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Student kitchen essentials: don't spend more than you need
Jamie has worked at national newspapers, press agencies and a student-led digital publication. She cares about ensuring that consumers get the most for their money and have access to trustworthy, science-backed information.
As a student you have to shop smart. With a tight budget and limited kitchen space, it’s important you don't waste money or cupboard capacity on ineffective products.
If you’re looking to kit out your kitchen for the year ahead - whether you’re moving into halls for the first time or simply need to upgrade your gear - our tests have found excellent and well-priced kitchen basics to help.
From saucepans and kitchen scales to knives and oven gloves, we’ve got some great budget-friendly options with picks starting as low as £2.
Scoville Neverstick Saucepan (76%, Best Buy, Great Value)
We like: Easy to clean
We don't like: Heating up time is only satisfactory
This saucepan from Scoville excelled in our heating and cooking tests. Some pans might heat up faster, but the non-stick surface on this aluminium pan does a great job.
When our testers tried their best to scratch it, they were met with firm resistance and little evidence that they'd even tried.
It's easy to clean, durable and affordable - a great pick for students.
Read our Scoville Neverstick Saucepan review for more information.
If things do get a bit messy when cooking dinner, check out our guide on the easiest way to clean a burnt saucepan
Blackmoor 67080 Classic 28cm Frying Pan (85%, Best Buy, Great Value)
We like: Passed our wear-and-tear test with flying colours
We don't like: Only satisfactory for scratch resistance
A good frying pan makes a mealtimes a breeze. This Blackmoor pan offers great value for money and is up there with the best we tested.
It has an impressive non-stick coating and scored full marks in our non-stick test, which involves dry-frying eggs to see how easily they can be removed.
Read our Blackmoor 67080 Classic 28cm Frying Pan review to compare it to the other pans we tested.
Viners Assure Chef's Knife (94%, Best Buy, Great Value)
We like: Safer rounded tip blade
We don't like: Less precise for fine tasks
With a rounded tip rather than a sharp point, this kitchen knife is designed to be safer and help reduce the risk of injury. This is the first rounded-edge kitchen knife we tested, and our results show the design doesn't compromise performance.
While it's less precise when julienning in comparison to some more expensive options, the cutting edge was impressively sharp and didn't show signs of dulling after repeated use. The blade is even sturdy enough to tackle tougher jobs, like slicing through a butternut squash.
Read our Viners Assure Chef's Knife review to find out more details.
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Argos Home Stainless Steel Can Opener (73%, Great Value)
Available from Argos (£6).
We like: Easy to use
We don't like: Not the most compact
Let's face it, baked beans are a staple part of most student diets. If you don't want to spend more than a tenner on a tin opener and want something reliable, this should be top of your list.
While it may not be as simple to use as some more expensive can openers we've tested, all of our testers still found it easy to open a tin.
Read our Argos Home Stainless Steel Can Opener review to see more.
Geekhom Silicone Oven Gloves (86%, Best Buy)
We like: Provides forearm coverage
We don't like: Slightly harder to put on than mitts
Oven gloves are an often overlooked essential. When you're on a budget it's easy to think you'll just use a tea towel instead, but when your tea towel inevitably becomes communal you may not want it too close to your food.
This silicone pair offers excellent heat resistance and, with a gauntlet design like a woolly glove, they offer great finger mobility and dexterity for more fiddly tasks.
Read our Geekhom Silicone Oven Gloves review and compare it to the other nine oven gloves we tested.
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Salter Arc Digital Kitchen Scale (80%, Best Buy, Great Value)
We like: Lightweight and easy to store
We don't like: No units for liquid measurements
Although there's no backlight, it has a simple display and the numbers are big and easy to read. Plus, the tactile buttons are responsive.
The maximum weight for this scale is 3kg and the display only shows units for dry ingredients, but for everyday student meals - and for an affordable price - it's a great option.
Read our Salter Arc Digital Kitchen Scale review to get more information.
Ikea Lemon Squeezer (82%, Great Value)
Available from Ikea (£2).
We like: Compact
We don't like: Struggles to fit larger lemons
This lemon squeezer requires minimal effort to squeeze a lemon very quickly, and causes virtually no mess (unlike your housemates).
It's small size makes it perfect for shoving in the kitchen drawer, but it does make it tricky to squeeze larger lemons and medium-sized citrus fruits.
So whether you're squeezing lemons for pre-drinks or adding a splash to liven up budget meals, it's an effective and affordable option. Plus, if you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher where you're living, this lemon squeezer is dishwasher safe.
Read our Ikea Lemon Squeezer review and compare it to the others we tested.
Habitat Solid Butchers Block
Available from Argos (£13).
We like: Most popular with our testers
We don't like: Not great for staining and odours
This wooden butchers block style chopping board was the most popular with our testers. It scored top marks for cutting feel and was the most durable of the wooden boards tested.
Staining and odours were it's weak spots; beetroot left obvious marks during testing and fish smells lingered for a few washes. So while it's durable against knife marks, be prepared that it may not stay looking brand new for long.
We tested the large version which is now out of stock but the medium size is still available.
Read our Habitat Large Solid Butchers Block review and compare it to the other wooden and plastic chopping boards we looked at.
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Salter Electronic Salt and Pepper Mill Set (78%, Great Value)
Available from Argos (£19.99).
We like: Durable
We don't like: Refilling is frustrating
Electronic salt and pepper mills aren't the quietest, but the chances are neither are your student digs.
These Salter mills are the only electric grinders we've tested that we'd recommend. They produce fine or coarse-ground salt and pepper very well, filling a teaspoon in only 30 seconds.
While they might be a bit fiddly to refill and fit batteries into, they are easy to use with wet hands. Plus, when we dropped them 10 times from a kitchen counter in our tests, they still worked afterwards.
If you're not sure which AA batteries to go for, our best AA and AAA batteries reviews can help.
Read our Salter Electronic Salt and Pepper Mill Set review to see why we rate them.
