• About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Dorm Room
    • Dorm Room Essentials
    • Dorm Decor Ideas
    • Dorm Organization & Cleaning
  • Lifestyle
  • School
  • Productivity
  • Gift Guides
  • Freebies

Simply Life By Bri

Cooking
/
July 17, 2021

First Apartment Checklist for your kitchen

Stock up your first apartment kitchen with all the essentials using this apartment checklist! With everything you are going to need all in one place, it could not get any easier than this!

apartment checklist

Note: There are affiliate links included in this article. Check out my disclosure policy for any questions.

For a college apartment, you want easy and you want cheap. So, that’s exactly what this guide will give you. In this apartment kitchen checklist, I am not only sharing everything you need, but my favorite products as well!

If you buy everything from this list, you can have nearly a complete apartment kitchen for about $350. Of course, there are always extra little things that need to be bought, but this covers all the major kitchen essentials.

This post is all about a first apartment checklist!

Dish set

shop target now!

An apartment kitchen checklist wouldn’t be complete without a good set of dishes. With dishes, you want to buy a set that includes large plates, small plates, bowls, and mugs. For this, I would suggest investing some money here because you are going to be using these almost everyday. The better quality you get, the longer they will last you.

Silverware set

shop target now!

You will most likely have to buy two things here: a set of everyday silverware and a knife set. Again, you are going to be using this stuff a lot, so make sure you put in the money to get higher quality stuff.

Utensil set

shop target now!
shop target now!
new apartment checklist

These utensils aren’t forks, knives, and spoons. This would be spatulas, whisks, tongs, and other larger utensils. The easiest way to buy this and make sure you have it all is to buy it as a set.

You can find different size sets based on how often you cook and the difficulty of what you will be cooking. You’ll also have to decide if you want a wooden set or a plastic set.

Be sure not to forget a can opener. Some utensil sets don’t come with one, but it’s super important to have if you need!

Pots & pans

shop target now!

If you are planning on cooking regularly, you want to get yourself a few different sizes of pots and pans. A small and large size of each should be enough to be able to cook whatever you need. And that way, you only have 4 dishes that you need to store and deal with washing.

For an ultimate set, check out this 8-piece pot, pan, and lid combo! It is one of the more expensive items on the list, but will definitely last for a while.

Also remember to get lids that fit your pots and pans if the set doesn’t come with them!

Tupperware set

shop target now!

This wouldn’t be an apartment kitchen checklist without including a bunch of containers! This is another thing you can buy in a set to avoid buying a bunch of individual containers.

There are a million sizes of tupperware, so try to find a set that has a bunch of containers in a few different sizes. That way, you will be able to fit whatever you need and have enough for whatever you want to put in them.

Cooking trays

shop target now!
shop target now!
first apartment checklist

You don’t need to get fancy with your cooking trays because most likely your portion sizes aren’t going to be crazy in a college apartment. The disposable cookie sheets and roasting pans are perfect for an apartment. If you wash them in between uses, they will last you a while. Plus, they are easy to store!

Toaster oven

shop target now!

This will probably be one of the more pricey items on the list. Nonetheless, you want to spend money on a good toaster oven so it’ll last you a while.

There are a bunch of different sizes, but remember, you are most likely not making that much at a time. There’s also a lot of fancy toaster ovens these days with new features and all the bells and whistles. Don’t go crazy with this: just get a small, basic toaster oven!

Cutting board

shop target now!
first apartment checklist minimalist

You are definitely going to want to buy a few different sized cutting boards. I think a 3 pack with a small, medium, and large cutting board is the way to go here. That should be enough for whatever you are cooking and will give you some options with the sizes.

Measuring cups

apartment checklist college

Whether you think you are going to cook or not, you should buy some measuring cups. To measure liquids, you really only need one 1-cup measuring cup because all of the smaller increments are on there. For dry ingredients, you need to buy a few different ones to make sure you have all the sizes.

shop target now!
shop target now!
shop target now!

