Just because you are going to be living in a dorm doesn’t mean you have to live on chips and stale pizza. As long as you have a mini fridge and a microwave, you will find that all it takes is some creativity to prepare delicious meals right in your dorm room. You may also find that when you start cooking, you will make a great deal of new friends (just wait and see!)
The first step is to realize that almost anything that can be made in an oven can be cooked in a microwave. Granted, you can’t toast, brown, broil, or grill in a microwave but other than that the sky is the limit.
The next step is to put safety first. Use only microwave-safe dishes and keep constant check on your food so it doesn’t burn. Whole eggs will explode in the microwave, so look for other ways to cook them. Hot dogs can be microwaved, but they too will explode in a relatively short period of time. If you are using a boxed meal or frozen foods, check for microwave directions on the box and follow them to the letter.
Since your dorm room will probably be the size of a hamster cage, refrain from buying or packing a full array of cookware and utensils. Buy only the basic spices such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Choose 4-5 good pieces of microwave-safe cookware and make do. You will definitely live without a microwave bacon rack, omelet pan, egg poacher, and all of the other ‘must-haves’ you have seen advertised on television. You will also need a couple of plates, bowls, cups, and glasses, a can opener, and a few pieces of flatware. Although you may get excited about stocking your first real ‘apartment’, buying anything in excess will be nothing but a source of grief as you try to hurdle the rotisserie in order to get into bed.
When looking at microwave recipes, limit yourself to those that use five ingredients or less. This will not only save space in your room, but will also save you a great deal of money at the grocery store. You can also keep some staples on hand for an emergency. Foods such as milk, cereal, pasta, oatmeal, sugar, oil, eggs, frozen foods, cheese, and canned soup are good choices and will provide a decent meal in a hurry.
Remember before you start cooking that very strong food odors will not make friends. Always ask your roommate before you cook anything that will have a strong smell and try to limit things that will scent the entire floor. Other than that, have fun, experiment, and be creative. You don’t have to be master chef or even have any past cooking experience to get started. If you approach microwave cooking with an open mind, you are sure to invent at least a few recipes that will make you glad you did.
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Luke Skywalker is a writer for BecomeaPoliceOfficer.com. If you are one that wants to become a police officer , take a look at this site, it's a good resource
Thanks for the tips! I found a nice microwave cookware set and it was what I used for nearly every meal when I was in college. It was nice because I found ways to cook food in them and they were pretty easy to clean.
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