Cooking in a limited space for the quality-aware and budget-conscious story by: Meg Grice Whether it’s a brand-new college apartment, dorm kitchenette, card table, counter or desk, college students are no strangers to making do with what’s in front of them. But when life moves beyond the lofted beds and shared bathrooms, differentiating initial kitchen purchases can feel more like navigating the Gilman Hall basement rather than central campus. However, limited resources do not have to be the final resolution to cooking. With creative and thoughtful thinking, it’s possible to furnish a tiny kitchen efficiently on a limited budget for now and the years to come. Mindy Bergstrom, entrepreneur and owner of Ames’ kitchen supply store, Cook’s Emporium, says having something you can use repeatedly is essential. Bringing out an item’s longevity reduces spending costs in the future with an initial high amount upfront. “You can constantly spend a lot of money on a pan here or there, but if you go and invest in one high-quality one for $80 to $90, you won’t be wasting money and constantly having to purchase new ones. It makes sense to go for ones that won’t warp or rust as easily,” Bergstrom said. Jack Wannarka, an Iowa State graduate student and employee at the store, added that he and his roommates soon found out this tip after purchasing finicky pans for cheap. Silicone spatulas and other utensils have proved to be the most valuable over time as well. If students or apartment dwellers are bogged down by a smaller cooking area, a minimal kitchen can be the best thing to prevent clutter. To start, Bergstrom recommends the following good-quality items: A large frying pan A saucepan A large cutting board A sheet pan A good chef’s knife first, then a paring knife and serrated knife when possible Miscellaneous utensils (i.e. spatula, scraper) Measuring cups Drying linens that double as potholders Other frequent items of preference ( i.e. blender, hand mixer)
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