Are you moving into a dorm in a short while? If so, you are going to want to know what the kitchen situation is like – for starters, will your dorm even have one?
To figure out what you can expect, here are the answers you are looking for:
Will Your Dorm Have a Kitchen?
Almost no colleges have dorm rooms with kitchens attached, but some dorms may have public kitchens that are communal spaces – these may be kitchenettes or full kitchens, depending on the size of the space and what appliances there are.
Which Dorms Will Have a Kitchen?
The majority of dorms in colleges across the country will not have any type of kitchen. Some of the newer universities or those that have upgraded their dorms recently may have a kitchenette or something similar.
This is also true of smaller universities where the student population is a lot lower. The dorms and individual dorm rooms may be a bit bigger here.
The best way to know if your dorm has a kitchen is to ask a school administrator or your dorm RA. If you are able to take a tour of the premises before moving day then you will also be able to determine if there is a kitchen.
If there is a kitchen, you will not be able to use it whenever you want to. Instead, you will need to book a specific time slot for you to use it.
It is also important to clear up and clean up after yourself so that the person after you has a clean kitchen to work in.
What Do Dorms Have Instead of Kitchens?
Well, once again, this does depend on the individual dorm for each university. In some cases, there may be no alternative to a kitchen.
In other instances, you may have a communal space with a refrigerator and a microwave. Some dorms have a communal microwave on each floor.
This is great for making snacks or for reheating foods.
You should be careful about storing foods in communal refrigerators. Even if you put your name on it, there is always a chance that some of your food may end up disappearing from time to time.
Why Do Colleges Not Have Kitchens?
There are a couple of reasons why there aren’t kitchens in most dorms.
The biggest reason is that most colleges have cafeterias and dining halls very close to the dorms. Due to this, they want to encourage the majority of the students to sign up for meal plans and eat there.
There are also logistics to think about. Depending on the size of the university, it is likely that there are hundreds of students living in a dorm. Ensuring that each person has a turn in the kitchen can be pretty tricky.
Not to mention, there are also odors and clean-up issues to think about as well.
What Can You Do If You Don’t Have a Kitchen In Your Dorm?
If you don’t have a kitchen in your dorm, there are still some options available to you.
It is best if you have a microwave and a mini fridge in your room. This way, you get to store your own food safely and also have options for creating microwave meals.
You can hash this out with your roommate ahead of time to determine if you are going to split the cost or if each person will turn up with a different appliance.
Keep in mind that each dorm is different. As such, they are each going to have their own regulations about what appliances may or may not be allowed.
To add to this, you have to pay attention to the power requirements set by each dorm as well. You will need to check on these before purchasing any of your appliances.
It is also best not to go overboard with the appliances. Now, you may think that the more appliances you have the more foods that you can whip up – and this is true.
The only problem is that in a dorm, you are working with limited space. So, if you decide to stockpile various appliances, this space is going to get pretty crowded.
Your best option is to start off with the basics. Then, once you have spent some time in your dorm, you will get a better idea of what you will need. Make a list of the top items and determine if you have enough space.
Can You Prepare Meals in Your Dorm Room?
Yes, you can. It can take some planning and careful shopping but this is something that you can do.
Just remember to be mindful of others when preparing meals in your room. Avoid fish, strong cheese, or anything that may have a strong or unpleasant smell.
One way to cut down on needing to cook is to stock your fridge with fresh fruit and veggies that don’t need to be cooked. With a little bit of seasoning, these can be turned into salads.
There are lots of frozen meals out there but be careful because many of these are quite unhealthy. Fortunately for you, some of these are well prepared but it is important to do your research and know the good from the bad.
Believe it or not, you can actually prepare quite a few meals in your microwave – even bake a cake! The key here is to choose the right foods. Also, make sure that you have enough microwave-safe bowls as well.
Even if you are looking to keep things simple, you can just make rice or ramen noodles with some added seasoning for taste.
It is a good idea to create a meal plan so that you know what to buy and how to create meals for each day of the week.
Do All Dorms Have Kitchens?
Very few dorms have kitchens – you are only likely to find these at newer universities with smaller populations or ones that have recently upgraded the dorms – apart from this, you may only find a kitchenette or a communal refrigerator or microwave in your dorm.