Paper goods

Stock up on some paper goods at the beginning of the semester. This would include paper plates, paper cups, and plastic silverware. There are a few different sizes for cups and plates so just get what you think you are going to need.

Obviously, you aren’t going to be using these at all times. For the most part, you want to use your real dishes when eating. But, occasionally you may just want to use paper, so many sure you have some on hand.

tin foil, parchment paper, ziploc bags

This stuff is usually all in a drawer together so I grouped it as one item on this list. You are definitely going to need tin foil and parchment paper for when you are cooking. Plus, ziploc bags are almost a must! I would even get a few different size bags so you always have what you need.

This is all the basic essentials for a first apartment kitchen checklist that will start off your kitchen on the right note! Of course, as you cook more and figure out what you use and like, you should adapt this list as you see fit.

Now that you have all the kitchen essentials, check out this list for all the food staples you should stock up on!

For a complete apartment checklist, check out this easy printable!

This post was all about an easy apartment checklist!


Other posts you may like:

  • 19 Insanely Easy College Cooking Recipes To Master The Kitchen
  • Top 40 Foods Every College Kitchen Needs
  • 36 Easy Microwave Recipes for College Students
Shop The Post
4 Comments
Share
Bri

Hey there! My name is Bri and I am a college lifestyle blogger! I love organization, productivity, cooking, baking, reading, and photography. Throughout my blog, you will find a little bit of all these passions! My goal is to help high schoolers, college students, and young adults, whether it be by creating a functioning living space or learning how to cook healthy meals.

You May Also Like

May 15, 2021

Easy Meatloaf Muffin Recipe For Meal Prep

September 18, 2021

The 36 EASIEST College Student Meal Prep Recipe Ideas

August 28, 2021

38 Item College Grocery List + Beginner Shopping Guide

  • Afton Jackson
    March 28, 2022

    Keeping a simple set of dishes and utensils is definitely something I can see being enough for me. I don’t expect a lot of guests at one time, so I can see the need to focus on the essentials. I’ll make sure I only buy these things that I need when I live in an apartment in the area.

    Reply
    • Bri
      Afton Jackson
      March 29, 2022

      That is awesome that you are able to figure out before buying what you are going to need! Saves so much money and space, especially in small spaces.

      Reply
  • Jaya Avendel
    July 17, 2021

    Love this list! It has everything a person needs to equip a small kitchen and I personally prefer to cook over eating out. The one thing I do not see here are cutting knives and a good set of those can cost a pretty penny!
    Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Bri
      Jaya Avendel
      July 17, 2021

      Thank you so much! Yes I am hoping that this will help someone stock up their first kitchen!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Previous Post
8 Dorm Room Necessities You Forgot To Buy
Next Post
8 Dorm Bedding Essentials You Need For College
hey there, I’m Bri

hey there, I’m Bri

I'm so happy you're here!

I'm your not-so-average college freshman. This blog is a look into my head at all things dorm decor & organization, productivity, and school tips to help you simplify your life!

Recent Posts

  • dorm room ideas for guys

    21 Stupid Easy Dorm Room Ideas For Guys That Make the Room Look Amazing

    March 26, 2023
  • amazon dorm essentials

    29 Must Have Amazon Dorm Essentials For Freshman Year

    March 10, 2023
  • graduation party photo display ideas

    15 Insanely Cute Graduation Party Photo Display Ideas

    February 26, 2023
  • graduation party games

    19 Extremely Fun Graduation Party Games Your Party Guests Will Love

    February 19, 2023
  • backyard graduation party ideas

    23 Easiest Backyard Graduation Party Ideas For The Perfect Party

    February 12, 2023

dorm room

lifestyle

school

  • About
  • Dorm Room
  • Lifestyle
  • School
  • Productivity
  • Gift Guides
  • Freebies

Copyright © 2023 Simply Life By Bri. All Rights Reserved.Site Powered by Pix & Hue.