We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A Ninja Foodi smoothie and smoothie bowl maker that'll be a breakfast lifesaver during early mornings with little to no time to get dressed and have a nutritious meal. Just toss your ingredients in the blender and pour them into a bowl or into one of the to-go cups that it comes with to make meals-on-the-go even easier.
Promising review: "Love this product! I have no chunks of ice, frozen fruits, or oatmeal in my smoothies! I love the compact design. It's super easy to store away but small enough to keep on the counter without it being an eyesore. I’m happy with the one button press and I can walk away and finish getting stuff ready in the morning, and I don’t have to stand and wait for my smoothie to hold down a button or turn the blender off. Love the cups it comes with. They are a hard thick plastic and they seem like they will hold up well. I will be investing in more cups soon. Overall great product" —Renee Rohlack
Get it from Amazon for $99.99.
2. A pack of reusable beeswax wrap for an eco-friendly way to wrap your sandwiches and cover your leftovers that also helps your food to last longer. Just wash with cool water and mild soap, leave it to air dry, and they're ready to use again.
Promising review: "I love the patterns and the colors. I've been trying to find beewax wraps that actually stick together and seal things properly. So far this product seems to be the closest I can find that does it. I also like the larger value pack where I can get multiple wraps shipped at once. The last wraps I bought only came in a three-pack and was about the same price. I used these for veggie snacks, sandwiches, and to seal onions and avocados. Washes clean fast and still holds the same stickiness afterwards. They fold up nicely and save me so much room in my kitchen drawer. I highly recommend this product for plastic-free beginners." —Rachel Appold
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in six designs).
3. A mini fridge you can use to store your yogurts and half pints of ice cream for midnight snacks. It's small enough to slide under your desk so you don't have to sacrifice any space in your already quaint dorm room.
Promising review: "This mini fridge is the perfect size for my dorm room. I've been able to fit everything I need on a daily basis. The freezer box is pretty small and ices over, so I wouldn't plan on getting this mini fridge if you want to store a lot of frozen food. Highly recommend for dorm life students that want their own private place to store food and away from the communal fridge." —Shelly
Get it from Amazon for $110 (available in four sizes and four colors).
4. An over the fridge caddy for an extra storage solution you can put your utensils, plates, and napkins in so they'll be at the ready when you get a little hungry during your study session.
Promising review: "Great product! I used this for my dorm fridge. It comes with magnets built in and heavy-duty glued-on Velcro strips. Pockets are a bit small to hold normal sized utensils with out them hanging forward a little, but the large pocket fits plates." —Amanda Colon
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
5. Stasher bags for a reusable solution to using traditional sandwich bags. They cut down on waste as well as cost since you can use them over and over. They come in a variety of colors and sizes which also make for a visually appealing storage solution, too.
6. A pack of reusable plastic straws to use with your favorite tumbler so you don't have to keep taking handfuls full of straws from the university cafeteria. They're made with virtually unbreakable tritan plastic and come with a really neat cleaning brush, too.
Promising review: "Great replacement straws for my venti Starbucks cup! I've been using the same straw for years (and had no idea that straw cleaning wands were even a thing, eep), but after one of my cats gnawed some holes in my previous straw, it was time for a new one! Starbucks replacement straws are $5 for 3, and not all stores carry them very consistently, so I came to Amazon to see what I could find! These feel like pretty decent straws, love the color choices, and love that they come with the cleaning brush!! Less stress and hassle trying to make sure my straws are clean after iced coffee." —Stefani V.
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $5.99.
7. Or, if you'd prefer you can get a pack of silicone straws you can bend and fold into small spaces. They even come with a carrying case to make it that much easier to use them on a regular basis. Because it's silicone, you can also cut the straw down to size for shorter cups and tumblers. Reviewers also brag about how they don't hold odor.
8. A retro microwave ready to be your must-have dorm food essential. Imagine all the noodles, cakes in a cup, coffee, hot cocoa, bags of popcorn, and more you'll need throughout the course of the semester. It'll nestle right on top of your mini fridge or your dresser.
Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE this microwave. It's the best one I’ve owned! It’s small so it doesn’t take up much counter space but you can fit a full-size plate in it. Our home had a microwave when we moved in and I hated how large it was. It was too big for our counter and I had to keep it in the pantry, which took up space I could have stored food . I love the dial because every microwave I’ve owned, the touch buttons always end up breaking or stop working. I love the dial because that won’t happen. 🎉🎉" —Nicole Lea
Get it from Amazon for $49+ (available in four colors).
9. An angry mama microwave cleaner for when the "soften butter" instruction goes horribly wrong. Just fill mama with water and vinegar, and pop her in the microwave. She'll get mad, blow her top, and leave your microwave looking brand new. Ready to try that butter again?
10. A rapid ramen cooker, as seen on Shark Tank, that'll let you make perfect noodles without having to boil water on the stove.
