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A first kitchen needs fewer things than most checklists suggest. This Farm Girl Cooks reckons two or three pots and pans in total is enough, and Cyanne Eats says a pan, a pot, a knife and a board cover almost every meal you’ll cook in your first year.
The list below has eight items. I could check real prices on IKEA’s pages on 3 November 2026, so the priced items come from there: three in euros from IKEA Ireland, and the knife in dollars from IKEA US. Prices move, and the frying pan is currently on a markdown.
The short version
On 3 November 2026 the frying pan was EUR 15, the 2 l saucepan EUR 12 and a small chopping board EUR 7, which comes to EUR 34 for the three. Items 5 to 8 have no price because I only quote what I saw on a shop page; they’re also the easiest things to find second-hand.
Source: IKEA Ireland product and chopping board listing pages, checked 3 November 2026
| Item | Price (checked 3 Nov 2026) | What it replaces | Second-hand option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Frying pan, 28 cm | EUR 15 (IKEA Ireland, was EUR 19) | Microwave meals and a lot of takeaway omelettes | Charity-shop stainless steel or cast iron |
| 2. Saucepan with lid, 2 l | EUR 12 (IKEA Ireland) | Instant noodle pots | Charity shops, or a leaving housemate’s cupboard |
| 3. Chef’s knife, 8 inch | USD 14.99 (IKEA US) | Pre-chopped veg packs | Charity shops or car-boot sales; check the handle is tight |
| 4. Chopping board | EUR 7 for 28×22 cm (IKEA Ireland listing) | Chopping on a plate | Solid wood boards second-hand; skip any that are cracked or warped |
| 5. Rimmed baking tray | No price checked | Frozen oven chips as the only oven meal | Flat clear-outs and charity shops |
| 6. Wooden spoon and silicone spatula | No price checked | Table spoons that scratch pans | Car-boot sales |
| 7. Colander | No price checked | Holding a lid over the sink | Charity shops |
| 8. Tin opener | No price checked | Wrestling a tin with a knife | Charity shops, or borrow one from home |
Why each one earns its place
1. A 28 cm frying pan
The IKEA 365+ frying pan, stainless steel, 28 cm was EUR 15 on 3 November 2026, marked down from EUR 19. The page says it’s oven-safe, works on all hobs and copes with metal utensils.
It’s the pan for eggs, stir-fries, quesadillas and sauces, which is most of a week. Real Mom Nutrition, in a checklist updated in July 2026, suggests ceramic or cast iron and warns against second-hand non-stick pans, which tend to be chipped. Stainless steel likes a properly hot pan and a good slick of oil before food goes in.
2. A 2 l saucepan with a lid
The IKEA 365+ saucepan with lid, stainless steel, 2.0 l was EUR 12 on 3 November 2026. IKEA’s page lists it for soups, sauces, porridge and melting butter, and says it’s dishwasher-safe and oven-safe.
The 1 l version is EUR 9, but it’s too small for pasta for two. The lid matters: water boils faster with it on, and rice needs it.
3. A chef’s knife
The VÖRDA chef’s knife, black, 8 inch was USD 14.99 on IKEA US on 3 November 2026. It has a plastic handle and a 15-year limited warranty. A step up on the same site is the VARDAGEN 8 inch with a walnut handle, USD 19.99.
Real Mom Nutrition says to spend a little more on this one, because a sharp, comfortable knife saves time and frustration. One knife does the onions, peppers and courgettes for every meal below.
4. A chopping board you can actually use
IKEA Ireland’s chopping board listing showed the SMÅÄTA acacia board, 28×22 cm, at EUR 7 on 3 November 2026. IKEA US describes acacia as solid wood that’s gentle on knives.
Real Mom Nutrition suggests at least one large board. The APTITLIG bamboo board at 45×28 cm was EUR 10 on the same listing, so EUR 3 buys a lot more room for chopping a pepper without it rolling off.
5. A rimmed baking tray
Tray bakes are the lowest-effort way to cook a full meal: chop, toss with oil, leave it in the oven. A rimmed tray keeps oil and juices from escaping. Dark, slightly warped trays from flat clear-outs work fine.
6. A wooden spoon and a silicone spatula
Both are on Real Mom Nutrition’s must-have list. The spoon stirs sauces and turns tray bakes; the spatula scrapes the last of the tomato sauce out of the pan.
