<p>I found two good sized microwaveable bowls with handle and slotted lid at Target and bought them on a whim for DD last year (my microwave is a defroster/water boiler so I don’t have much microwave ware). </p>
<p>She said they were her go to quick cooking tools for everything from pasta (1 serving), oatmeal, soup, reheating leftovers from restauarant meals, etc.
Quick cooking and quick clean up.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, does your son get carry out food or eat I restaurants/dining hall? It doesn’t look like he prepares the food he eats…and if that is the case he would need nothing on my list.</p>
<p>A couple of hot plates or trivets so counter tops don’t burn. My son became a big fan of Family Dollar store. Got decent plates, glassware, cooking utensils, dish towels, etc.
They also carry spices.</p>
<p>You really need to identify what you are going to cook.
You will need different pieces of equipment if soup is going to be a main staple than if lasagne with homemade noodles is.</p>
<p>One thing both my kids use that I haven’t seen mentioned is a crockpot. Two more things that I like are a micro plane grater and an immersion blender.</p>
<p>You might want to make a basic list with an eye to what you would need to make recipe specific equipment like a springform pan or oyster knife.</p>
<p>Don’t forget the corkscrew and bottle opener. Though they may already have one of each :)</p>
<p>Plan on lots of plastic storage containers (rubbermaid type) and lots of inexpensive dishware (plates, glasses, etc) and silverware. They break/get thrown out/get disgusting, etc. And a good sized trashcan with a big roll of trashbags.</p>
<p>I would start with the basics, some dishes, pots/pans, silverware, a few larger spoons, etc. for cooking and then keep a list on your fridge of what you come up with that you need as you go along. Our Target has some plastic spoons/spatulas in the dollar spot this week. They are actually pretty heavy duty ones. I picked up a few for DS’s new house. I will also be getting him a lot of the GladWare type dishes. I love that stuff. Get a couple pot holders, kitchen towels and dish rags.</p>
<p>For spices, etc. look through the ingredients of food you eat the most at home or figure you will make and buy the spices for those. Add as needed. Same for any salad dressing, etc. you may use on a regular basis. When you are cooking for just one person, don’t over do the condiments in the fridge as they will just spoil.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, my son’s kitchen is like your son’s. He has a whisk and a pitcher (for making lemonade) and a set of china and silverware we insisted on, but I’m not sure he’s ever used more than a bowl and spoon from the collection. His fridge when we visited had lemonade and milk. His cupboards had Life cereal.</p>
<p>Improvising in the kitchen (at 1:10 minutes) [The</a> Apartment - Trailer - YouTube](<a href=“The Apartment - Trailer - YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYHhqeqW-eE&feature=c-shelf-119)</p>
<p>icedragon, will you be eating all of your meals at your apartment? Will you have a limited meal plan? </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has mentioned a crockpot, but if you think you might not have the time to cook a good meal because of classes/activities, you might want to consider a small crockpot. </p>
<p>It could be very nice to come home after a long day of classes to a hot meal that is ready to eat.</p>
<p>I remember that scene. For years I used a coffee cup as a ladle. Even though I am considered a good cook, I have never been into lots of equipment, takes longer to get out the food processor than to just chop something up. And the more stuff you use the more you have to clean up.</p>
<p>I recommend you get a paring knife - any will do - a serrated knife and a chef’s knife. A good, cheap choice is Victorinox 8". Under $30, used at Cooks Illustrated. I also suggest you get a knife sharpener because having sharp knives is worth it. There are a bunch of simple handheld ones that take up almost no room and cost maybe $10.</p>
<p>I have some idea of what i’ll cook (browned chicken, veggies, those types of things). I’m not really good at cooking, even though i did take a cooking class my freshman year of highschool.</p>
<p>No meal plan. Due to my dietary needs, I really cannot eat there (even though i’m sure they could probably accomidate me, i’m not really confertable eating something prepaired by someone i don’t know). That, and i am a grazer. Big meals no longer sit well with me.</p>
<p>Much of what we got came from Goodwill OR Dollar Tree. You can outfit a kitchen inexpensively…you don’t need top things for the first kitchen.</p>
<p>My son had a small crock pot that he used a handful of times. It’s here now (send me your address and it’s yours).</p>
<p>I’m surprised that rice cookers have been mentioned a few times on this thread. I’ve never used one but find Uncle Ben’s directions on the box seem to work just fine for me and a my saucepan. Am I missing something? </p>
<p>My son makes the bag rice and loves it!</p>
<p>I’m with masslou–I really can’t figure out the point of rice cookers. One of my apartments in grad school had a kitchen corner with one cabinet up and one down. I would not have had space for most of the stuff listed above. A large sharp knife, a paring knife, a wooden spoon, a wooden chopping board, a saucepan, a frying pan, a colander, one large bowl, and some mismatched dishes, glasses and silverware seemed to work just fine. (I will say that a tapered French rolling pin is a big improvement over a wine bottle when making pie dough, though!)</p>
<p>we used to do it that way too masslou, however, grandma saw a rice cooker that she just had to have and it makes some of the best rice (Not overcooked or underdone, just right). Its kinda hard to explain. nn;</p>
<p>Not wishing to hijack the thread…but we eat rice very often. If our rice cooker died, I would immediately get a replacement. It’s a great appliance…perfect rice every time and no stirring or rice stuck to a pot. </p>
<p>Not essential…for sure…but nice to have if you eat rice a lot. In addition to cooking the rice, ours can keep it hot for up to six hours. Nice when we have a buffet dinner…or guests.</p>
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<p>Pretty sure that wine in a box and a pony keg will eliminate those things.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot. Most kids of CC parents don’t drink. ;)</p>
<p>^^^That’s almost a prerequisite to be a CC parent - have kids who don’t drink.</p>
<p>I never understood rice cookers either until I got one. I now enjoy better rice than the box ones. Jasmine is my favorite. The cookers are just so easy. Dump in the rice, dump in the water and hit cook. When it is done, my cooker switches, on its own, to warm. I start the rice when I start making dinner, forget about it and it is ready when I am.</p>
<p>It is nice but not necessary for a first kitchen.</p>