When it comes to cooking, students don't always get the best press. But let's face it, a cupboard full of broken pots and pans and a couple of electric rings would leave even professional chefs at a loss.

Advertisement

Being packed off to university with the right kit will raise spirits as well as keep hunger pangs at bay. Communal cooking is a great way of finding a sense of home, too, in addition to saving money.

So, whether you're going into halls or you're returning for a new term and now living with friends, we've compiled our definitive guide to the top gadgets and kit to add to your university packing list.

Once you have your equipment, check out our student recipes, healthy student suppers and top 10 basic recipes to take to university.

For more on kitchen essentials, visit our kitchen appliance reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides offering unbiased advice on what equipment is worth investing in. Freshers may be interested in our reviews of the best mini fridges, best saucepan sets, best kettles and best eco-friendly coffee cups.

If you have accommodation in your uni’s halls of residence, check the university's rules on students bringing their own electrical appliances.

Best student kitchen essentials for university at a glance

Gadgets and appliances

  • Slow cooker: Tower 3.5L Cavaletto slow cooker, £34.99
  • Air-fryer: Cosori Air-Fryer Lite 3.8L, £49.99
  • Toastie maker: VonShef 4-slice deep-fill toasted sandwich maker, £38.99
  • Kitchen scales: Salter Arc electronic scales, £9.99
  • Blender: Ninja Blast portable blender, £34.99
  • Coffee machine: Breville iced coffee maker, £24.99

Cooking equipment

  • Mixing bowl: Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus, £60
  • Garlic press: Brabantia Tasty+ garlic press, £8
  • Chopping board: ProCook non-slip chopping board, £8
  • Grater: OXO Good Grips box grater, £17.99
  • Can opener: Culinare MagiCan can opener, £8.99
  • Measuring cups: Tala kitchen measuring set, £6
  • Vegetable peeler: OXO Good Grips vegetable Y peeler, £8.09

Pans and tins

  • Saucepans: Judge Vista 3-piece saucepan set, £59.95
  • Roasting tin: Lakeland non-stick roasting tin with pouring lip, £16.99
  • Frying pan: Stellar Rocktanium 20cm frying pan, £30
  • Baking tray: Lakeland standard baking tray, £5.99

Other kitchen basics

  • Food storage containers: Lock & Lock eco two-piece set, £6.95
  • Student cookbook: Roasting Pan Suppers by Rosie Sykes, £14.99
  • Reusable water bottle: Hip water bottle, £13.95
  • Lunchbox: Sistema salad and sandwich to-go lunchbox, £10
  • Eco cleaning product: Method surface cleaner, £4

Best student kitchen essentials to buy in 2024

Tower 3.5L Cavaletto slow cooker

Tower Cavletto slow cooker

Slow cookers may seem a bit more The Good Life than The Young Ones, but they're a great way of eating well on a budget. With a slow cooker, you'll be able to turn the cheapest cuts of meat into something spectacular with minimum preparation time.

There are lots of pros to buying a slow cooker. They are energy efficient and if you set your timer before leaving the house, you can arrive home from lectures to a freshly cooked hot meal – just like home. This thrifty Tower slow cooker has a 3.5-litre capacity, so is ideal for batch-cooking recipes.

Read our full best slow cookers guide.

Available from:

Cosori Air Fryer Lite 3.8L

Cosori Air Fryer Lite 3.8L

Ideal for quick snacks like pasta chips, buffalo cauliflower wings, and sweet potato fries, air-fryers have become a must-have kitchen gadget in recent times. This compact Cosori model comes with a good variety of presets, and at 3.8 litres, it's the ideal size for a student kitchen.

The touchscreen controls are a doddle to master – even if you're an air-fryer novice – and we liked the tactile accents on the handle and cord storage at the back. During cooking it was impressively quiet too, and because it's easy to clean, all it needs is a simple wash and wipe after you've finished using it.

Read our full Cosori Air Fryer Lite review and our guide to the best air-fryers.

Available from:

VonShef 4-slice deep-fill toasted sandwich maker

VonShef 4-sliced toasted sandwich maker

Speedy and delicious, the toasted sandwich is a staple of student cooking, particularly when they're filled with lots of oozing melted cheese. This budget toastie maker from Daewoo is perfect for classic cheese toasties, and you can use it straight out of the box too.

This model is the perfect size for supermarket slices of bread, and in test our toasties were crisp and well sealed, with a warm, fully melted middle. We were also able to fit a generous amount of filling in each (30g of cheese).

Read our full VonShef 4-slice toastie maker review and our guide to the best toastie makers.

Available from:

Salter Arc electronic scales

Salter arc electronic scales

Guessing with amounts of ingredients is great for kitchen experiments, but when you're keen to follow new recipes or get the perfect rise on a bake, kitchen scales are often the key to success.

These scales from Salter are a good budget buy that measure in ounces and grams. Ideal for light cooking tasks, the small compact design also makes them easy to store away.

