Next to water, food is essential for human life and can be extremely enjoyable when made properly. However, good food preparation is rarely an option in college. Kitchens are scarce and there are very few cooking appliances allowed in the dormitories at Blackburn. But what is permitted – electric grills, slow cookers and griddles – offer up numerous possibilities for culinary exploration.
The first step is knowing what the college allows in terms of appliances. Check the student handbook or visit the college’s website (www.blackburn.edu) for the complete policy. On the grounds of fire safety the following are banned in dorms:
- Hot plates
- Electric frying pans
- Toasters or toaster ovens
- Microwaves
This can limit cooking options but there are several products that are approved for use, including the George Foreman electric grill. This allows for many items, such as hamburgers or hotdogs, to be made easily. The electric grill makes a good substitute for a frying pan or skillet by cooking meats quickly. More advanced models have other functions like bun toasters or waffle iron attachments that expand the meals that can be made.
Another useful product for easy dorm meals is the slow cooker. Slow cookers use an enclosed heating element on a stoneware pot to cook food thoroughly. The only downside is that (as the name implies) the food may take all day to cook. However, this can be used to a busy college student’s advantage. Since many slow cooker recipes require little more interaction than occasional stirring, a slow cooker can be left running at the beginning of the day and have a ready meal by the end of it.
Ramen noodles are a culinary staple in the dorm room. According to the World Instant Noodles Association’s global demand statistics, in 2015, the U.S. accounted for 4,210 million servings of instant noodles (the fifth highest in the world).
All that is needed to make the noodles is a package and boiling water. While you can boil water in a microwave, electric rice cookers can serve this purpose also. There are several electric rice cookers on the market that will boil a sufficient amount of water for ramen noodles in just a few minutes.
There is danger in using any cooking appliance so students should always exercise caution. Make sure to open windows or use fans to ensure fire alarms aren’t triggered. Cleaning up after making food is also important; you can avoid unwanted bugs by just making sure all surfaces used are properly washed and sanitized. Avoiding leaving messes will also prevent residence halls from being prorated, which saves everyone money.
If you are unsure of what to cook in your dorm room, be sure to check the internet for recipes and ideas. Some useful resources can be found on websites like Pinterest, Buzzfeed and Collegexpress.