Promising review: "I actually bought this Rapid Ramen Cooker to give to a relative as a gag gift! This person loves ramen so I thought it would be funny. I have to say that this gag gift turned out to be quite a handy little tool! It is the perfect size for ramen and allows you to cook it in the microwave in just three minutes. The neat thing is that the water line is marked so it takes the guess work out of it. Keep in mind that you will be using only one cup of water, so this is intended to be a drier ramen but if you want more broth, just add a cup of water to the dish when you take it out and use all the spice package. Your ramen will be cool enough to eat and you will have your soup! All in all, this is a handy gadget for dorms and small apartments. It is also a great gadget to take with you on vacation! Need a snack...you can make your ramen!" —Patricia D
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in multi-packs and in 15 colors).
11. Or, a microwave pasta maker to pretty much make your dreams come true because it lets you make the perfect al dente pasta in the microwave. Imagine actually being able to have a fancy pasta dinner in your dorm room. Now top it with some sauce and serve it up!
Promising review: "I love pasta, but I hate *making* pasta. Too many pots, pans, strainer, cleanup, etc. Forget it. And after a long day at work when I am craving pasta, all I want to do is eat right away. This pasta cooker cooked pasta better than I have ever cooked pasta in my life. I am Italian, so as you can imagine I have eaten (and made myself) a LOT of pasta. This product is a game changer. It was extremely easy to use, cooked quickly, and it came out PERFECTLY. Not over cooked, a little al dente, but not firm. Perfection. Now I have no excuse not to cook pasta for myself (and my husband) practically every day. BUY THIS. It will change your life." —Hope Lanza
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
12. An Oster two-slice toaster for Eggo waffles, toast and jam, bagles, Pop-Tarts, and more breakfast goodies you can pop in and pop out.
Promising review: "I am very impressed with the quality of this toaster. I purchased based on price and that it was available in red. Usually cheap toasters, like this one, are disappointing in the way they toast. But surprisingly, this toaster works very well. The controls are simple and operate as expected. For the money, this toaster can’t be beat." —Michael
Get it from Target for $24.99 (also available in red).
13. And, a pack of toaster bags if you've ever wanted to stick an entire sandwich in the toaster. Well, now you can. With these toaster bags, you can actually make grilled cheese in the toaster without the potentially dangerous mess you would get if you stuck the bare sandwich in there. How cool is that?!
No more lifting the bread with a spatula to see if your sandwich is burnt beyond belief or completely untoasted. Knowing you, it's likely one of each on either side.
Promising review: "I purchased these for the office to end the endless fights about the dirty toaster and toaster oven and THEY DO MAGIC. Everyone is happy, toaster is clean, peace is restored! Food is heated evenly." —Marina
Get three bags from Amazon for $6.99.
14. A two-basket Ninja air fryer that'll let you cook just about anything you want from the comfort of your dorm. You won't even miss your oven back home. With the double baskets, you can cook two different foods at the same time. Or, make something for yourself and your roomie at the same time. Did you just become best friends? Yup! ☺️
Promising review: "I had the larger Ninja single basket air fryer for one week. We loved it and realized we should have purchased this one from the start. It's the difference between mailing a letter (oven) and sending a text. You will cook everything in this thing! Buy it!! Especially if you have kids that eat morning, noon and night (or if you are remote schooling and cooking a ton!)." —Elizabeth Presti
Get it from Amazon for $179.99.
15. A mess-free storage bin with a spout because I, too, am one of those people who spills rice all over the counter every time. This container is clutch because not only does it have an easy pour spout, but it also comes with a measuring cup.
Promising review: "Love these sooo much I bought three! I use them to hold rice, homemade breadcrumbs, and coconut flour. The caps make a nice airtight lid and they're very convenient to use, always right where I need them to be. The sizing on the bin itself is a little tall, so I store these lying down in my cabinets, otherwise, they don't fit. If you are looking for something to store your grains/powders/crumbs/seeds/cereal/whatever in, these bins are AWESOME." —Chris
Get it from Amazon for $13.37.
16. A Dash mini rice cooker to make easy personal-sized helpings of rice, soup, steamed veggies, and even desserts. It's compact so it can squeeze into the smallest of areas. And, it comes in so many fun colors that'll brighten up your space.
Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter for her dorm at college. She loves making flavored rice and warming up soups and things. She likes it so well that she brings it home from college with her on breaks. It is especially nice that it has a removable pot, which makes it so much easier to clean or keep leftovers in. Would definitely buy again, don't waste your money on a slightly cheaper one that does not have a removable pot." —midohtree
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in eight colors).
17. An electric can opener complete with a simple on and off button that'll help you open your canned goods effortlessly.
Promising review: "OK, I admit I was skeptical. This product is amazing and whoever invented it is brilliant. Ordered another one for my daughter to take back to college, too! This is also an outstanding product for people who may have issues using their hands, such as arthritis." —Lynda N Ohio
Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in four colors).
