8 TikTok food hacks to help college students cook in any space
Even if you’ve signed up for a meal plan this semester, we guarantee there’ll be times when you won’t feel like hauling down to the school cafeteria just to get something in your belly. Whether it’s frigidly cold outside or you’d just prefer not to unglue yourself from your Netflix marathon (er, study sesh), having some meal supplies on hand is a good bet. But when your dorm or apartment kitchen is approximately the size of an airplane bathroom, it pays to get creative about your cooking (even more so if you don’t actually have a kitchen in your dorm room).
Fortunately, the internet is teeming with useful kitchen hacks and stupid simple recipes that make small-space cooking actually possible. We’ve rounded up the eight best college cooking hacks on TikTok so you can stay put and stay full.
Make a grilled cheese in your toaster
Wouldn’t it be great if you could have grilled cheese without the hassle of cleaning a frying pan or griddle? You can with this why-didn’t-I-think-of-this-before toaster hack. The secret: turning the toaster on its side (carefully, of course, so you don’t litter your countertop with crumbs).
Simply sprinkle shredded cheese between two slices of your favorite bread and insert the sammie into your now-horizontal toaster. A comfort food classic emerges in mere minutes.
Boil pasta, sans stovetop
Just because you don’t have a stovetop doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a homemade pasta dinner in your dorm. There’s such a thing as a microwave pasta cooker! (Who knew?) Fasta Pasta makes a pasta boiling container engineered specifically for microwave cooking.
Once you’ve gotten your hands on this nifty device, you can whip up Italian dinners galore — such as this easy fettuccine Alfredo using jarred sauce. Add some pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for protein, and you’ve got a surprisingly elegant dorm dinner.
Scramble eggs in a mug
You’ve heard of mug cakes: How about mug eggs? That’s right, you don’t need a stovetop to enjoy a warm, protein-packed breakfast. Grab some eggs, cheese, milk and your favorite veggies; whisk ’em in a mug; and then zap in the microwave for 30-second intervals until fluffy. It’s a savory, dead-easy breakfast made right in its own portable container — perfect for carrying with you as you walk to class.
Make a full meal in a rice cooker
When stocking your apartment with kitchen essentials, don’t discount the rice cooker. Despite its name, this countertop appliance is a culinary workhorse. (We’ve seen it used to make oatmeal, cakes, meats, eggs and more.)
If you’re not quite ready to get that unconventional with your rice cooker, you can use it for its intended purpose (rice, duh) — with a twist. This TikToker shows how to make a satisfying rice bowl dinner by tossing rice grains, a tangy Asian sauce, edamame, mushrooms and bell peppers into the cooker’s bowl and then letting it all steam together. So easy!
Chow down on no-cook tacos
There’s never a bad time for Taco Tuesday. And with these no-heat shrimp tacos, you can make a fiesta happen with literally zero kitchen appliances. (Vegetarian? You could swap the shrimp for a can of black or pinto beans!) Start with pre-cooked shrimp marinated in lime juice and Tajin (a true powerhouse for adding flavor fast), add a spicy DIY cabbage slaw and roll it all up in a tortilla. Ask your roommate to contribute some chips and salsa, and dinner is served in 10 minutes.
Throw together this easy chickpea salad
Having a go-to salad recipe will serve you well for college cooking, and this colorful combo of spinach, feta, chickpeas, red onions, apples and pecans is a great start. It’s chock-full of antioxidants, fiber and complex carbs to fuel your study sessions. (Fun fact: Sugar from carbs is your brain’s primary energy source. Jot that one down for your next bio quiz.)
You can easily make this no-cook salad right in your dorm with fridge and pantry staples, or throw it together at your cafeteria salad bar when you do decide to venture out.
Snack on some apple "donuts"
For a snack that’s both no-cook and seriously adorable, check out these apple donuts. Okay, they’re not real donuts — they’re actually cored apples cut into flat slices for a donut-like visual. This TikToker recommends slathering your fruity faux-nuts with protein-rich peanut butter or yogurt and then topping with fresh berries. Look at you, eating all healthy!
Curb a craving with no-bake mini cheesecakes
It’s 1 a.m., and you’re hankering for something sweet…but not exactly feeling the idea of leaving your room. No-cook mini cheesecakes to the rescue! Next time you grocery shop, stock up on vanilla yogurt, cream cheese, Jell-O mix, vanilla and pre-made graham cracker crust. You’ll have the makings of a delicious dessert you can toss together any time. Bonus: This treat is surprisingly healthy!
View the original article at Chegg Life and signup for the Chegg Life Newsletter
Related...