7. A colander
Pasta, rinsed rice, drained tinned beans and washed salad leaves all go through it. A small bowl-shaped one fits in most cupboards.
8. A tin opener
Real Mom Nutrition says a manual one is fine. Tinned tomatoes, chickpeas and white beans are the cheap backbone of a lot of student cooking, and many of them don’t have ring pulls.
What to skip for now
- Boxed 20-piece sets. Cyanne Eats warns against sets you’ll use twice and forget; buying single pieces gets you the ones you’ll reach for.
- An air fryer in halls. Cyanne Eats notes they’re on the banned list at most schools, so wait until you have a real kitchen.
- Second-hand non-stick pans. See above: chipped and scratched coatings are the usual problem.
- The cheapest possible pan. This Farm Girl Cooks says very cheap pans can cook unevenly and flake over time.
Three meals that use the whole list
Between them these meals use all eight items. The pantry shelf is short: pasta, long-grain rice, eggs, olive oil, soy sauce, two tins of beans or chickpeas, a tin of chopped tomatoes and a bag of frozen peas.
| Meal | Uses | Prep | Cook | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato and white bean pasta | Saucepan, frying pan, colander, tin opener, knife, board, spoon | 10 min | 20 min | 2 |
| Egg fried rice | Saucepan, frying pan, colander, knife, board, spatula | 10 min | 20 min | 2 |
| Tray-baked chickpeas and peppers | Baking tray, tin opener, colander, knife, board, spoon | 10 min | 30 min | 2 |
Tomato and white bean pasta
Ingredients: 180 g penne, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion (finely chopped), 2 garlic cloves (sliced), 400 g tin chopped tomatoes, 400 g tin white beans (drained), 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper, 30 g grated hard cheese (optional).
- Bring 1.5 litres of salted water to the boil in the saucepan with the lid on. Add the penne and cook for the time on the packet, usually 10 to 11 minutes.
- Meanwhile, warm the oil in the frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 6 to 7 minutes until soft, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Tip in the tomatoes, beans, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring now and then.
- Scoop out a mugful of pasta water, then drain the pasta in the colander. Stir it into the sauce, loosening with a splash of the water if it looks tight. Top with cheese if you’re using it.
Allergens: gluten (pasta), dairy (cheese).
Egg fried rice
Ingredients: 150 g long-grain rice, 300 ml water, 1 tbsp neutral oil, 3 eggs (beaten with a pinch of salt), 3 spring onions (sliced), 100 g frozen peas, 1 tbsp soy sauce.
- Rinse the rice in the colander under the cold tap until the water runs clearer. Put it in the saucepan with the 300 ml water and a pinch of salt.
- Bring to the boil, cover, turn the heat right down and cook for 12 minutes. Take it off the heat and leave covered for 5 minutes, then spread it on a plate for 10 minutes so it dries out a little.
- Heat the oil in the frying pan over a high heat. Pour in the eggs and stir with the spatula until just set, then push them to one side.
- Add the rice and peas and fry for 4 minutes, breaking up clumps. Stir in the soy sauce and spring onions, and serve straight away.
Allergens: egg, soy; soy sauce usually contains gluten.
Tray-baked chickpeas and peppers
Ingredients: 400 g tin chickpeas (drained and patted dry), 2 peppers (about 300 g, cut into chunks), 1 courgette (about 200 g, cut into half-moons), 1 red onion (cut into wedges), 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp salt, 60 g plain yoghurt and bread to serve.
- Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan).
- Tip everything except the yoghurt onto the baking tray. Toss with the wooden spoon until coated, then spread into one layer so it roasts rather than steams.
- Roast for 30 minutes, turning everything over halfway, until the edges are browned and the chickpeas are crisp.
- Serve with yoghurt and bread, or on a scoop of leftover rice.
Allergens: dairy (yoghurt), gluten (bread). Use a dairy-free yoghurt to make it vegan.
Sources
- Real Mom Nutrition: How to Stock Your First College Kitchen (Complete Checklist)
- This Farm Girl Cooks: First Kitchen Checklist (What You Actually Need)
- Cyanne Eats: 11 Dorm and First-Apartment Kitchen Essentials That Actually Get Used
Header image: illustration, AI-generated.