18. A versatile waffle maker to turn those picture perfect pancakes into insta-worthy waffles. These waffles will also have deep pockets, ideal for filling with all kinds of delicious toppings.
19. A rapid egg cooker so you can boil, poach, scramble, or even make an omelet super quick. Now, you can finally fit breakfast into your morning routine. Picture perfect eggs every time, just look at the picture below. 👇🏽
Promising review: "This is the best kitchen appliance I have bought in a long time! Super easy and quick to use. I have a busy schedule and I make egg salad a LOT to take with me...this saves me SO much time and effort. Set it and forget it, but the super loud continuous buzzer/alarm will NOT let you forget it, which is a nice safety design. Takes exactly 16 minutes to boil eggs and they are perfect. They're also REALLY easy to peel! I've never peeled eggs so easily before. Huge plus that I hadn't even considered. This little contraption is also pretty small and stores easily. Even if you only boil eggs once in a while, it's worth it!" —Jaime Bosworth
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five colors).
Check out our Dash rapid egg cooker review for more deets!
20. A Keurig coffee maker reviewers say would be perfect for a college student's dorm. Not only can you have a fresh cup of coffee at your fingertips, but it'll also cut down on what could amount to costly trips to the nearest coffee shop. Even student store coffees add up.
Promising review: "The Keurig itself is fantastic! The device is very easy to set up, doesn't take up much space, and is extremely intuitive to use. Honestly, you don't even need the power button to use this Keurig. It's just throw in a pod and press the 'K' and wait approximately a minute and a half and you're good to go. I've used about 10 pods now, and just recently did my first cycle of clean water through the system and it looked and tasted just fine! I'm very impressed with how fantastic this Keurig is even though it's considered the 'entry-level' or 'beginner' Keurig. This would be perfect for someone in a college dorm or someone who just doesn't need all the bells and whistles other K-pod brewers have." —Tim McArthur
Get it from Amazon for $69.73+ (available in six colors).
Even better, you can buy these reusable K-cups and fill them with the coffee of your choice.
21. A pack of ready to eat beans because you quick and easy is the name of the game when it comes to dining in dorms which makes this totally for you. Throws those beans in the microwave, add a little rice, and you're good to go.
22. A tea mug complete with infuser and lid — everything you need to keep you warm and cozy during winter semester. It'll come in handy on sick days when you're missing the comfort of home.
Promising review: "I already love this mug! It’s comfortable to hold. I love the size! This is big enough to give me the amount of tea I want. Plus if I want to add creamer or milk, it all fits in this mug! I also love the size of the strainer. And, having it with the mug and the lid just makes having a cup of tea even easier. It feels sturdy and good in the hand. The handle is large enough to fit all four of my fingers through, which is sometimes hard to find. Yup, love this mug! Now, I will be looking into getting a few more for when friends come over!" —Quin
Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in five colors).
23. An Hamilton Beach electric kettle for rapidly boiling a pot of water. Just because you're away at school doesn't mean you can't still curl up with a good book and a piping hot pot of tea.
24. A cereal bowl that separates the milk from the rest of the cereal so that it doesn't get soggy, for people who find that to be a major issue.
Obol is the brainchild of Michael Roberts who, like many, was tired of his cereal getting soggy. So, he created this nifty bowl that separates the two until you decide to have them meet again.
Promising review: "It took me 72 years but I can finally eat cereal flakes that stay crisp in my bowl. This cereal bowl is wonderful. I wish Michael Roberts had been born sooner." —Lucille A.
Get it from The Grommet for $14.95.
25. A set of butter and cheese food huggers made to fit snug on your butter and cheeses to keep them as fresh as possible without having to use plastic wrap or sandwich bags.
Promising review: "These huggers are handy to have and will save money and waste. I used to use a plastic bag every time I bought a chunk of cheese but no more! I am trying to reduce waste in my household and these are a great place to start." –Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
26. A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey, which brings a sweet and kinda spicy pizazz to any food you put it on. It'll become a necessity when you're tired of eating the same old thing over and over.
27. Or, a bottle of Bachan's The Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce, which blends soy sauce, cane sugur, mirin, tomato, green onion, sea salt, organic rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and toasted sesame oil.
28. An unbreakable dinnerware set because stocking up on a bunch of paper plates and cups might be easy as far as cleanup, but having this lightweight set of dishes is both better for the environment and easier on the wallet.
29. A pack of chip bag clips that'll help you keep your multiple bags of Cheetos and Doritos from getting stale while you switch back and forth between flavors.
Promising review: "When you need bag clips for the kitchen, you kind of need them RIGHT THEN. So I'd bought some from the grocery store. What a waste! After receiving these, I might as well throw away the stupid plastic ones. They barely stay on a bag. These are so solid & durable. Yeah. I should throw away those other ones." –Happy Red
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.