16 The Best Dorm Room Kitchen Essentials You Have to Get
I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. By using these affiliate links, I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here
Are you moving to your dorm room or your college apartment this summer and you’re confused about what dorm room kitchen essentials you need?
These dorm room kitchen essentials are what college student needs to get when moving to college that you’ll use every single day.

As you’re moving to college this year or you’re probably upgrading from living in a dorm room to moving to your first college apartment, you’re wondering what kitchen essentials you need to get for your dorm room or your first college apartment.
When I moved to my dorm room, I haven’t thought I’ll be cooking as I was so occupied with getting the best dorm room decorations. Thus, I’ve only got the dorm kitchen must haves like a microwave, a kettle, and few reusable plates.
Few weeks later, I had to go to the closet Target store to my campus to get all of the dorm kitchen must haves.
Making your own meals at your dorm is way cheaper and healthier than buying or getting food from the cafeteria especially if you want to save money in college.
If you have a roommate, you can save up money by sharing these dorm kitchen essentials and getting them together.
Thus, in this post, I’ll share all the dorm room kitchen essentials and the college apartment kitchen essentials I’ve got and used every day.
The Best Dorm Room Kitchen Essentials
1. Fridge
The first dorm room kitchen essentials you need to get is the fridge. I’ve got it from Amazon as it’s shipper but it’s available on Target.
If you have a roommate, you can share the price of the fridge as you’ll use it both of you.
It has a freezer where you can store your leftovers or meat.
2. Fridge Organizers
To be honest, I’ve never thought I’ll need these acrylic organizers until I’ve had a messy fridge every single day and it’s just sucks to see all the mess and keep reordering stuff.
These acrylic organizers kept my fridge organized where I organized my food and vegetables in these storages. Also, they are super easy to clean.
They literally have cleaned my crowded fridge and kept it organized as long as it can be.
3. Food Storage Containers
Whether you’re living in a dorm room or in your college apartment, you need to get these food storage containers for your meal prep or leftovers.
You can prepare your weekly meals every weekend and put them in these storage containers and every single day, you only get what you’re eating in the day easily.
4. Freezer Bags
You need to get these Ziploc freezer bags for your food and meat. I use these bags to bags for vegetables and meat.
5. Microwave
Having a microwave is one of the most important dorm room kitchen essentials you need to get when moving to your dorm.
You won’t only use it to heat food but you can easily make delicious and easy microwave recipes in your dorm room like my favorite easy to make microwave pizza.
6. Blender
Having a mini blender in your dorm room kitchen is practical to make smoothies for breakfast and even for your meals.
This is one of the reasons to get a blender as it can be used to prepare your weekly meals easily.
7. Dinnerware Sets
I highly recommend you get this reusable dinnerware set for your dorm room. You can use it multiple times, it’s easy to clean, and most importantly, it won’t break.
This plastic dinnerware set is cheap to get and really convenient for dorm rooms.
8. Keurig
College has made me a coffee addict and now I can’t survive a day without two cups of coffee.
This Keurig coffee machine is one of the best dorm room kitchen essentials college students should get as it’s what we call “Best for space solution”.
You can make a very delicious coffee using your Keurig which will save you a lot of money buying it and will save space as it’s small and dorm rooms friendly.
9. Silverware Set
As of what I know, silverwares aren’t the cheapest to get. Yet, I’ve found this amazing dorm silverware set that I love affordable and the best to get for a dorm room.
10. Rolling Cart
This is going to be your small kitchen cabinet and where you’ll be organizing all of your dorm room kitchen essentials.
I love the trays of this rolling cart as they are metal. It will keep all your kitchen essentials organized.
11. Mug Tree Holder
I love this mug tree holder that helped me to keep my mugs organized. This mug tree holder is sturdy and easy to assemble with a modern design as well.
It will save you a lot of space as it can even hold heavy cups.
12. Kettle
I can’t say enough about the importance of having a kettle in your dorm room. Kettles are one of the approved dorm room kitchen essentials that you’re allowed to have.
Maybe, you’ll be thinking of what’s the need for a kettle but you’ll use it every single day.
You’ll be using it for boiling water for preparing meals, eating your favorite instant noodles, and so many other things as well.
I love the Cosori Kettle as it’s easy to use and to clean as well.
13. Reusable Water Bottle
While I’m sure you won’t forget getting a reusable water bottle, but we just forget with all the college moving thing and trying to settle down, you won’t think of getting a water bottle.
I’ve been using my Hydro flask water bottle for years now and I love it so much. It will keep your drinks cold all day.
Last time, I’ve filled it with ice water and left it in the scorching sun, and my drink was still cold.
This water bottle will last you forever and will help you stay hydrated if you’re anything like me and don’t drink enough water during the day.
Another water bottle that I’m obsessed with lately is this Stanely Tumbler.
I can bet you’ve seen it everywhere by now and it’s really good. I love the fact it comes with a straw which makes drinking water easily.
Also, it will keep your drinks cold or hot and it doesn’t leak as well.
14. Dish Wand Brush Scrubber
This is one of the dorm cleaning supplies you’d probably forget to get when shopping for your dorm cleaning essentials.
Thus, I really recommend getting this dish wand instead of the regular sponges.
First, it’s amazing for cleaning your dishes, and using it will help you save a lot when it comes to the dish soap as it’s refillable.
15. Brita Water Filter
You can’t forget getting this dorm room kitchen essential. Having a Brita is essential as sometimes, college water can’t be the purest to drink.
Also, I don’t like the taste of tap water so I always use my regular Brita and I really love it.
16. Bag Sealer Mini Machine
This is a dorm kitchen essential that my best friend made me get it and it’s an addiction. Instead of using the traditional chip clips for your snacks, and bags you want to seal.
It literally makes your bags closed as if you’ve never opened them to keep your food fresh. It’s practical and easy to use as well.