You are going to find yourself with little free time once you join college. You will probably be spending your time studying, doing extracurricular activities, and working part-time, which may leave little time for cooking.
Are slow cookers allowed in dorms? Yes, many college dorms allow students to have slow cookers, among other kitchen appliances. However, dorms are also strict on observing safety precautions when using slow cookers.
It is essential to understand what to look for when shopping for slow cookers. In addition, learn the safety precautions to observe when using slow cookers.
Rules for Using Slow Cookers in College Dorms
Although some U.S. colleges allow students to use slow cookers in dorms, this privilege applies only to students who respect the rules for using cooking appliances in dorms. Colleges have rules and regulations regarding the use of slow cookers in dorms.
- All rooms, including cooking appliances, must be kept clean at all times. Students are also expected to dispose of empty food and beverage containers properly.
- Many colleges do not allow students to use cooking appliances, including slow cookers that draw more than three amps or are larger than 4.5 cubic feet. In addition, all cooking appliances must be connected directly to a wall socket with a circuit breaker.
- Students are not permitted to use cooking appliances, including slow cookers, which produce open flames or smoldering embers. In addition, the appliances must not use or contain combustible or flammable liquids or substances.
- Although students may use slow cookers in some colleges, students are not permitted to sell the dishes they prepare with the slow cookers. In addition, students are not permitted to violate local, state, or federal laws regarding public health and safety.
Best Slow Cookers for College Students
The market has many brands of slow cookers, and some college students may not know which brand works best for them. If you are a college student, you can start your search for slow cookers by considering some of these brands.
Tefal Multi cook Slow Cooker
Some of the best features of this product include:
- Pop-up vented lid
- Stainless steel exterior
On the downside, the Tefal multi cook slow cooker only displays minutes left to cook in the last two hours or less. However, this product is affordable and comes with a whole range of safety features.
Ninja Multicook Slow Cooker
This is a multitasking slow cooker ideal for the busy college student who does not want to spend lots of time preparing meals. It features multiple gadgets in one device.
On the downside, this appliance is a bit bulky and requires two lids. However, it boasts many functions, including:
- Pressure-cooking
- Air frying
- Grilling
- Roasting
- Slow cooking
The appliance’s sear function allows you to prepare meats and vegetables without having to use multiple pans. In addition, it is the perfect size for preparing meals for multiple students in a dorm room.
Crock-Pot
This is a cheap slow cooker for those on a tight budget. In addition, it boasts a stylish and impressive design. This makes the Crock-Pot a good bang for your buck. At such a reasonable price, the Crock-Pot will be well worth the investment and then some.
Crock-Pots come in different sizes, some models are spacious enough to cook food for an entire week or more (My rations never last an entire week but they could have if I was more disciplined), while others are more suitable for a single person.
However, I would suggest going for one of the larger models to ensure that you have enough space to cook big batches.
Advantages of Slow Cookers
When you are in college, you will find little time to cook. Fortunately, a slow cooker can help you prepare delicious meals fast.
Slow cookers are the perfect kitchen appliances for any lifestyle. There are many reasons why the slow cooker is one of the essential cooking appliances to have in your dorm.
You Only Need Two Ingredients
Many college students do not have the time to prepare dishes that require many ingredients. Some survive on simple meals for weeks at a time.
It is quite rare to find college dorm rooms with spice racks and full refrigerators. However, that is not a problem for most college students.
You can prepare so many flavorful dishes with a slow cooker. For instance, if you are looking for something to eat with your sandwiches, consider making barbecue sauce and chicken.
You can use your slow cooker to prepare some Bolognese in a concise time. All you need is some marinara and ground beef.
Makes it Easier to Budget
All you need to prepare meals with a slow cooker is two ingredients. The two-ingredient dishes make it easy for students to eat fulfilling meals on a budget.
Some college students eat out in a restaurant or café when hungry. Although this is not a problem, it often involves withdrawing money to pay for the meals at the restaurant.
With a slow cooker, you can have hearty meals in your dormitory without having to break the bank. This appliance allows you to save money by staying indoors and cooking your meals instead of relying on expensive take-out.
Stay Away from the Dining Hall
Just because the restaurants and eateries around campus are open does not mean you have to use them. At some point, you will get tired of eating foods on the same menu.
When you need something different from what your college cafeteria offers, consider preparing your meals. With a slow cooker, you can prepare any meal you want whenever you want.
Although using the college cafeteria may be convenient, you might need something different at some point. When you need a change of pace, prepare your dishes with a slow cooker.
Simplifies Cooking
A notable benefit of a slow cooker is it enables you to prepare meals whenever you want. Whether you have a class in one hour or 20 minutes, you can put your ingredients in the appliance and leave the food to continue cooking while you go for your classes.
The only time you invest in your cooking is the time you use on ingredient preparation. Once you have the ingredients ready, you can spend your time doing other things as you wait for the food to cook.
Unlike standard stoves, a slow cooker will not burn your food. In addition, the appliance is not a fire hazard.
Eliminates the Need for a Stove
Most colleges do not allow stoves in their dormitories because they are fire hazards. Therefore, students have to find alternative appliances to cook with.
For most students, the answer is a slow cooker. With this appliance, students can prepare meals without worrying about the possibility of starting fires with their appliances.
How Slow Cookers Work
Most slow cookers have two main temperature settings:
- High-temperature setting
- Low-temperature setting
The high-temperature setting usually cooks at above 212 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, the low-temperature setting cooks below 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some slow cookers feature keep warm temperature settings at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This setting keeps the food warm without overcooking it.
Newer slow cookers can brown food and have other specific temperature settings, including for rice and sous vide. The varied temperature settings of slow cookers allow you to cook food in one appliance instead of multiple appliances.
Slow cookers save cooking and cleanup time. Newer slow cookers come with many features, including multi-cookers that double up as pressure cookers.
Slow cookers can cook large cuts of meat, including pulled pork because they slowly break down the tough muscles allowing the meat to become soft and tender. The appliance can also cook stew exceptionally well because it does not overcook food, including vegetables and meats.
Tips for Choosing the Best Slow Cooker
Some slow cookers come with more advanced features than others. Consider various factors when shopping for slow cookers.
Cooking Pot Size
The first things to consider when shopping for a slow cooker are the cooking pot size and the typical sizes of the meals you will be preparing. Cooking pot sizes for slow cookers vary and may range from one quart to eight quarts or larger.
Also, consider the amount of space the cooking appliance will take on the countertop. Determine the amount of space you are willing to allocate to the cooking appliance.
Bells and Whistles
Find out if you will be using the slow cooker for basic cooking or additional functions such as air frying and searing. Consider getting a slow cooker that comes with a temperature probe so that you do not need to open the lid to check the food temperature.
Choose a slow cooker with the automatic keep-warm feature to keep food warm after cooking without overcooking it. Some students prefer to use programmable slow cookers that starts cooking at preset times.
Slow cooking is a common trend not just among households but also among foodies and college students. This cooking method is convenient, affordable, and adds excellent flavor to your dishes.
Many colleges allow students to have slow cookers in their dormitories. Many college students consider a slow cooker an essential cooking appliance.