So, your teen is off to uni. New friends, relationships, and socialising await. But, so does the prospect of cooking… As does the prospect of making sure they’ve got the right kitchen appliances. If you’re wondering what your teen will need for their uni kitchen, you’ll find the answers below…
Kitchen essentials
Ask the general public about how and what students eat, and you’ll probably be told that they subsist entirely on takeaways, kebabs, and chips. But, the reality is that even students have to cook in their kitchen occasionally (even if it’s somewhat begrudgingly).
Sure, lots of student accommodation comes with some kitchen equipment and utensils - but, a) you’re not always guaranteed that it’ll work, and b) it’s likely to have a dubious hygienic history.
So, there are definitely some kitchen essentials that are worth buying before your teen heads off to university. Let’s take a look…
Kettle
A kettle really is a must-have uni essential. Whether it’s going to be sitting in a communal kitchen, or tucked away in their room, a kettle will keep your teen topped up with drinks and snacks - ideal when they’re studying around the clock.
But, what should you look for when selecting a kettle for uni?
-
Rapid boil. Many kettles now include a rapid boil feature; this is perfect if your teen wants to keep themselves topped up with tea or coffee (or rustle up some noodles for a late-night snack).
-
Capacity. Given students’ (perhaps unearned) propensity for idleness, think about buying a kettle with a larger capacity. This will reduce the need to get up and fill it up.
- Auto switch off. This is a common safety feature on kettles - once the kettle has finished boiling, this feature automatically cuts the power. Perfect if your teen is likely to be absorbed in study.
Want to pick up a kettle for uni? Then see what’s brewing at Comet now. We’ve got some incredibly competitively priced kettles from leading brands including Smeg, Swan, Tower, and Morphy Richards.
Microwave
Your teen may not know how to cook, but they almost certainly will know how to use a microwave.
If you’re concerned about your teen being able to feed themselves, then a microwave definitely needs to join your list of uni essentials. But, what should you look for when buying a microwave? Find out below:
-
Microwave type. A microwave isn’t just a microwave! It’s now possible to buy different types of microwave; these include your traditional solo microwaves, microwaves with built-in grills, and combination microwaves (that combine different types of cooking functionality (e.g. baking, grilling, steaming) into a single appliance).
-
Auto cook/defrost. It’s possible to buy microwaves that allow you to enter the weight and type of food; it will then automatically calculate the optimum settings for cooking.
- Capacity. Whilst microwaves tend to look quite uniform, they can vary considerably in size from a fairly compact 17-litres up to 25-litres (or even larger). Think about the sort of food your teen is likely going to be cooking, and choose accordingly.
As we say, a microwave really is the uni kitchen essential - so, pick one up at Comet now. Amongst our cheap microwaves you’ll find options from Russell Hobbs, Swan, Sharp and more.
Toaster
Mmm, toast. Who doesn’t like toast?! Especially students who want to rustle up a quick snack or devour some toast after a night out.
Like the other kitchen essentials listed here, a toaster will sometimes be included in shared kitchens at student halls, but not always. So, if your teen is a toast aficionado, you’re going to want to add a good quality toaster to your preterm shopping list.
What makes for a good toaster then? What should you think about when buying one? Let’s take a look:
-
Capacity. Do you want a two slice or four slice toaster? With a four slice toaster your teen will be able to make more toast, faster - keeping both themselves and their housemates full. Bear in mind though, that four slice toasters have a bigger footprint. So, if space is at a premium, consider buying a two slice toaster instead.
-
Browning control. Not everyone likes their toast cooked the same way. For some, they want ‘warm bread’, others opt for the ‘lump of carbon’ style toast. For that reason, look for a toaster which allows you to control the degree to which the bread is toasted.
-
Wattage. The wattage of a toaster will influence how quickly and evenly it will toast bread. If you’re buying a two slice toaster, we’d recommend buying one with at least a 900W to 1,000W capacity. For four slice toasters, look for around 1,500W capacity.
