Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tools of the Trade or Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance

So mom/dad/older authority figure isn't around to make you a meal, whether you're away at college or you're just home alone and feeling the munchies.

Many dorms/suites at colleges either have kitchens within your unit, or you may just have on kitchen to share with your entire hall.
Just having a few useful tools on hand can making the daunting task of cooking for yourself into something easy and rewarding.

1. A good knife
You don't need a whole professional knife block bristling with knives of all shapes and sizes. Just one or two good knives will serve you well.

Think one good chef's knife of a size and weight you are comfortable with. You may also consider a serrated knife - not just good for bread, but surprisingly good for tricky buggers like tomatoes.

Knives might not be something you'd think to bring to college with you, but just TRY cutting veggies or meat with the butter knife you stole from the dining hall, and you'll see what I mean.

2. Good pots and pans
Once again, I don't mean you need to spend thousands of dollars on an all inclusive All-Clad chef-worthy pan set. The few pieces that I've ended up using most are:

• A non stick fry/saute pan
  
• A small sauce pan
  
• A medium sized pot with a lid

Having these multi-tasking pots and pans ensures that you have the right size and shaped vessel for whatever you care to make, whether its pancakes or soup. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to make eggs for breakfast in your roomate's crappy, dented aluminum pan. Save yourself the anguish and get your own set.

3. Cutting board(s)
One or more plastic cutting boards are indispensible for hygenic and easy food prep. Plastic is easier to clean in a sink and are bacteria resistant. Get at least two, one for raw meats, another for cooked foods/veggies and fruit. You don't want to risk having bacteria from raw meat get on foods you don't intend to cook.

4. Mixing bowls
You don't need many, but some appropriate-sized containers to do everything from make cupcakes to prepare marinades are very useful. I've had to improvise before in poorly equipped kitchens. It was at once farcical and sad.

5. A heat proof spatula, wooden spoon
Do not get plastic spatulas or spoons. No matter what the packaging says about their heat proofing. Metal(with a heat-resistant handle) or wood is your best bet. Ya gotta flip those pancakes or stir those sauces somehow!

6. Can opener, vegetable peeler
Such after thoughts, but yeah, I'd like to see you try and open a can without a can opener, or whittle the skin off a carrot, Daniel Boone. Are you handy with a pocket knife? I know I'm not...

7. Dishes, utensils
If you only intend to feed yourself, or you haven't previously agreed with your roomate who was bringing dishware, bring yourself a good microwave-safe set of plate, bowl, and cups.

8. Other things
These other items are fun and useful to have, but you'll have to see what your dorm/apartment allows. Some dorms do not allow anything with heat sources, and of course, consider your space constraints. Even if you COULD hide that toaster oven beneath your bed, is it really that good an idea?

• Baking sheets - these take up space to store, but from what I've seen, boy do college students like to bake, even when they're not willing to cook anything else.
  
• Rice cooker - whether you eat rice habitually or not, rice is one of the easiest, cheapest and most convenient foods to have on hand. And being able to make flawless rice whenever you want is a godsend for the hungry college student.
  
• Hot water heater - This little Asian gadget looks a bit like a thermos with a power cord. Basically what it does is boil water and keep it warm at a constant temperature, ready for dispensing at the touch of a button. Not necessary, and it takes up substantial room on a counter, but after you've had one of these babies, putting on a kettle or even microwaving a cup of water seems strangely prehistoric...
  
• Toaster oven - Not just for toast! You can roast chicken, broil veggies, toast nuts, perform just about any cooking task that can benefit from a close, intense heat source. Unfortunately, this is one of those things that most dorms do not allow. But if you have an apartment, consider this piece of equipment. I have RARELY ever fired up the oven in my own house because its just so much easier and quicker to do in an toaster oven.

There you have it, armed and ready for battle!

And as a parting note:
Don't get a freaking garlic press...

Ah yes, there's that kind of hot water heater, too.
The one I'm thinking about looks like this:



It's intended to stay in one spot. You just put your cup under the spout and dispense. It keeps the water at a steady temperature as long as its on.

My tip: try to cook and eat together with your roommate(s) or friend(s)!
It's much easier to cook food that serves two, and cooking together is also a lot more fun. On top of that, you generally tend to eat healtier when you eat with someone else (I do anyway), and you get to try out new recipes for the same food. Simple foods can have amazing variaties. Check out how your roommate(s)/friend(s) made it at home!

You could also use the back of a frying pan. =P

If you only have a few, limited ingredients and you have NO idea what to do with them, try SuperCook! You just type in what you have (and what you DON'T have), and it finds recipes for you.