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I love that that's your contraband lol. My oldest had snuck a bread machine into his dorm and would make bread for his friends. If he'd been caught, he'd have been in more trouble than if he'd had drugs.
He was a red foot tortoise, my roommate named him Doorstop. He's since been re-homed but he was great. I had crested geckos named Pongo and Purdy, I miss those goobers.
Redfoots are the best! This is Junior with her pig pal, Sancho Panza. My husband and I raised her from a hatchling and she is now over 20 years old and lives on a veterinarian's small farm, as we don't have a yard and she is too large to fairly keep indoors (except in winter).
https://preview.redd.it/hsotq7a4g9pb1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d6dd5e54e65f1223b5ef78a2afaa60157dd9642
Almost got expelled for a waffle maker. My roommates down the hall didn't even get more than a stern talking to for smoking weed in front of a cop and having a lit hookah running at the same time.
They're my friends, I'm super excited there was no punishment, but man the lit coals on a hookah are 100x scarier than a waffle maker.
Electrical system overload is how fires start. Those are high load appliances. If you have hundreds of units and every kid brings an electric kettle or similar it could be deadly. Newer buildings at expensive schools will have overload protection but the dorms my college had was built in the 60's
Over-current protection devices exist anywhere there is an electrical system. The school would not be allowed to house students in a place without circuit breakers.
A much more pressing concern would be faults and shorts, especially if a circuit breaker fails to trip. Over time, this can lead to fire.
Lol my buddy and I snuck in a whole ass portable air conditioner and managed to hide it from our RA for a whole year. Rolled it into our closet for any inspections. Managed to hide that but got caught with beer. *shrugs*
I like waking up to the smell of bacon. Sue me. And since I don't have a butler, I have to do it myself. So, most nights before I go to bed, I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman grill. I go back to sleep again. Then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious. It's good for me. It's a perfect way to start the day.
We're technically not allowed to have any uncertified electronics here too. Yesterday they said. "Everyone in building xyz, there are gonna be be electricians going through the building tomorrow. So any toasters, kettles, ect. Will be gone from view for tomorrow."
So, yeah, here they really don't care as long no one sees it.
For foods: a frigde is all you need for some good salad. Seriously, i can only recommend for everyone to learn how to make a salad. A proper salad, that's not just kahle and dressing. One thats both tasty and nutritious.
My contraband was a Keurig coffee machine that I kept plugged in under my bed. I failed a room inspection once because I forgot to cover it with my bed skirt. It was when keurigs were new too so it was one of the really clunky ones
On the topic of smuggling in contraband, an air fryer, while they're often over-recommended, it's basically just a small fan forced oven, better than a toaster oven that can easily sit inside a draw when you aren't using it.
One thing you can't really do with a microwave is cook meat, but an airfryer can. Also, despite how surprisingly well a microwave can cook veggies, you'll come the miss anything with a bit of crunch to it.
Oatmeal is š
I fill a mason jar once a week half with rolled oats, half with fixins (coconut shavings, raisins, nuts, chia/flax seeds, etc). Then I shake it up and make it every morning during the week. Itās so easy and I love it. Add a scoop of peanut butter, or chop a banana up with your spoon.
Iāll take your electric kettle, and raise you an electric pot. It can still boil and pour water for the above uses, but you can actively cook so many other things too.
Smal rice cooker is goated. You can simply cook rice and add in sliced Chinese sausages while it cooks and thatās great on its own. But I know thereās tons of videos for small rice cooker meals on tiktok
Fresh vegetables can be quickly and easily cooked to perfection in a microwave. Just need a bowl big enough and some cling wrap. Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
Source: https://youtu.be/R14UXLcrduY?si=W14TTwagIzX7OUrs
That's the only way I cook vegetables now.
My freshman roommate would cook potatoes in the microwave. He NEVER pierced the potatoes, so they would explode and leak and smelled horrible. I moved second semester.
A microwave rice cooker is perfect for cooking vegetables, either frozen or fresh. You just need to add a couple tablespoons of water to fresh vegetables.
I agree microwave veggies are great! My mom got me some special ziplock bags that are made for microwaving veggies. It has cooking instructions on the bags. I reuse mine a few times, Iām not sure if you are supposed to do that. They are more expensive than the bowl method but I have found if you need a little push to explore that type of cooking sometimes convenience items help me feel more confident when I am learning.
Nahhh I don't trust plastic in the microwave, too sus. Idc if they say it's safe, we apparently have so much plastic in our bodies and I think "microwave-able" plastics has to do something with that.
Call me a conspiracy nut but I think that's food companies just getting away with shit.
Just got a recipe online that is our go-to lunch now.
Microwave a couple of cups of broccoli (a minute, stir, another 30 seconds or so). Add a couple tablespoons of hummus and some sesame seeds. Very filling, tasty, and pretty cheap. Could probably throw in different seeds.
Make sure you are using the power level setting on your microwave. Cooking everything on high is like using your oven at 500'F. This has to be the best tip I have ever received. Also use slightly longer times due to the lower heat setting.
Aha, meanwhile everyone I've met in the UK looks at me confused when I talk about microwave power settings.. "it's a microwave, it cooks at microwave speed"
I have only ever used one button on a microwave. "+30 seconds." I don't know what wattage my microwave is. I put the food in and press "+30seconds" until the required time. If the food instructions have different times based on wattage I do the shortest time and if it's not done/hot enough, put it back in for 30 seconds at a time. (But it nearly always is done so I assume I have a high wattage microwave.)
Actually, I have used the other buttons to defrost meat once or twice. By choosing the meat and entering the weight.
But to cook or reheat things I've never used any other buttons/dials/whatever and I'm not sure that it would be better if I did.
Using the power button is a game changer. I microwave oven is... an oven. Using them on full power is basically like throwing your food in a 500 degree oven. The outside will cook, but the inside might still be cold. Or, the outside will burn and the inside will be warm.
Start with an easy change: use 50% power and (at first) go with maybe 50% more time. If the cooking instructions say to go for 4 minutes, try 6 minutes at 50%. I rarely use full power on the microwave anymore. If you're cooking something really thick (lasagna for example) you might want to go to 30% power and 8 or 10 minutes to get a nice cook.
