10 Kitchen Essentials I Regret Not Having When I Started College

I didn’t start cooking until I was in college. Growing up in the 90s, I ate a lot of McDonald’s, pizza, and prepared dishes from the grocery store, and it wasn’t until I was living on my own in a dorm room — and, later, an apartment — that I realized that I actually really enjoyed home-cooked food. It started with making my own sandwiches, and before long, I made scrambled eggs, spaghetti, and even cooked chili. By the end of college, I was doing stir fries, barbecuing, making pizza from scratch, and even baking banana bread. My mother couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t know I would get so into cooking during my time as an undergrad, so I showed up to school with a bunch of random, discarded pots, pans, knives, and plates that people in my family no longer wanted. It wasn’t the perfect arsenal of gear and definitely didn’t set me up for success. Now, as an adult with a comically decked-out kitchen, I can’t help but think of the items I wish I had back then. I would have benefited from a sharper chef’s knife, a decent cutting board, matching drinking glasses, and a powerful Dutch oven. On that note, here are the ten things I really could have used — which I recommend to anyone entering college interested in doing more cooking and dining.

10 Kitchen Essentials for College

• Duralex Picardie Tumblers, Set of 6, $17, originally $25
• Victorinox Swiss Army 8-Inch Fibrox Chef’s Knife, $48
• Viking Culinary Hybrid Plus 8-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan, $89
• San Jamar Saf-T-Grip Plastic Cutting Board, $27, originally $32
• Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, $77
• OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Tongs, $14, originally $16
• Hamilton Beach Food Processor, $55
• Winco Chinese Cleaver, $13, originally $20
• Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, $400
• Mora Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 6, $50

Duralex Picardie Tumblers, Set of 6

Whether it’s soda, cold brew, cocktails, or wine, it’s hard to deny that enjoying quality beverages is a big part of college. I remember having a selection of random drinkware that was equal parts passed-down glasses, ugly coffee mugs, and plastic sports bar pint glasses. You can do better by picking up a super reasonable set of French bistro-style glasses from Duralex, which look very cool and are perfect for everything from water and juice to pét-nat (if you’re old enough).

Victorinox Swiss Army 8-Inch Fibrox Chef’s Knife

I now know that using a dull knife is way more dangerous than a sharp one, and I’d love to gift my 18-year-old self this excellent chef’s knife that I would later use as a line cook. Comprising of just stainless steel and fibrox (a dense plastic), this knife from Victorinox is a simple but incredibly powerful tool — and a wonderful starting point for anyone looking for a terrific, affordable knife.

Viking Culinary Hybrid Plus 8-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan

I love this nonstick pan because it can really take a beating. It’s easy to clean, smooth to use, and I’ve actually never had food stick to it. I can’t even remember what brand of pan I had when I was in college, but I know it was a joke compared to this excellent, under-$100 option. 

San Jamar Saf-T-Grip Plastic Cutting Board

I used a cracked, stained, and unattractive bamboo cutting board. When I was young, I thought it didn’t matter. (No wonder I also had a super dull knife!) Today, I own a bunch of cutting boards, but this plastic option from San Jamar is probably my most used. It’s got grippy sides so that it won’t slide, it has a ruler etched in, and it’s incredibly easy to keep clean. 

Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

The first dish I fell in love with cooking was chili. I was probably using a junky, no-name pot from a department store or thrift shop that burned food and had horrible heat distribution. This legendary Dutch oven from Lodge would have skyrocketed my chili game and helped me perfect countless other dishes in my early days due to its fantastic heat retention and distribution and the fact that food rarely sticks to its enameled interior. 

OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Tongs

Every home kitchen needs a great pair of tongs, which, candidly, I probably didn’t acquire until I was in my 30s. This classic option from OXO is only $14 but can improve everything you make, from salads and roasted veggies to grilled proteins and even pasta. 

Hamilton Beach Food Processor

In college, I loved making hummus for my friends. I was using a low-powered blender at the time and didn’t even really know about food processors. I think having this 10-cup processor that chops, slices, minces, and more would have upped my game. Whether you’re interested in dips, soups, veggie prep, or homemade spreads (like peanut butter), this is a great investment. 

Winco Chinese Cleaver

Having one heavy-duty knife is essential, and this cleaver has saved the day for me more times than I can count. Beyond the fact that using a huge cleaver simply feels awesome, this will help you chop virtually anything you throw at it.

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

This Breville smart oven is definitely my most-used appliance as an adult — I rely on it for roasting, baking, air-frying, toasting, and more. A super powerful device, this oven makes it not only possible but efficient to cook stunning dishes in kitchens of any size. I also think having something like this would have inspired me to branch out and try more interesting baked dishes, as well as protein preparations.

Mora Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 6

Having a uniform set of dishes is super important, at least if you care about putting your best foot forward when you have people over for a meal. This attractive ceramic set of 10-inch plates from Mora will elevate any dining occasion for only $8 per plate.