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)

Berstrom and another one of her employees, Iowa State student Griffin Meyer, said the most expensive costs will likely be the chef’s knife and possibly the pans. Medium-dollar expenses include cookware, bakeware, measuring cups and storage. Last, minimally-priced tools include utensils and some linens. Total, furnishing a beginner kitchen comes out to around $350 if cost, quality and value down the road are considered. Take advantage of store specials when applicable to cut back on costs further.

For areas to proceed with caution, Bergstrom said bakeware and cookware are the biggest culprits of overspending. Though plastic storage like Tupperware may be enticing because of their price, consumers are better off buying glassware with lids less likely to warp and containers less prone to discoloration. Another place of wariness is the gadget department. While handy, many higher-priced pieces of equipment like garlic presses and cooking torches aren’t necessary unless used frequently by their owners.

“If you have a minimal kitchen and are finding those essential pieces that you use regularly, that’s OK. That way you won’t end up with a kitchen filled with unnecessary things. Sometimes you only need one universal sheet pan without all the other sizes,” Bergstrom said.

For kitchen furnishing on a budget with quality in mind, Target, Walmart and other independent shops like Cook’s have excellent resources for those on the lower end of the price spectrum. For cookware and knives specifically, Bergstrom said she recommends talking with small business knowledgeable employees who specialize in these items and can give out tips and tricks. Because they are highly selective when it comes to their products and concentrate their area of expertise in cooking, they can often be more helpful for more advanced and pricier necessities.

For cuisine wants that seem too far out of reach of the budget, Bergstrom added that holiday wishlists are another great alternative.

“I think it’s nice to have students think thoroughly about which items they want, prioritize them and put their investigated costs together. Then, they can give those listed items to their family members to show that you actually did some research and are patient to care about things. Also set goals and think about how many hours do I need to work to afford this, and at that point is it worth it,” Bergstrom said.