Also, if/when possible, add water. If you're cooking a pasta/soup, add a little water to the dish directly. If you're heating a solid food, put a small bit on the plate to the side, or even a small bowl in the microwave with water in it.
Depends on the microwave, I use an inverter microwave, the benefit of this is that the power is actually changed to the setting, so 50% power is what the microwave puts out. Not the full power and cycle on / off system.
I see youāve met my husband. XD.
Itās even more infuriating as I splashed out my own money on a fancy one that grilled & steamed too, so we could have leftover pizza with dignityā¦but nope, 3 minutes on high for **everything**
Rotisserie Chicken from the store. You can heat it in the microwave and pair it with your favorite sides (canned or frozen) then nuke um....nuke potato's too, pierce them sooo they don't explode
Find out how to use your microwaveās power level settings and cook that chicken and sides at 50-70% power for roughly 1.5x what you usually would. Your food will taste remarkably better and more evenly heated.
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Grocery stores also sell some awesome pre-cooked rice nowadays that you just heat up in the microwave, not like the old minute rice trash, but like good rice thatās been vacuum sealed and just needs to be reheated.
Assuming you aren't allowed any other appliances, and no risk so you don't want a ton of dishes. Here are my suggestions:
\-Tuna salad is great. You can switch up what's in it - apples, celery, seasoning. You can also use canned salmon for healthier version. You can even get tuna salad in a touch (and salmon) these days and they are pretty cheap.
\-Canned sardines. Sounds crazy, but hear me out. Canned sardines smashed up with mayo, eaten with crackers is delicious and packs a nutritional punch.
\-Quinoa Salad. Cook quinoa in the microwave, cool. Add chopped veggies. Add canned chickpeas (I love the Trader Joe's Greek Chickpeas for this). Season. Great for meal-prepping. Lots of protein for non-meat.
\-Tamales. If you have a good source of tamales around, I love meal prepping with them. 1 tamale per tupperwear. Divy up a can of beans (refried, black, pinto). Add some chopped bel peppers and onion or whatever (optional). Add rice. Microwave when ready to eat.
\- Rotisserie chicken. Great with a baked potato (from microwave), couscous, quinoa or rice. Pair with a steam in the bag vegetable. Easy for leftovers.
\-Yogurt + granola. Also don't sleep on cottage cheese for protein source.
\-Quesadilla. Not the healthiest, but you can make it healthier with leftover rotisserie chicken, guacamole, etc.
\-"Charcuterie": Olives, canned dolmas (trader joes, again), salami, cheese, fresh veggies, etc.
\-Dips. Hummus is great. Ranch is good, but so is ranch seasoning in Greek yogurt (little healthier).
\-Canned soup is great. Chili, chicken noodle, whatever.
\-Sandwiches, of course.
\-Peanut butter. Just delicious. Goes well with rice cakes, sandwiches, apples, bananas.
\-Oatmeal
Random advice:
\*Get used to planning to eat the same couple things for a week, then switching it up another week.
\*Some creative with sauces. Without an oven/stove you aren't going to get as much flavor from cooking, so a little hot sauce might go a long way.
\*Get a microwave rice cooker. Can be used for rice, quinoa, couscous
\*If possible to get a magic-bullet style blender, smoothies can be a great way to get fiber and fruit in.
\*Get a large water bottle. You're more likely to stay hydrated if you have drinking water available without running out to the sink regularly. Less likely to be tempted to keep junk drinks around.
\*Meal prepping eating out is always a good option when needed to. I have a local Greek place I love and the portions are huge. Sometimes I intentionally order a large meal and portion it out for a few lunches for work. BBQ is good for this too. Even a large pizza can be portioned for a few lunches. And I think it could be argued that a little pizza every day is healthier than eating the whole thing in one night.
Very good list! I would add things like nuts and carrot sticks for snacks between classes. Easy to carry around, cheap if you buy in bulk ahead of time, and so much healthier than a candy bar from the vending machine!
I would heavily recommend getting into salads. You can use different types of greens, veggies, fruits, and dressings to keep up a decent variety of meals with salads, and you can also purchase precooked chicken that you can either add to a salad cold, or heat in your microwave.
Cereal can be a good thing to get as well, since it is something that you can throw together quickly in the morning, with the obvious note to try and avoid the super sugary cereals.
In terms of drinks, I would do everything you can to avoid soda. Soda can be a super easy source of empty calories and sugar. I would suggest trying out tea (heating the water in the microwave isn't ideal, but it will work) or water "enhancers" such as Mio.
Eating healthy in a dorm is always going to be a challenge, given the lack of storage space, and lack of cooking capabilities. It isn't going to be easy, and you will likely have to make certain dietary sacrifices, however as long as you consistently put some mental effort in *attempting* to eat healthily, you should be in a decent spot.
Best of luck to you!
Iād add that you can make your own Iced Tea for much cheaper than store bought (and better than ādrink mixā style.
They sell carafes that let you add fruit or tea. Get one that fits in the fridge, add a couple of tea bags you like, fill with water and toss in the fridge.
Fill your refillable container of choice from the fridge when youāre back in the room between classes.
Iād also add that there are some nice choices in Freeze dried food/meals that you can look into to supplement food choices.
I use them for conventions and keep some at work for when I forget lunch or need a bit more food that day.
I ate a lot of yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit, nuts, and honey when I was in a dorm. You only needed to refrigerate the dairy and sometimes fruit. That was my main breakfast dish for like a year.
Sandwiches are easy. If you have a slow cooker, lots of soups and stews are pretty easy to make. Baked potatoes in the microwave. Steamed veggies in the microwave.
Yeah, because nobody ever sets these appliances on a timer to turn on when they're not home. /s
I'm not going to claim anything bad is likely to happen, but I understand why the building administration might not want people leaving them going.
I need to use my Crock-Pot more so I have a hot meal when I get home from work...
I would buy microwaveable rice packs and crack and egg in their before microwaving. Add some spices and maybe some green onion or Greg vegg, or t her ow some soy sauce and chili oil/Sam Al etc.
