an electric skillet or spare burner, but if all you plan to use a pan for is pancakes and other things that don't require a pan to any volume of liquid, a griddle can be useful if you are allowed to have one.
5) Hot Water Kettle/ Hot Pot- yes you can make water for tea, but you can also cook other things in them. It is after all a source of boiling water.
6) Blender- smoothies! and also marinades and other such blended things
7) Mini-food processor- they make food processor in small sizes that are dorm-appropriate
8) Hand mixer- some even come with a plastic base that stores the beaters under the main part of the mixer
**COFFEE MAKER** it goes without being said that as a college student, you will need a coffee maker. Single serve machines like the Keurig will even make hot water you can use for other purposes.
I do not advocate using appliances that are not allowed by your school. I also do not advocate tampering with the inner workings of any appliance or using alternative repair methods such as duct tape.
Next post: I will write about the non-electronic things you should have for dorm room cooking
After buying books and paying for other unavoidable college expenses, you may find yourself like me with next to no cash with which to buy small appliances. In fact, it seems like the start of this grand cooking adventure of mine will begin with nothing more than a toaster oven.
If you find yourself with a limited budget for buying small appliances to cook with, you should prioritize what you will need first and what is most useful. Here is my list.
1) Microwave- doesn't matter if it is old and you have a dial to turn instead of buttons to push, as long as it works and complies with your school's regulations, you're solid.
2) Compact Refrigerator- these can be rather inexpensive for a small cube-like one, but my
recommendation, if you plan on doing any sort of regular cooking not just storing sodas, is that you try and find an inexpensive 2-door model. You can models that are between 3 and 4 cubic ft that look like a shrunk down version of your standard 2-door refrigerator. The reason to splurge and spend $100-$200 is for the freezer space. Even if you only plan on freezing a few small things, the problem is this: 1 door refrigerators with freezer compartments (even the larger ones) usually will not keep food cold enough. Sometimes you get lucky and your tiny freezer space will actually make solid ice cubes, but even in a larger model you probably won't have room for even a pint of ice cream. If you want to freeze portions of meat and seafood to prepare for yourself, you'll want the larger space and freezer security of the 2-door variety.
You can accomplish a lot of things with the first two appliances on this list. Even if you are only allowed to have a microwave, you can still make spaghetti and other staples. However, if you are able to have other small appliances without open coils, the next item on this list will make a large difference.
3) Toaster Oven- it's not for toast, but it can do that so skip the 2-slice toaster and go this route instead. Anything you can make in a full size oven, you can make in a toaster oven. Well, maybe not your thanksgiving turkey, but besides that, the sky is the limit. Having a toaster oven opens up your options more than almost any additional appliance beyond the basic 2 (microwave and refrigerator). The baker in you will rejoice with the acquisition of a toaster oven, but it serves a greater purpose than just brownies and cupcakes.
If the basic 2 weren't sufficient enough, the triple threat of dorm appliances certainly is. Nevertheless, the following can also come in handy.
6) Electric Skillet or Wok- like having a pan on a stove only without the stove. As with hot plates and spare burners, these may not be allowed or welcomed by your school. You may be able to have one of these but not a hot plate however, which is why I ranked them up higher.
5) Hot plate or Electric Burner- if you are allowed to have one, a hot plate comes in handy. They also make spare burners (even induction burners) that have no exposed coils and plug in to the wall. With something like this you pretty much have a miniature version of a full kitchen. Chances are you are not allowed to have something like this in the average dorm room. WARNING- even if it is not spelled out in your handbook, your residence life staff may frown upon you heating a pot of boiling oil to fry with or other dangerous seeming kitchen activities. Get the lay of the land before you go ahead and purchase one of these
5) Griddle- less multipurpose than an electric skillet or spare burner, but if all you plan to use a pan for is pancakes and other things that don't require a pan to any volume of liquid, a griddle can be useful if you are allowed to have one.
5) Hot Water Kettle/ Hot Pot- yes you can make water for tea, but you can also cook other things in them. It is after all a source of boiling water.
6) Blender- smoothies! and also marinades and other such blended things
7) Mini-food processor- they make food processor in small sizes that are dorm-appropriate
8) Hand mixer- some even come with a plastic base that stores the beaters under the main part of the mixer
**COFFEE MAKER** it goes without being said that as a college student, you will need a coffee maker. Single serve machines like the Keurig will even make hot water you can use for other purposes.
I do not advocate using appliances that are not allowed by your school. I also do not advocate tampering with the inner workings of any appliance or using alternative repair methods such as duct tape.
Next post: I will write about the non-electronic things you should have for dorm room cooking
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
The Adventure Begins
This coming school year I am embarking on a culinary
adventure on a grand scale in a small scale space. I will be living in a dorm
room with a roommate, and I intend on cooking several meals a week for myself
in this tiny space.
The last time I was living on campus was 2 years ago, as a
freshman. I discovered that most of the food served in our dining commons was
not beneficial to my dietary health. To avoid any future stomach-related trips
to the ER and other digestive dramas, I have made it my mission to cook myself
healthier, picky-stomach-approved food in the comfort of my tiny dorm room.
The plan is to loft my bed to save floor space and create my
kitchen area underneath. Ingredients will come from things I manage to smuggle
out of the dining commons, grocery stores, Wal-Mart, and a local farmers
market. – all on
a college budget, of course!
Join me this summer, as I gather the appliances, cooking
tools, and ideas for my tiny kitchen and this coming Fall semester, as the
adventure begins!
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