First time? We got you covered

No judgement if you're new to cooking, a lot of people before coming to uni rely on home-cooked meals magically appearing... but now it’s all on you. Don’t panic! Cooking can actually be fun, cheap, and quick if you know the basics (we also have a great guide on how to use all of your kitchen appliances as well!).

1. Stay safe in the kitchen

We’re not trying to scare you, but halls kitchens have… seen things. So let’s try our best to avoid any necessary fire alarms:

• Never leave cooking unattended. Not even for “just a sec.”
• Turn everything off when you’re done.
• Use oven gloves or a tea towel to handle anything hot.
• Don’t chuck loads of oil down the sink. It will clog.
• If things get out of hand, make sure to trigger the fire alarm and exit safely.

2. Time it right

Cooking can feel like juggling at times, especially if you're cooking for more than one person or are tackling a complex recipe. Here’s how to not get overwhelmed:

• Start with what takes the longest (for example, boiling potatoes or baking something in the oven).
• Always use a timer. Your phone is perfect for keeping track.
• If you’re cooking multiple things, don’t try everything at once at first. Try one-pan meals or cook bits separately, then chuck it all together at the end.
• Pasta and rice generally both take about 10-12 mins. Start those once your sauce or veg is nearly done.
• It's fine if something goes cold. You can just reheat!

3. How to make food taste good (without spending loads)

You don’t need fancy ingredients to make your food not taste like cardboard. Just a few little tricks:

Basic flavour boosters:

• Salt & pepper - sounds boring, but are staples of every meal.
• Garlic - fresh or frozen, it adds depth to basically everything.
• Dried herbs - mixed herbs, oregano, paprika, cumin, etc. The sooner you get a spice rack, the better.
• Stock cubes - chuck one in with rice, pasta sauce, or soup for an instant flavour boost.
• Lemon juice/vinegar - brightens up bland food.
• Cheese - grated cheese on anything makes it feel 100x better.

4. Easy meals to start with

Here are a few go-to basics to build your confidence:

Spaghetti with pasta sauce

• Boil pasta (12 mins).
• Fry some chopped onion, garlic, tinned tomatoes, and a pinch of herbs.
• Add salt, pepper, and grated cheese.

Stir-fry

• Cook noodles (or rice).
• Fry frozen stir-fry veg with a splash of oil, add soy sauce or sweet chilli sauce.
• Throw in cooked chicken, tofu, or an egg.

Baked potato

• Microwave a potato for 8–10 mins or bake in oven (1 hr).
• Add baked beans, cheese, tuna mayo, whatever you fancy.

One-pan eggs

• Fry some onions and tomatoes, crack in a couple of eggs, and let them cook through.
• Eat with toast or wrap it up in a tortilla.

5. Cooking equipment essentials

Here’s what you actually need to start:

• One decent non-stick frying pan
• A saucepan with lid
• Chopping board + knife
• Wooden spoon/spatula
• Grater
• Colander (for draining pasta/rice)
• Oven tray, if you plan to use the oven at all

You can always borrow other bits from flatmates. Just make sure to ask first and give them their stuff back in a clean state.

Cooking is an essential life skill, so start small and try to enjoy it as much as you can. Your flatmates might be in the same position, so you can always learn together!