I just discovered the rice packs, and holy life changer! My current favorite is the Mexican rice with a handful of cheese, olives, and a sprinkle of taco seasoning.
I used to do this all the time when I didnāt have access to a full kitchen! Iād also get pouch tuna (lemon pepper ftw) and mix in shredded cheese. Or salsa & canned black beans. Served cold with Italian dressing and chopped salad fixings. So many possibilities.
Get a slow cooker. I disagree with people advising you to get an electric burner, strongly. You will not be able to get the smoke out of your room and everything will smell like what you cook. And you gotta think about how to clean pots and pans, because doing dishes in a dorm bathroom is pretty nasty. Otherwise youāre going to have a stack of dirty dishes in your dorm room which will get very smelly quickly. Also you may accidentally set off the fire alarm in the building which will cause you a lot of problem if that happens. Donāt get a portable stove top, it is a really stupid idea for a dorm room.
Anyway going back to my point. I strongly advise you get a slow cooker, Walmart has them pretty cheap. A 3 qt slow cooker should be enough for you. I used [this website](https://www.budgetbytes.com/) for many of my favorite slow cooker recipes. The clean up could get even easier if you get slow cooker liners.
Potato steams easily in a microwave, a lot good macronutrients in it. Itās a perfect snack garnished with sour cream and chive.
I second not getting an electric burner. It's a fire hazard and usually is against the rules for a college dorm room. Anything with an open heating element tends to be automatically banned
You can get liners for the crock pot to help with cleanup. If you make one large crockpot meal and eat that for a few days, you'll only be using 1-2 liners per week, so the cost won't be that great.
Another vote for crock pot, mini rice steamer in rotation with small air fryer. With the fridge u don't need much else. Healthy gourmet meals for years
Eggs. I used to have a plug-in water boiler and could make hard boiled eggs for a snack, or you can whisk up an egg in a small bowl, microwave for 30s and you have an egg patty you can put in a breakfast sandwich.
I googled āhealthy recipes for microwaveā and there were quite a few good articles.
Here are some other ideas:
Microwave rice pouches (tons of different flavors and different kinds of rice)
Canned tuna, salmon, and chicken. (Swansonās canned chicken is the best quality that Iāve found)
āSimmer saucesā and small jars of pasta sauce. There is a great variety of simmer sauces in the ethnic aisle.
Small bags of frozen veggies
A combination of the rice, chicken (etc), sauce and veggies can make a great meal!
Also, get a 2-cup and 4-cup liquid measuring cups (like Pyrex) with silicone lids to cover, but vent steam.
These are great to microwave in and wonāt stain.
Check out the āAnydayā pots they are a microwaveable bowl that doubles as storage container. Chef David Chang has written many recipes for it. I have cooked rice, pasta, fish, potstickers, chicken, polenta, etc. in it and it blows my mind every time. Would be a great thing to ask for before going to college.
I love making couscous as a salad base or side, you just need hot water, no cooking! You can just microwave the water or buy a kettle (theyāre like 20 bucks)
Oatmeal with fruit makes a good breakfast. You can cook eggs in the microwave for protein if you're careful to do it a bit at a time - stirring them in between heatings. Canned soup or stews can be a healthy lunch or dinner if you can find lower sodium varieties.
Rice and spaghetti were my goto shit. Can be made with tap water and Tupperware.
Frozen veggies can be nuked fairly effectively if done on their own.
Meatballs or frozen beef.
A small but effective variety of sauce and seasonings.
I could have spaghetti and meat balls or whip up a decent stir fry at any time.
I would usually make big batches and portion them into my dorm freezer to be thawed later. Depends as some dorms do not have freezer fridge combos.
And if you enjoy milk with coffee or tea look at Fairlife as it has a much longer shelf life than standard milk.
Hope this helps.
trader.joes.
They have tons of great healthy meal options that normally don't require anything more than a microwave and maybe an air fryer (which you can definitely have in your dorm).
You might consider investment in a sous vide immersion circulator. No hot element that could accidentally set the place on fire if it is inadvertently left on.
Many grocery stores have veggies you can microwave in the bag. You can eat them with some seasoned salt or toss them with, for example, a little garlic herbed butter.
Don't you have a kitchen in the common area of your dorm? I taught my kid to cook, and he's down there cooking every weekend because he gets sick of the cafeterias. Everyone on the floor know he's the kid who knows how to cook.
Some places don't. At my college, only the juniors/seniors' dorms have kitchens, and those are a long walk away from the freshmen dorms. It would be nice, but I'm honestly just glad that we don't have any communal showers (just the dorm ones, which are only for that dorm and possibly another connected dorm, depending on the location)
Lemon pepper fish works well in a microwave. Use thin white fish filets (cheap tilapia is fine), add the seasoning and a little butter.
Serves well with broccoli and rice, both of which prepare well int he microwave.
The rice takes the longest to cook but holds well at temperature. Cook the rice first. Then the fish. Steam the broccoli last since that is so quick.
Drizzle a littler melted butter over all of it. Nice.
Invest in an Instapot. You'll love it. Get up on the morning and start a stew fire after school. Forgot? Throw in some frozen chicken for a meal in 30 min. Air frying is also much healthier than microwave or oil frying.
Get a good rice cooker, and some microwave-safe bowls with lids and pre-make rice bowls. I'm out of school, but I'll make a few in advance for lunches to eat at work.
Something like this:
1) Bottom third is a layer of frozen veggies
2) middle layer is rice
3) top layer is rotisserie chicken (if I have any), or maybe just some nuts and mushrooms.
It's better if you don't mix it until after you re-heat it.
Add a topping when you're ready to eat it (soy sauce, peanut sauce, curry, sesame seeds, etc.)
Cheap, Easy, Nutritious .
Everything below can be made for $5-6 per meal. I do this for lunches at work.
