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The Kettle Is Your Kitchen

  • jeramarie2005
  • Feb 17
  • 3 min read

If your electric kettle’s only job is instant ramen and tea, you’re seriously underusing your best dorm room kitchen appliance. Living in a dorm room with limited access to appliances is a struggle many students know all too well. Dorm rules often prohibit so many items it feels impossible to avoid the dining hall and make meals from the comfort of your own room. There is one appliance that is often overlooked and permitted in dorms, the electric kettle. Trust me, when moving into a dorm, an electric kettle needs to be at the top of your list. Honestly, I wouldn’t have survived my two years of dorm living or avoiding the freshman 15 without it. With a college kid's budget and some good old-fashioned hot water, there’s so much you can do. Plus, electric kettles are generally permitted in dorms because of their fire-safe features. I’ve linked my favorite electric kettle which is high-quality and affordable.

Link to my favorite kettle!
Link to my favorite kettle!

By now, I’m sure you’re thinking, “I get it, kettles are great, but what can I actually make with one?” Let me break it down. Starting with breakfast, instant oatmeal is a staple, especially when decked out with protein and fruit. It’s filling, nutritious, and can be ready in minutes. Simply heat water in your kettle, pour it over the oatmeal, and top it off with peanut butter, fruits, or a little sugar for extra taste. 

Want to get a little more brave? Boiled eggs are another easy cook that can be used any time of day. In high school, I loved starting my day with an over-easy or hard-boiled egg; it's quick, delicious, and easy protein. In college, I found that often the dining hall only offered sodium-filled scrambled eggs, so I turned to my kettle. Add your eggs to boiling water then time it depending on the type of egg you want; a time chart can be found here. Once cooked, transfer the eggs into cold water to cool. If you do this once a week, you have quick breakfasts every day. You can also turn them into an easy egg salad sandwich or add on top a salad. 

For lunch or dinner, one of the easiest ways to use the kettle is for pasta. It might seem simple, but it is a game changer for meals.

I recommend using protein pasta that actually tastes good, I have my favorite brand linked here. All you have to do is add your pasta to the hot water in the kettle, leave the lid open so it doesn't overflow, wait till

your pasta is cooked, then close the lid and drain the hot water through the spout. In 10 minutes, you have protein-packed pasta to easily top with your choice of sauce, vegetables, or meat. My strategy is to make an entire box on Sunday and store it in my fridge so even on those days I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I have a ready-to-eat nutritious dinner.  

Kettles aren't just for meals either. You can make soup, steam vegetables, or pour water over instant snacks like mashed potatoes. They are an easy, inexpensive, and nutritious way to keep from filling up on chips and chocolate. 

All of these tips and tricks might seem obvious, but most college students aren't utilizing their dorm resources to their full potential. Living in a dorm doesn't have to mean relying on frozen meals and high sodium noodle cups. These are just a few of my favorite hacks, but the possibilities are endless. If you want to learn more quick-kettle-hacks, be sure to check out next month's post, a part two to this one!



Citations


Maehashi, N. (2023, March 22). How to boil eggs. RecipeTin Eats. https://www.recipetineats.com/how-to-boil-eggs/


musti.foodlover [@musti.foodlover]. 2024, 9/27. How to Boil Eggs in Electric Kettle 4 WAYS eggsTikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@musti.foodlover/video/7419366254869335329


Nueve&Five. (n.d.). Electric stainless steel kettle (cream) [Amazon product page]. Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D49HMC7Q






 
 
 

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