- Auto shut off. This is a feature that’ll automatically shut the power to the toaster off once it has completed a toasting cycle - essential if you think your teen might absent-mindedly forget they’ve put some toast on!
So, what are your options here at Comet? We’ve got cheap toasters galore, all available with an express delivery option (or if you’re buying multiple items at once, you get free delivery if it totals more than £150).
Explore our toaster collection, and you’ll find great value two and four slice toasters from trusted, quality brands like Swan, Tower, and Smeg.
Air fryer
Is this really an essential? We’d argue so. Why? Because an air fryer offers a quick, convenient and easy way to cook a whole host of foods. What’s more, they let you cook healthy foods - not something that’s always a priority for students.
Air fryers have also dropped in price quite a bit in recent years, meaning they’re not an unaffordable option for uni. They’re also easy to use - thus even the most amateur of cooks will be able to cook some tasty meals with one.
With all that being said, what should you think about when buying an air fryer for uni?
-
Digital vs manual. Arguably the biggest choice to make is between a digital or manual air fryer. Digital air fryers are - as the name suggests - digital, featuring touchscreens or LED displays. They also tend to have pre-set cooking options for different foods. Manual air fryers have physical controls and require you to manually set and monitor cooking. As you’d expect, digital air fryers tend to be more expensive than manual air fryers.
-
Capacity. It’s now possible to buy ‘dual’ air fryers. These allow you to cook two foodstuffs simultaneously, which allows complete meals to be cooked very quickly. This may be a good option if your teen wants their food in a hurry!
- Dishwasher safe. The cooking trays (or cooking baskets) of air fryers can get a bit messy - especially if you’re cooking foods like sausages which contain plenty of fat. So, it can be a good idea to check that the cooking baskets of your chosen air fryer are dishwasher safe.
As you can see, air fryers make a great appliance for uni. They’re easy to use and can help students cook up a filling meal in minutes. If you’re going to buy one, buy one from Comet. Why? Because not only do we have leading air fryer brands like Tower and Swan, but we offer flexible payment options and an express delivery option. There’s no better place to buy an air fryer than Comet.
Coffee makers and espresso machines
Whether it’s the morning after a heavy night out, or an all-night gaming session, caffeine is the secret ingredient to getting up and active in the morning.
And, given students’ propensity to party, you’re probably not surprised to see coffee machines and espresso machines on this list. Allowing you to create concentrated shots of espresso, or perfectly brewed cups of coffee, coffee and espresso machines can arguably be considered a ‘study aid’.
So, what do you need to know when buying one?
-
Coffee machine or espresso machine? This is the ‘biggie’. Do you want to buy your teen an espresso or coffee machine? There are several different types of coffee machine you can buy; bean to cup machines, pod machines, filter coffee machines. Everyone has a personal preference. If your teen just needs a shot of caffeine in the morning, then consider an espresso machine - ultimately, it’s up to them!
-
Brand. This is a particularly important point if you’re buying a pod coffee machine. Different brands have different compatibility with different pods/capsules - some of which can be quite expensive. So, check this before you click that ‘buy now’ button.
- Noise. This applies to bean to cup machines, which can be quite noisy when grinding the coffee beans. It’s something to think about if your teen is going to have flat mates etc.
Want to pick up a coffee or espresso machine so your teen can have a ‘pick me up’? Then explore the collection here at Comet. Our coffee machine range includes models from top brands like Smeg, Swan, and Lavazza.
Uni kitchen essentials from Comet
Explore Comet and you’ll find all the uni kitchen essentials your teen will need to keep themselves well fed and happy.
You’ll find appliances from top brands like Smeg, Morphy Richards, Russell Hobbs, and more - all at student-friendly prices. What’s more, we make it easy to spread the cost of your uni kitchen essentials with our flexible payment options. These include PayPal Credit and Klarna Pay in 3 - which lets pay in three, interest-free instalments.
We also offer an express delivery service - so, if you need something in a hurry, call on Comet!
Shop kettles, microwaves, toasters, air fryers, and coffee machines at Comet now.
For more news, product buying guides, and inspiration, check out the Comet blog…