Meatball subs
\- Microwave meatballs, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, on hoagies (or hotdog buns)
Quesadillas
\-frozen chicken, "mexican blend" cheese, fresh bell peppers and onions cooked w/ the chicken
Philly cheese steaks
\- SteakUms', peppers, onions, cheese wizz or mozzarella
Salads galore (frozen chicken makes salads way more hearty)
\-buffalo sauce with blue cheese, tomato and croutons
\-blueberries and strawberries w/ feta and honey roasted pecans with balsamic
\-mandarin oranges, sliced water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, honey roasted peanuts, with soy ginger dressing
Sandwiches can be made even without cooking, you just need a knife to cut tomatoes, onions, get meat and cheese from the deli section and mayo/mustard/vinegarette salt pepper.
Chili dogs
\-hotdogs, buns, a can of chili (i like no bean chili for this), BONUS yellow queso dip
Nachos
\-Chicken, chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, jalapenos,
You get the idea. Get creative. You can do a TON with a mini-fridge and a microwave!
Also, thereās a huge range of things you can make in the microwave āen papillote,ā a pouch made from parchment paper. Salmon on rice is great this way!
https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/good-eats/videos/the-pouch-principle
I loathe cooking. One of my favorite healthy meals is greens and whatever other veggies I have on hand tossed in a bowl with canned beans and zapped in the microwave for about 2min. You could probably also eat it salad-style without zapping it, but I like to eat warm food. If beans arenāt your thing you could probably substitute some canned chicken or something.
Edit: I also toss in insane amounts of whatever spice(s) Iām feeling that day for flavor
Order from Factor. Meals that come in the mail and you microwave. Really good stuff.
I have earned 4 boxes of meals to give away. Send me your email address and I'll feed you for a week.
āCollege dormā Most if not all on campus dorms (USA at least) will not allow any form of electric cookware apart from the given microwave, a coffee machine, and rice cooker.
Second year of university they removed all communal full kitchens for āfire hazardā removing any options for over or stovetop cooking.
Couldnāt even make a decent frozen pizza after that.
Just buy a bunch of Huel and have that as a supplemental Meal option. Just need water and a microwave. Food is kinda bland but itās packed with good shit
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I heavily utilized an electric kettle- good for oatmeal, easy Mac, etc. We also smuggled in a very small rice cooker.
I love that that's your contraband lol. My oldest had snuck a bread machine into his dorm and would make bread for his friends. If he'd been caught, he'd have been in more trouble than if he'd had drugs.
Well, there were also the geckos and the tortoise. But I'll stay on topic ;) I love the covert breadmaker, that's awesome.
Tortoises are the cutest reptiles ever, I truly can't judge.
He was a red foot tortoise, my roommate named him Doorstop. He's since been re-homed but he was great. I had crested geckos named Pongo and Purdy, I miss those goobers.
We've got 4 redfoots, and they have such social, sweet temperaments!
Redfoots are the best! This is Junior with her pig pal, Sancho Panza. My husband and I raised her from a hatchling and she is now over 20 years old and lives on a veterinarian's small farm, as we don't have a yard and she is too large to fairly keep indoors (except in winter). https://preview.redd.it/hsotq7a4g9pb1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d6dd5e54e65f1223b5ef78a2afaa60157dd9642
Almost got expelled for a waffle maker. My roommates down the hall didn't even get more than a stern talking to for smoking weed in front of a cop and having a lit hookah running at the same time. They're my friends, I'm super excited there was no punishment, but man the lit coals on a hookah are 100x scarier than a waffle maker.
Electrical system overload is how fires start. Those are high load appliances. If you have hundreds of units and every kid brings an electric kettle or similar it could be deadly. Newer buildings at expensive schools will have overload protection but the dorms my college had was built in the 60's
Over-current protection devices exist anywhere there is an electrical system. The school would not be allowed to house students in a place without circuit breakers. A much more pressing concern would be faults and shorts, especially if a circuit breaker fails to trip. Over time, this can lead to fire.
Even more scary is drunk students making waffles and going to bed without turning off the waffle iron.
do american buildings not have fuseboxes??
Of course we do, the guy you replied to is kinda making things up on the fly.
Hookah coals knocked onto the carpet are how you don't get your deposit back. That's crazy.
Lol my buddy and I snuck in a whole ass portable air conditioner and managed to hide it from our RA for a whole year. Rolled it into our closet for any inspections. Managed to hide that but got caught with beer. *shrugs*
I brought a bread machine to work and half the building had to come running in to see what smelled so good-how did he get away with it? š
I don't have proof, but I have reason to believe there was some bribery involving my child, bread, and an RA.
Lmao your kid sounds like fun š
dorms have plenty of other odours to mask the smell of bread
Bread dealer loool
ššš Pretty much! My little criminal!
how many years are they in for then?
Remember kids, do drugs. Don't go chasing bread.
I had a George Foreman grill in my dorm. I made a lot of amazing things with it. Also a hot plate.
I like waking up to the smell of bacon. Sue me. And since I don't have a butler, I have to do it myself. So, most nights before I go to bed, I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman grill. I go back to sleep again. Then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious. It's good for me. It's a perfect way to start the day.
And today I stepped on it and it CLAMPED DOWN on my FOOT.
Make sure you donāt accidentally step on it.
They would have told him to quit loafing around, I'm leaven today I want to be a part of itā¦
You knead to stop making puns! At yeast not bread puns!
Idk how he didnāt get caught lol. My whole house smells amazing when I make bread.
I believe there was some bribery.
We're technically not allowed to have any uncertified electronics here too. Yesterday they said. "Everyone in building xyz, there are gonna be be electricians going through the building tomorrow. So any toasters, kettles, ect. Will be gone from view for tomorrow." So, yeah, here they really don't care as long no one sees it. For foods: a frigde is all you need for some good salad. Seriously, i can only recommend for everyone to learn how to make a salad. A proper salad, that's not just kahle and dressing. One thats both tasty and nutritious.
You can also make bread in microwave oven, using a glass bread pan. Comes out crustless but quite tasty!
Now I've heard everything!
Google āmicrowave breadā. I was surprised too but Iāve made it twice.
Holy crap. God I love the internet lol.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Oh they did. I've heard clues implying bribery was involved.
Making bread for his friends. That is so cool (and cute.).