Read our guide to the best kitchen scales.

Available from:

Ninja Blast portable blender

Ninja Blast

Space can often be limited in a student kitchen, so compact appliances that take up little room (or can be tucked away in a cupboard) are your best bet. This blender from Ninja comes with a 530ml cup, a sip lid with a handle, cup cover, blade cover, and USB-C rechargeable motor base and charging cord. The lid is designed to be leak-proof, so you can also pop it in your bag and take it on the go.

We found it frustrating that the blender doesn't come with a USB plug, and the cord itself is a little short. On the plus side, it produced smooth, consistent results and worked efficiently, blending ingredients in just 30 seconds.

Read our guide to the best blenders.

Available from:

Breville iced coffee maker

Breville Iced Coffee Maker

Late nights and looming deadlines often call for a caffeine pick-me-up, and this budget machine produces solid results for a reasonable price. It comes with a 600ml tumbler, which you pour your favourite syrups into to make vanilla or caramel-flavoured iced coffees, as well as a reusable hard-plastic straw and lid.

It's a little plasticky but has a slimline design, so won't take up too much room on the countertop. For the best results, we advise using extra-large ice cubes so they don't melt too quickly.

Read our full review of the best coffee machines and best iced-coffee makers.

Available from:

Joseph Joseph Nest 9 Plus bowl set

joseph_joseph_nest_of_nine_mixing_bowls_and_measuring_cups-93b47b3

Mixing bowls can be snack holders for movie nights, serving bowls for salads and vessels for combining what's left in the fridge into the ultimate leftover surprise.

This nest of nine by Joseph Joseph is the ultimate space saving set, fitting five measuring cups, a colander, sieve and a small jug with a pouring spout stacked within the footprint of its largest 4.5-litre mixing bowl.

Being plastic, they’ll survive drops and knocks, are lightweight and brightly coloured, making them easy to spot in packed shared cupboards.

Read our full review of the best mixing bowls and the best measuring spoons.

Available from:

Brabantia Tasty+ garlic press

BRABANTIA TASTY+ - Terracotta Pink, best garlic presses

Garlic adds flavour to any dish and a garlic press is a great bit of kit for making it easier to manage. You can pop a clove unpeeled into this press and it will still produce perfectly minced garlic. It's also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning once you've scraped out excess casing.

Discover our top tried-and-tested picks in our guide to the best garlic presses.

Available from:

ProCook non-slip chopping board

ProCook non-slip chopping board

A must-have item in any uni kitchen, chopping boards are one of the most useful bits of kit for cooking prep. This budget chopping board is lightweight, versatile, and easy to use, with rubber corners that help it stay firm on the worktop without slipping. There are also grooves on either side to reduce spillages, which then lead to a narrowed 'slope' at one end of the board, so you can easily slide chopped ingredients into a pan.

Read our guide to the best chopping boards.

Available from:

OXO Good Grips box grater

OXO Good Grips Box Grater

Whether it's pasta bakes or toasties, cheese is a staple in lots of student households – which means a good quality grater will get you far. This four-sided box grater from OXO comes with medium and course blades, plus an angled slicing blade and a zester, all of which are sharp and easy to use.

The soft handle across the top provides a secure and slip-free grip, and there's also an attachable grater box that sits underneath – handy if you want to keep things mess-free, or save some ingredients for later.

Read our guide to the best graters.

Available from:

Culinare MagiCan can opener

Culinare MagiCan can opener

Some cheaper canned foods can come without a ring pull, so a good can opener is a must in any student kitchen. This MagiCan can opener comes with a budget price tag, but still works brilliantly. It has comfortable, easy-to-use handles, and it bites into the can's lid firmly so there's no need for continual squeezing. There's also an integrated magnet to help you lift the lid up and off smoothly.

Read our full review of the best can openers.

Available from:

Tala kitchen measuring set

white plastic measuring cups

This retro set of white measuring cups can be stacked in a cupboard or hung on their ring in your kitchen. There are seven different cup sizes and an egg separator included, plus a handy ingredient scraper with a measurement chart on the back for precise number conversions.

Read our full guide to the best measuring cups.

Available from:

Oxo Good Grips vegetable Y peeler

OXO Good Grips Vegetable Y Peeler

Be it for quick dinners or Sunday roasts with your housemates, a good peeler will save you endless amounts of time and faff. This OXO peeler is particularly good as it comes with a non-slip textured handle and soft edges, which make it easy to hold. It's also sharp enough for citrus fruits and soft skins, and it has a potato eyer too.

It's a little more expensive than other peelers, but it's made from durable plastic so should serve you well far beyond university.

Read our guide to the best peelers.

Available from:

Judge Vista 3-piece saucepan set

three silver pots with gold badge

A new saucepan can inspire a bit of excitement when it comes to cooking. It's also easier to know which saucepans are yours in a shared kitchen. Available separately (Judge, £26) or as a three-piece set, these saucepans from Judge were rated four out of five stars by the Good Food team. They comes with a lid with an in-built strainer and volume markings up the sides of the pan.

