Living without a kitchen is tough for foodies. It’s even harder when you’re alternative is your school’s dining hall. While B-Plate is good and De Neve has decent comfort food, their food is far from a home-cooked meal.

All year, I’ve had to squander any thoughts I’ve had about preparing my own food. That was until I found out about five killer products. Easy to use, store and clean, these appliances are all dorm-room friendly (and can be hidden from your RA effortlessly in the event of a surprise room inspection). Check out these hack-cooking products for your dorm room, so the next time you get the urge to cook something up with your roommates, you can.

Microwave

coffee, beer, tea, beans
Leanna Smith

Essential to all dorm rooms, a microwave is the most basic of appliances that a college student should have. Use it to make microwavable eggs for breakfast or a delicious chocolate mug cakefor dessert (or breakfast, should you be craving one to help you through a hangover).

While not always cheap, investing in a microwave is a must. Some schools will rent them to you for the school year, so make sure to investigate whether or not this is a possibility before you purchase your own.

Microwave Pasta Cooker

Newer on the product scene, this microwave pasta cooker is a college student’s Godsend. It’s super easy to use, and allows you to cook a delicious bowl of hot pasta within minutes. Mix in with some pesto or red sauce (that you can heat up in your microwave), buy a couple bottles of wine, and invite your friends over for a night in.

Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens are the adult version of an easy-bake oven and are my personal favorite. While normal toasters only allow you to toast bread or a bagel, a toaster oven lets you toast, heat, defrost, and even bake.

There are more extensive settings depending on the model (such as a “pizza” setting which reheats your day old slice to make it taste as fresh as it did the night before), but even the most basic toaster oven lets you concoct a multitude of recipes.

Personal Blender/Juicer

Everyone and their mother has tried (or has wanted to try) the latest juicing trend. Rather than spending upwards of $5 on pre-pressed juice from Pressed Juicery or grabbing a fresh, but not-so-healthy smoothie from B-Café (they add ice cream instead of yogurt to most), invest in a personal juicer/blender.

Products, like the NutriBullet (which is MUCH cheaper than a Vitamix), allow you to blend your own ingredients together in your dorm room. The blending tube yields just one serving and doubles as a to-go cup, which is perfect for busy college students who want healthy snacks they can take on the go.

Mini Grill

More versatile and less expensive than a panini press, a mini grill is the perfect appliance to round out your dorm-cooking abilities. From grilling burgers to sautéing vegetables for a stir fry, this product has got you covered. You can even make a Nutella-banana grilled cheese without having to get dressed or leave your room.