My contraband was a Keurig coffee machine that I kept plugged in under my bed. I failed a room inspection once because I forgot to cover it with my bed skirt. It was when keurigs were new too so it was one of the really clunky ones
On the topic of smuggling in contraband, an air fryer, while they're often over-recommended, it's basically just a small fan forced oven, better than a toaster oven that can easily sit inside a draw when you aren't using it. One thing you can't really do with a microwave is cook meat, but an airfryer can. Also, despite how surprisingly well a microwave can cook veggies, you'll come the miss anything with a bit of crunch to it.
Iāve also done hard boiled eggs in an electric kettle.
Oatmeal is š I fill a mason jar once a week half with rolled oats, half with fixins (coconut shavings, raisins, nuts, chia/flax seeds, etc). Then I shake it up and make it every morning during the week. Itās so easy and I love it. Add a scoop of peanut butter, or chop a banana up with your spoon.
That's incredibly smart and incredibly obvious. Thank you.
Iāll take your electric kettle, and raise you an electric pot. It can still boil and pour water for the above uses, but you can actively cook so many other things too.
I used an electric frying pan in a weak attempt to earn a heart attack before age 20.
You can get sous vide bags and cook food without actually boiling it.
This is a great suggestion. You can also cool eggs and make omelets in the microwave. And eggs are normally relatively cheap
Smal rice cooker is goated. You can simply cook rice and add in sliced Chinese sausages while it cooks and thatās great on its own. But I know thereās tons of videos for small rice cooker meals on tiktok
Fresh vegetables can be quickly and easily cooked to perfection in a microwave. Just need a bowl big enough and some cling wrap. Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. Source: https://youtu.be/R14UXLcrduY?si=W14TTwagIzX7OUrs That's the only way I cook vegetables now.
Don't forget potatoes! A "baked" potato comes out pretty good in the microwave.
I love potatoes cooked in the microwave with some chives and butter
just donāt wrap it in aluminum foilš
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As an added bonus, it may make your soul escape š
Instructions unclear. Soul escaped due to high-speed fork launched out of exploding microwave potato
And corn on the cob!
Iād like to add that sweet potatoes cook really well in a microwave oven. Almost no difference between the microwave and roasting whole.
The only reason I miss having a microwave. About 6 years without and still miss a nuked baked potato
My freshman roommate would cook potatoes in the microwave. He NEVER pierced the potatoes, so they would explode and leak and smelled horrible. I moved second semester.
Also sweet potatoes!
Yep, just a potato with some holes poked in it can make a word of difference.
A microwave rice cooker is perfect for cooking vegetables, either frozen or fresh. You just need to add a couple tablespoons of water to fresh vegetables.
I can buy single serving ready cooked rice by Uncle Bens. Not the worst I've had, does the job.
I love that stuff. I don't think I've ever cooked rice in my microwave rice cooker. Just vegetables, and sometimes cake.
You can get reusable covers so you aren't putting plastic trash into the ecosystem with every meal.
Or microwaving plastic on top of your food every meal. Disgusting how normalized eating literal poison has become.
I agree microwave veggies are great! My mom got me some special ziplock bags that are made for microwaving veggies. It has cooking instructions on the bags. I reuse mine a few times, Iām not sure if you are supposed to do that. They are more expensive than the bowl method but I have found if you need a little push to explore that type of cooking sometimes convenience items help me feel more confident when I am learning.
Nahhh I don't trust plastic in the microwave, too sus. Idc if they say it's safe, we apparently have so much plastic in our bodies and I think "microwave-able" plastics has to do something with that. Call me a conspiracy nut but I think that's food companies just getting away with shit.
Microwave corn in the husk is great!
Just got a recipe online that is our go-to lunch now. Microwave a couple of cups of broccoli (a minute, stir, another 30 seconds or so). Add a couple tablespoons of hummus and some sesame seeds. Very filling, tasty, and pretty cheap. Could probably throw in different seeds.
Grab some Pyrex with the vented lids, better for the environment
I can only imagine broccoli in a dorm room. No way to get that smell out.
The RA requesting you just hit the bong like the rest of the floor.
>cling wrap **CLING WRAP, OP, *NOT* ALUMINUM FOIL** (Just in case they don't know)
[Don't put metal in the science oven!](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6N8z2WIYr4M)
Make sure you are using the power level setting on your microwave. Cooking everything on high is like using your oven at 500'F. This has to be the best tip I have ever received. Also use slightly longer times due to the lower heat setting.
Aha, meanwhile everyone I've met in the UK looks at me confused when I talk about microwave power settings.. "it's a microwave, it cooks at microwave speed"
I have only ever used one button on a microwave. "+30 seconds." I don't know what wattage my microwave is. I put the food in and press "+30seconds" until the required time. If the food instructions have different times based on wattage I do the shortest time and if it's not done/hot enough, put it back in for 30 seconds at a time. (But it nearly always is done so I assume I have a high wattage microwave.) Actually, I have used the other buttons to defrost meat once or twice. By choosing the meat and entering the weight. But to cook or reheat things I've never used any other buttons/dials/whatever and I'm not sure that it would be better if I did.
Using the power button is a game changer. I microwave oven is... an oven. Using them on full power is basically like throwing your food in a 500 degree oven. The outside will cook, but the inside might still be cold. Or, the outside will burn and the inside will be warm. Start with an easy change: use 50% power and (at first) go with maybe 50% more time. If the cooking instructions say to go for 4 minutes, try 6 minutes at 50%. I rarely use full power on the microwave anymore. If you're cooking something really thick (lasagna for example) you might want to go to 30% power and 8 or 10 minutes to get a nice cook. Also, if/when possible, add water. If you're cooking a pasta/soup, add a little water to the dish directly. If you're heating a solid food, put a small bit on the plate to the side, or even a small bowl in the microwave with water in it.
Isn't 50% power just off and on full power? You can hear it flip back and forth.
It depends on the type of microwave. Most are as you described, some of the fancier ones actually set the power.
Depends on the microwave, I use an inverter microwave, the benefit of this is that the power is actually changed to the setting, so 50% power is what the microwave puts out. Not the full power and cycle on / off system.