There’s no need to worry about knowing which hob type your halls or new shared flat has, as this pan is suitable for all hob types. If you’re lucky enough to have a dishwasher, it's dishwasher safe, too.

Read our guide to the best saucepans.

Available from:

Lakeland large roasting tin with pouring lip

700x350-lakeland-70165_1_0-05246e7

Less costly than you might imagine, a decent roasting tin comes in handy for a multitude of different recipes from a Sunday roast to a sweet traybake.

This Lakeland pan has many positive features, including a non-stick surface, pouring lip for cooking juices and a generous capacity – essential when cooking for a group.

Read our full review of the best roasting tins.

Available from:

Stellar Rocktanium frying pan

Stellar-Rocktanium-frying-pan

A non-stick frying pan can be a companion for life if you treat it the right way. This Stellar pan comes in five different sizes, and it's ideal for speedy, cheap dishes like pancakes and omelettes.

It's also lightweight and easy to hold, and we found the non-stick coating to be very effective. Cleaning up is very easy too, especially as its dishwasher-safe.

Read our full guide to the best non-stick frying pans.

Available from:

Lakeland standard baking tray

Lakeland standard baking tray

When you're shopping for student kitchen essentials, you want decent kit that you won't have to replace in a hurry – without leaving a dent in your budget. This Lakeland tray is a robust and reliable option, with a three-year guarantee and two layers of non-stick. At 30 x 21.5cm, it's also impressively versatile – it's oven-safe to 230C, and also freezer and dishwasher-safe too.

Read our guide to the best baking trays.

Available from:

Lock & Lock eco two-piece set

Lock & Lock eco two-piece set

A multi-pack is a great way of ensuring you have a versatile bunch of food containers in the cupboard. This two-piece set comes with a 1-litre and 1.4-litre box. Both are dishwasher- and freezer-safe, and boast impressive eco credentials. These containers are made from 100% recycled food-grade plastic. They're water- and air-tight too, so there's no chance of any nasty spills or food smells mixing in the shared fridge.

Read our full review of the best food storage containers.

Available from:

Roasting Pan Suppers by Rosie Sykes

Roasting Pan Suppers

Written by chef and food writer Rosie Sykes, this book is filled with brilliant one-pan recipes that can all be made in just one roasting tin or pot, allowing for less hassle and minimal washing-up.

It's ideal for students, whether you're a novice in the kitchen or want ideas to expand your repertoire, and contains recipes for meat, fish, and veg-based dishes, plus sides and desserts. Each recipe is also categorised by length (under 30 minutes, an hour, over an hour, etc) and grouped into menus too. Read our full guide to the best student cookbooks.

Available from:

Hip water bottle

Hip water bottle

Ideal for lectures, the gym, library sessions and general campus life, this flat, lightweight bottle easily slots into a wide pocket or bag, and the silicone around it protected it well during our drop test.

There's a range of colours available and we love the wide neck, which makes it easy to fill and add ice cubes. The clear top also allows you to see how much water you're pouring in (up to 650ml), and you can pop it in the dishwasher too.

Read our full review of the best water bottles.

Available from:

Sistema salad and sandwich to-go lunchbox

Sistema salad and sandwich to-go lunchbox

Taking your own packed lunches to uni will save you heaps of money. This budget lunchbox can be slotted into a book bag, plus it has a handy divider to keep your salad and sandwiches separated so your bread doesn't go soggy.

Read our guide to the best lunchboxes.

Available from:

Method anti-bac all-purpose cleaner

Method anti-bac all purpose cleaner

Sharing a kitchen with housemates can be great fun, but keeping it clean isn't always as easy – especially if there's one who always leaves their mess behind. At least with this kitchen spray from Method, wiping down your countertops is effortless and quick, and the fragrance is pleasant too.

It can be used on standard countertops, tile, stone, wood, and glass, making it an ideal all-rounder, and the bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic, so it also wins points on the eco front.

Read our guide to the best eco cleaning products.

Available from:

More uni kitchen essentials reviews

Best hand blenders
Best toasters
Best food storage containers
Best kitchen gadgets under £10
Best reusable water bottles
Best kettles
10 gadgets to save you money in the kitchen
Best knife sets
What is a Stanley Cup?

Student recipes and guides

7 healthy student recipes
Basic recipes for your first year as a student
10 vegan student recipes
10 vegetarian student recipes
Essential recipes for university
Our best ever student recipes
Cheap and healthy recipes
How to sharpen knives

Which kitchen equipment could you not live without at university? Leave a comment below...

Advertisement

This guide was last updated in August 2024. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

Comments, questions and tips

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Choose the type of message you'd like to post
Advertisement
Advertisement
Overhead shot of a Mindful Chef recipe box

Exclusive: 20% off Mindful Chef

Save 20% on your first two curated recipe boxes.

Claim the offer
Advertisement