9 Kitchen Gadgets Every College Student Should Have

Author - Vicki Salemi

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Just because college living spaces are usually compact doesn’t mean you should skimp on kitchen tools. One of the reasons we love Best Buy, and the brand’s convenient Back-to-School Deals hub, is the fantastic selection of essential, dorm-friendly kitchen tools that are also budget-friendly.

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Best Buy’s current back-to-school promotion offers up to 40% off through August 24 for all your campus needs. Don’t forget to bookmark Best Buy’s store page on RetailMeNot to access additional deals, such as 2% cash back, available through the end of August! You can also explore our editor-curated picks in the Campus Connect hub, presented by Best Buy.

When the cafeteria food leaves much to be desired or you find yourself burning the midnight oil studying and in need of a healthy snack and a cup of coffee, it’s essential to stock up on these vital and versatile kitchen tools.

Let’s check out these 9 must-have small kitchen tools for your dorm room. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

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Whether dinner in the cafeteria was lackluster or you’re hunkering down for a study sesh in your dorm and need a healthy snack, this Vitamix Explorian E310 blender has everything you need. The 48-ounce container means you can blend medium-sized batches in the high-performance motor with 10 speed settings. It’s super easy to clean in a dishwasher or with a drop of dish soap and warm water. Think about all the possibilities: grind, chop, ice crush, liquefy, pulse, puree, smoothie and more!

Price: $379.95

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Let’s face reality: an air fryer is an absolute must for campus living. This bella PRO 6-qt touchscreen stainless steel air fryer caught our attention. The heat-up and cool-down times are super fast thanks to its 1500-watt heating system. It’s high-tech, user-friendly (hello, digital touchscreen with preset cook modes) and a 60-minute auto shut-off timer with an audible alert. According to the review summary, “Customers are positive about the 6-qt. Touchscreen Air Fryer’s ease of use, size, and performance, with many praising its ability to cook food to perfection.”

Price: $89.99, $99.99

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Ideal for hosting a party, this Insignia built-in stainless steel beverage cooler has the capacity to chill up to 165 12-ounce cans (yes, you read that right). Flexibility is key, with three adjustable wire shelves and an auto-defrost function so frost doesn’t continue to build up. It’s efficient and easy to use with its up-front control buttons to adjust the temperature between 34° F and 50° F. There’s also an alarm that alerts you when the door is left open. Need we say more? Run, don’t walk to add this to your cart!

Price: $429.99, $649.99

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The Insignia retro compact microwave is available in three colors, and we particularly like the red option because it stands out. With 700 watts of power and a .7 cubic foot interior, this microwave is ideal for small spaces. It features nine preset cooking functions and ten power levels, along with a 10-inch glass turntable. One online review captures its appeal for dorm living perfectly: “Exactly what I was looking for! Compact and easy to use. I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles; it’s perfect for my small space.”

Price: $85.99,  $89.99

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Every dorm needs a mini fridge, and Insignia’s retro 3.1 cubic foot model exceeds expectations. This compact fridge, available in an adorable retro design (like the one in red), measures 33 ½ inches high by just under 19 inches wide, making it a perfect fit for limited spaces.

Best of all, it’s affordable. The crisper drawer is ideal for storing fruits and vegetables, while the separate freezer compartment offers 0.9 cubic feet of space for frozen foods — ideal for ice cream lovers! Available in three colors, this fridge also features two adjustable shelves that allow you to customize the organization to suit your needs.

Price: $159.99, $219.99

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Sticking with the compact kitchen gadgets, we love this Insignia portable ice maker. Here’s why: it makes up to 19 pounds of ice each day by creating ice every six to 13 minutes. Plus, there are two ice cube size options, .25 oz. ice cubes and large .32 oz. ice cubes. How did we get to be so lucky? It’s simple to use and automatically takes water from melted ice to make new ice. The portable ice maker with auto-shut off comes with an ice basket, ice scoop and a quick setup guide.

Price: $89.99, $125.99

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You know you’re adulting, or at least in college mode, when you’re excited about a new K-Iced coffee maker by Keurig! From frozen brew to flavorful hot coffee, you can automatically adjust the temperature. Consider its three cup sizes, 8, 10 and 12 ounces and a removable 42 oz. reservoir that can brew up to four cups between refills. Available in white or gray, this small footprint is perfect for compact living space.

Reviews are raving about it, too! According to the online customer summary, “Customers are enthusiastic about the K-Iced Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker’s ease of use, iced coffee capabilities, and compact size, frequently praising its simple operation and ability to produce delicious iced coffee.”

Price: $99.99, $129.99

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A toaster is a staple for every college dorm, and this two-slice extra-wide slots toaster by bella PRO is a no-brainer. Available in stainless steel or oatmilk, this toaster has six browning settings that use 1000 watts of power. One of our favorite parts is the anti-jam feature to prevent pieces of food like that bagel or English muffin from getting stuck. A slide-out crumb tray (see previous sentence for various crumbs) means cleaning it is super fast and easy. The auto shut-off provides safety, and the cancel setting allows you to stop toasting it whenever you want.

Price: $24.99, $49.99

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Making frozen drinks has never been easier! Ice? Forget about it. Blending? Nope. Become your own mixologist with the Ninja SLUSHi professional frozen drink maker in the comfort of your dorm room. A five-in-one professional drink maker is included along with an 88 oz. frozen drink and slushie machine. The five preset programs equate to fun, tasty drinks that’ll stay frozen for up to 12 hours! Friendly heads up: you may become everyone’s bestie in your residence hall with this versatile drink maker. Mocktails, anyone?

Price: $349.99

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About Vicki Salemi

Vicki SalemiVicki Salemi considers her passions for jewelry and handbags legit hobbies. A nationally known career expert and author on national TV such as Today and Good Morning America and on countless broadcast, online and print publications, she writes for Forbes and The New York Post. She’s also a corporate ghostwriter, keynote speaker, spokesperson and career coach. She’s launching Exhale First, family support for elder care. When she’s not working, she’s planning her next trip to Italy. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @vickisalemi.