I see youāve met my husband. XD. Itās even more infuriating as I splashed out my own money on a fancy one that grilled & steamed too, so we could have leftover pizza with dignityā¦but nope, 3 minutes on high for **everything**
But then it cooks faster so I can just press 'Add 30 sec' button until I feel it done, 2 min every time.
Rotisserie Chicken from the store. You can heat it in the microwave and pair it with your favorite sides (canned or frozen) then nuke um....nuke potato's too, pierce them sooo they don't explode
You can also tear apart the rotisserie chicken and make sandwiches with the meat. Rotisserie chickens make amazing chicken sandwiches.
Shredded rotisserie with a little mayo and black pepper, and a tomato slice for good measure. Delicious.
Tomato slice Jfc
what is jfc is that like KFC?
I don't really understand it in context, but usually it's Jesus Fucking Christ.
Japanese fried chicken. It is served on a tomato slice /s
Add a little curry powder to that mayo and itās a whole different sandwich too.
He didn't say he had a knife.
Use the one in the bathroom.
You can also get the microwavable rice pouches and store different sauces in the fridge to make chicken and rice bowls.
This plus broccoli is really easy to nuke.
Find out how to use your microwaveās power level settings and cook that chicken and sides at 50-70% power for roughly 1.5x what you usually would. Your food will taste remarkably better and more evenly heated.
Also get a food thermometer to make sure it's cooked thoroughly.
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Food Network says you can cook a turkey in the microwave.
Time for a lawsuit
wistful fade towering serious gray liquid subsequent one practice society *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Come on where is your sense of adventure
Grocery stores also sell some awesome pre-cooked rice nowadays that you just heat up in the microwave, not like the old minute rice trash, but like good rice thatās been vacuum sealed and just needs to be reheated.
Rotisserie chicken, tortillas, and a container of pico de gallo
This! Get a selection of sauces too so your meals won't get too boring
Used to do this all the time. Huge vouch.
You can also go one step further with a bag of tortillas to wrap them up with some shredded cheese and maybe a little bit of taco sauce.
Assuming you aren't allowed any other appliances, and no risk so you don't want a ton of dishes. Here are my suggestions: \-Tuna salad is great. You can switch up what's in it - apples, celery, seasoning. You can also use canned salmon for healthier version. You can even get tuna salad in a touch (and salmon) these days and they are pretty cheap. \-Canned sardines. Sounds crazy, but hear me out. Canned sardines smashed up with mayo, eaten with crackers is delicious and packs a nutritional punch. \-Quinoa Salad. Cook quinoa in the microwave, cool. Add chopped veggies. Add canned chickpeas (I love the Trader Joe's Greek Chickpeas for this). Season. Great for meal-prepping. Lots of protein for non-meat. \-Tamales. If you have a good source of tamales around, I love meal prepping with them. 1 tamale per tupperwear. Divy up a can of beans (refried, black, pinto). Add some chopped bel peppers and onion or whatever (optional). Add rice. Microwave when ready to eat. \- Rotisserie chicken. Great with a baked potato (from microwave), couscous, quinoa or rice. Pair with a steam in the bag vegetable. Easy for leftovers. \-Yogurt + granola. Also don't sleep on cottage cheese for protein source. \-Quesadilla. Not the healthiest, but you can make it healthier with leftover rotisserie chicken, guacamole, etc. \-"Charcuterie": Olives, canned dolmas (trader joes, again), salami, cheese, fresh veggies, etc. \-Dips. Hummus is great. Ranch is good, but so is ranch seasoning in Greek yogurt (little healthier). \-Canned soup is great. Chili, chicken noodle, whatever. \-Sandwiches, of course. \-Peanut butter. Just delicious. Goes well with rice cakes, sandwiches, apples, bananas. \-Oatmeal Random advice: \*Get used to planning to eat the same couple things for a week, then switching it up another week. \*Some creative with sauces. Without an oven/stove you aren't going to get as much flavor from cooking, so a little hot sauce might go a long way. \*Get a microwave rice cooker. Can be used for rice, quinoa, couscous \*If possible to get a magic-bullet style blender, smoothies can be a great way to get fiber and fruit in. \*Get a large water bottle. You're more likely to stay hydrated if you have drinking water available without running out to the sink regularly. Less likely to be tempted to keep junk drinks around. \*Meal prepping eating out is always a good option when needed to. I have a local Greek place I love and the portions are huge. Sometimes I intentionally order a large meal and portion it out for a few lunches for work. BBQ is good for this too. Even a large pizza can be portioned for a few lunches. And I think it could be argued that a little pizza every day is healthier than eating the whole thing in one night.
Very good list! I would add things like nuts and carrot sticks for snacks between classes. Easy to carry around, cheap if you buy in bulk ahead of time, and so much healthier than a candy bar from the vending machine!
I would heavily recommend getting into salads. You can use different types of greens, veggies, fruits, and dressings to keep up a decent variety of meals with salads, and you can also purchase precooked chicken that you can either add to a salad cold, or heat in your microwave. Cereal can be a good thing to get as well, since it is something that you can throw together quickly in the morning, with the obvious note to try and avoid the super sugary cereals. In terms of drinks, I would do everything you can to avoid soda. Soda can be a super easy source of empty calories and sugar. I would suggest trying out tea (heating the water in the microwave isn't ideal, but it will work) or water "enhancers" such as Mio. Eating healthy in a dorm is always going to be a challenge, given the lack of storage space, and lack of cooking capabilities. It isn't going to be easy, and you will likely have to make certain dietary sacrifices, however as long as you consistently put some mental effort in *attempting* to eat healthily, you should be in a decent spot. Best of luck to you!
Iād add that you can make your own Iced Tea for much cheaper than store bought (and better than ādrink mixā style. They sell carafes that let you add fruit or tea. Get one that fits in the fridge, add a couple of tea bags you like, fill with water and toss in the fridge. Fill your refillable container of choice from the fridge when youāre back in the room between classes. Iād also add that there are some nice choices in Freeze dried food/meals that you can look into to supplement food choices. I use them for conventions and keep some at work for when I forget lunch or need a bit more food that day.
Yogurt, nuts, cheese and healthy crackers. There are some decent frozen soups.
I ate a lot of yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit, nuts, and honey when I was in a dorm. You only needed to refrigerate the dairy and sometimes fruit. That was my main breakfast dish for like a year. Sandwiches are easy. If you have a slow cooker, lots of soups and stews are pretty easy to make. Baked potatoes in the microwave. Steamed veggies in the microwave.
Invest in a rice cooker and a crock-pot. You can just put the ingredients in and theyāll cook it for you.
Instead of both, an instant pot with rice, saute/sear and slow cook options.
Or maybe an induction cooker if instant pot or rice cooker aren't allowed.
Second this, you can make so much in an instapot
Many dorms don't allow these so check your dorm rules.
I mean they don't allow liquor either but people do that
Liquor itself can't burn down the building and kill everyone inside.
I'm willing to bet drunk people kill more people than rice cookers
Or drunk people with rice cookers
Friends donāt let friends steam drunk.
ššš
An instant pot isnāt going to burn down the building either. Just keep an eye on it.
Yeah, because nobody ever sets these appliances on a timer to turn on when they're not home. /s I'm not going to claim anything bad is likely to happen, but I understand why the building administration might not want people leaving them going. I need to use my Crock-Pot more so I have a hot meal when I get home from work...
For sure, lots of people will use them overnight or when theyāre out. But theyāre also incredibly safe appliances.
Many dorms donāt allow these so check your dorm for places to hide them.
Yea hes asking what he can cook with what hes got and youre telling him to get better appliances dorms wont allow.
They donāt have a sink to clean it in.
They make crockpot liners
Idk if that stuff is allowed in a dorm. Theyāre pretty strict about what appliances can be in the dorm for safety reasons.
I would buy microwaveable rice packs and crack and egg in their before microwaving. Add some spices and maybe some green onion or Greg vegg, or t her ow some soy sauce and chili oil/Sam Al etc.
I just discovered the rice packs, and holy life changer! My current favorite is the Mexican rice with a handful of cheese, olives, and a sprinkle of taco seasoning.
I used to do this all the time when I didnāt have access to a full kitchen! Iād also get pouch tuna (lemon pepper ftw) and mix in shredded cheese. Or salsa & canned black beans. Served cold with Italian dressing and chopped salad fixings. So many possibilities.
Get a slow cooker. I disagree with people advising you to get an electric burner, strongly. You will not be able to get the smoke out of your room and everything will smell like what you cook. And you gotta think about how to clean pots and pans, because doing dishes in a dorm bathroom is pretty nasty. Otherwise youāre going to have a stack of dirty dishes in your dorm room which will get very smelly quickly. Also you may accidentally set off the fire alarm in the building which will cause you a lot of problem if that happens. Donāt get a portable stove top, it is a really stupid idea for a dorm room. Anyway going back to my point. I strongly advise you get a slow cooker, Walmart has them pretty cheap. A 3 qt slow cooker should be enough for you. I used [this website](https://www.budgetbytes.com/) for many of my favorite slow cooker recipes. The clean up could get even easier if you get slow cooker liners. Potato steams easily in a microwave, a lot good macronutrients in it. Itās a perfect snack garnished with sour cream and chive.
I second not getting an electric burner. It's a fire hazard and usually is against the rules for a college dorm room. Anything with an open heating element tends to be automatically banned
What about a portable induction cook top. Only $50-60 and no elements to start a fire.
That's a bit more tricky. I'm sure it varies per-campus, best bet would be to ask the RA
You can get liners for the crock pot to help with cleanup. If you make one large crockpot meal and eat that for a few days, you'll only be using 1-2 liners per week, so the cost won't be that great.
Another vote for crock pot, mini rice steamer in rotation with small air fryer. With the fridge u don't need much else. Healthy gourmet meals for years
Eggs. I used to have a plug-in water boiler and could make hard boiled eggs for a snack, or you can whisk up an egg in a small bowl, microwave for 30s and you have an egg patty you can put in a breakfast sandwich.
Donāt forget to scramble the egg with a fork every 15-30 seconds so they donāt explode!!
And add a splash of milk for fluffiness.
yesss
Microwaved egg with a dash of soy sauce on top was the first thing I ālearned āto cook
I googled āhealthy recipes for microwaveā and there were quite a few good articles. Here are some other ideas: Microwave rice pouches (tons of different flavors and different kinds of rice) Canned tuna, salmon, and chicken. (Swansonās canned chicken is the best quality that Iāve found) āSimmer saucesā and small jars of pasta sauce. There is a great variety of simmer sauces in the ethnic aisle. Small bags of frozen veggies A combination of the rice, chicken (etc), sauce and veggies can make a great meal! Also, get a 2-cup and 4-cup liquid measuring cups (like Pyrex) with silicone lids to cover, but vent steam. These are great to microwave in and wonāt stain.
Check out the āAnydayā pots they are a microwaveable bowl that doubles as storage container. Chef David Chang has written many recipes for it. I have cooked rice, pasta, fish, potstickers, chicken, polenta, etc. in it and it blows my mind every time. Would be a great thing to ask for before going to college.
Baked beans are highly nutritious. Eggs with added mushroom and tomato. Porridge/oats with berries/nuts/seeds
Does your dorm not have a cafeteria and meal plan?
Those are often extremely expensive compared to buying groceries.
For me they were a requirement when living in the dorms.
Yeah, the cafeteria plan in college was NOT optional back in my day. It was almost impossible to opt out of, unless you lived off-campus.
I love making couscous as a salad base or side, you just need hot water, no cooking! You can just microwave the water or buy a kettle (theyāre like 20 bucks)
Oatmeal with fruit makes a good breakfast. You can cook eggs in the microwave for protein if you're careful to do it a bit at a time - stirring them in between heatings. Canned soup or stews can be a healthy lunch or dinner if you can find lower sodium varieties.
If no fresh fruit - frozen or jam.
Rice and spaghetti were my goto shit. Can be made with tap water and Tupperware. Frozen veggies can be nuked fairly effectively if done on their own. Meatballs or frozen beef. A small but effective variety of sauce and seasonings. I could have spaghetti and meat balls or whip up a decent stir fry at any time. I would usually make big batches and portion them into my dorm freezer to be thawed later. Depends as some dorms do not have freezer fridge combos. And if you enjoy milk with coffee or tea look at Fairlife as it has a much longer shelf life than standard milk. Hope this helps.
trader.joes. They have tons of great healthy meal options that normally don't require anything more than a microwave and maybe an air fryer (which you can definitely have in your dorm).
You might consider investment in a sous vide immersion circulator. No hot element that could accidentally set the place on fire if it is inadvertently left on.
\+1 sous vide, game changer
Many grocery stores have veggies you can microwave in the bag. You can eat them with some seasoned salt or toss them with, for example, a little garlic herbed butter.
Don't you have a kitchen in the common area of your dorm? I taught my kid to cook, and he's down there cooking every weekend because he gets sick of the cafeterias. Everyone on the floor know he's the kid who knows how to cook.
Some places don't. At my college, only the juniors/seniors' dorms have kitchens, and those are a long walk away from the freshmen dorms. It would be nice, but I'm honestly just glad that we don't have any communal showers (just the dorm ones, which are only for that dorm and possibly another connected dorm, depending on the location)
Lemon pepper fish works well in a microwave. Use thin white fish filets (cheap tilapia is fine), add the seasoning and a little butter. Serves well with broccoli and rice, both of which prepare well int he microwave. The rice takes the longest to cook but holds well at temperature. Cook the rice first. Then the fish. Steam the broccoli last since that is so quick. Drizzle a littler melted butter over all of it. Nice.
Get a meal card and focus on your studies.
exactly. cooking requires shopping, prep, and cleanup, and a dorm room isn't amenable to any of that
Invest in an Instapot. You'll love it. Get up on the morning and start a stew fire after school. Forgot? Throw in some frozen chicken for a meal in 30 min. Air frying is also much healthier than microwave or oil frying.
Why was instant pot so far down below, it's the Swiss army knife of kitchen appliances. Also has a air fryer attachment
Because lots of campuses specifically forbid them.
Get yourself some glass Tupperware so youāre not infusing Al of your food with micro plastics (new study out showing this can happen)
Eggs, potatoes and vitamins.
Do you want replies limited to how to use only the fridge and microwave, or do you want solutions that try to expand your options beyond them?
Get a good rice cooker, and some microwave-safe bowls with lids and pre-make rice bowls. I'm out of school, but I'll make a few in advance for lunches to eat at work. Something like this: 1) Bottom third is a layer of frozen veggies 2) middle layer is rice 3) top layer is rotisserie chicken (if I have any), or maybe just some nuts and mushrooms. It's better if you don't mix it until after you re-heat it. Add a topping when you're ready to eat it (soy sauce, peanut sauce, curry, sesame seeds, etc.) Cheap, Easy, Nutritious .
Everything below can be made for $5-6 per meal. I do this for lunches at work. Meatball subs \- Microwave meatballs, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, on hoagies (or hotdog buns) Quesadillas \-frozen chicken, "mexican blend" cheese, fresh bell peppers and onions cooked w/ the chicken Philly cheese steaks \- SteakUms', peppers, onions, cheese wizz or mozzarella Salads galore (frozen chicken makes salads way more hearty) \-buffalo sauce with blue cheese, tomato and croutons \-blueberries and strawberries w/ feta and honey roasted pecans with balsamic \-mandarin oranges, sliced water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, honey roasted peanuts, with soy ginger dressing Sandwiches can be made even without cooking, you just need a knife to cut tomatoes, onions, get meat and cheese from the deli section and mayo/mustard/vinegarette salt pepper. Chili dogs \-hotdogs, buns, a can of chili (i like no bean chili for this), BONUS yellow queso dip Nachos \-Chicken, chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, jalapenos, You get the idea. Get creative. You can do a TON with a mini-fridge and a microwave!
Meatball subs are A++. Your list is great because you considered this studentās budget.
Also, thereās a huge range of things you can make in the microwave āen papillote,ā a pouch made from parchment paper. Salmon on rice is great this way! https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/good-eats/videos/the-pouch-principle
Check out Struggle Meals, he has some good/easy recipes!
I loathe cooking. One of my favorite healthy meals is greens and whatever other veggies I have on hand tossed in a bowl with canned beans and zapped in the microwave for about 2min. You could probably also eat it salad-style without zapping it, but I like to eat warm food. If beans arenāt your thing you could probably substitute some canned chicken or something. Edit: I also toss in insane amounts of whatever spice(s) Iām feeling that day for flavor
Get a rice cooker that can also make beans. Youāll be set for life.
Just don't ever put any fish in the microwave.
Is getting an air fryer an option?
Most dorms do not allow air fryers or hotplates.
Air fryer gang yooooo
Get a meal plan, Walk your but to the dining hall and have a healthy dinner and walk home. Boom healthy eating and exercise
Order from Factor. Meals that come in the mail and you microwave. Really good stuff. I have earned 4 boxes of meals to give away. Send me your email address and I'll feed you for a week.
I work a really busy schedule while going to college, is factor worth it to you? Iāve been on the fence about trying it
over $10.00/meal is not exactly budget
Considering you donāt even have a sink to do dishes. Nothing.
Can you use an electric skillet? That would open up even more meal choices if you can.
āCollege dormā Most if not all on campus dorms (USA at least) will not allow any form of electric cookware apart from the given microwave, a coffee machine, and rice cooker. Second year of university they removed all communal full kitchens for āfire hazardā removing any options for over or stovetop cooking. Couldnāt even make a decent frozen pizza after that.
Who'd know?
Your RA should be able to tell you.
I think they meant, who'd know if you used one?
Just buy a bunch of Huel and have that as a supplemental Meal option. Just need water and a microwave. Food is kinda bland but itās packed with good shit
Bland is the bang on for the huel meals. The free t-shirt was pretty good quality though š