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Learn & WatchOur content is meticulously curated through independent research, testing, reviews, and AI-driven recommendations, all designed to present you with the finest product choices. When you make a purchase through our links, it could result in us earning a commission.The Best College Cookbooks of 2024
Last updated: 6 Jun 2024Our Top Picks For College Cookbook
- Best Overall: Christine Nelson College Cookbook Shop Now ➔
- Best Value: Candace Braun Davison College Cookbook Shop Now ➔
- Least Ingredients Used: Pamela Ellgen College Cookbook Shop Now ➔
View all ContentsThe Best College Cookbook
Best Overall
The Recipes Every College Student Should Know Cookbook is written by Christine Nelson, a cook, writer, and accountant with four college-age sons who regularly call her for cooking advice. It’s our best pick for first-year college students with little cooking experience, as it features several healthy recipes that are incredibly easy to follow. Whether you have a microwave and an electric kettle or a full-sized kitchen, this book empowers you to make delicious study break snacks, late-night dinners, and backpack-friendly lunches. It also offers quick breakfast recipes, ensuring you make it to class on time and with a satisfied stomach. Containing essential tools, budgeting guides, nutritional information, and safety tips for inexperienced cooks, you can count on this cookbook to fuel your college days.
Pros
- Two servings at most for each recipe
- The Pocket-sized book is quite portable
- Uses everyday ingredients
Cons
- The size of the book is very small
Best Value
The Easy College Cookbook by Candace Braun Davison provides 75 simple recipes for beginner cooks, providing an unbeatable value. Since college students typically have limited space and a tight budget, this guide helps you make clever recipes with easy-to-get ingredients and simple dorm room appliances. It provides tips and tricks for fast and healthy meal preparation, perfect for study sessions, group projects, tailgate parties, and other college life activities. The cookbook also covers almost all dietary restrictions by offering ingredient substitution suggestions.
Pros
- Has homemade-cooking style recipes
- All budget-friendly recipes
- Added tips and hacks for making cooking simple
Cons
- A lot of recipes require perishable foods
Least Ingredients Used
The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook is authored by Pamela Ellgen, a certified personal trainer, blogger and author of several books on cooking, nutrition and fitness. The cookbook includes more than 100 easy, healthy and affordable recipes for college students who don’t have much kitchen space, time, or money to make fancy meals. It stands out from the competition by empowering you to make deliciously healthy meals with only five ingredients or less. Make meal preparation fast, easy, and satisfying with simple recipes like classic french toast, Greek pita sandwiches, Thai chicken ramen, vegan enchiladas, and more. The book also includes alternate versions of recipes, making it easy to mix things up once in a while and accommodate dietary restrictions.
Pros
- Tips and tricks for kitchen basics
- Fun and accessible methods to cook fresh food
- Recipes don’t require fancy kitchen tools
Cons
- Does not include pictures
The Best College Cookbooks Buying Guide
What Factors Should You Consider Before Buying a College Cookbook?
Easy to follow
A college cookbook that’s hard to follow is the bane of every college student’s life. You don’t have a lot of time on your hands to try out elaborate recipes so you want to make sure that the book you’re getting has instructions that are simple and easy, and use everyday cooking items and ingredients that are accessible for a student. Bonus points if the book uses some sort of visual aids or pictures to make the cooking process even more clear.
Correct nutritional information
Getting a college cookbook that includes the nutritional benefits of the recipes, ingredients and meal plans in the clearest way possible is extremely important. Look for books that are written by renowned experts or people who back up their claims by presenting scientific evidence and research for their recipes.
Suits your goals
One of the most important factors that you should look at when picking a college cookbook is if the book is tailored toward your nutritional goals. For example, if you want to lose weight seek out books that focus more on how to eat healthy while losing some pounds. You don’t want to waste your money on a cookbook that falls short of the goals that you have set for yourself.
How We Picked the Perfect College Cookbooks?
The reputation of the author
When curating our list we made sure to select books authored by well-renowned, reputable authors, chefs and experts who’ve made a big impact in the cooking world.
Information quality
The quality of the information was a big consideration while creating this list. We’ve ensured that all the books we’ve provided offer information that is communicated in an engaging and creative way. The books we’ve included provide credible information and don’t mislead the reader by making outrageous health benefits for their recipes.
Customer reviews
Customer ratings and reviews were an important factor when curating this list. We picked college cookbooks that not only got great ratings but also got a lot of positive feedback from reviewers.
What Are the Benefits of Getting a College Cookbook?
Live healthier
Let’s face it, most people don’t really have a great diet when they’re in college, especially when there are so many accessible options out there with fast food and microwaveable meals. But the problem is that those options aren’t really healthy and so getting a simple college cookbook and cooking for yourself in your dorms or at home is a much better and safer option. You have more control over what ingredients you’re using in your meals, you can change up different recipes to better suit your taste buds. The possibilities are just endless when you’re cooking for yourself.
Saves money
With a college cookbook to follow along for everyday recipes and meals, you can save a ton of money when buying groceries. Instead of spending money every day eating out, you can plan ahead and get the ingredients you need from the supermarket which are a much cheaper and healthier option in the long run.
Learning an essential life skill
College is a place to learn and grow, not just in your academics but also in life as a person. You’re learning to grow as an adult in the real world and cooking is an essential life skill to have for that. By learning how to cook properly with a cookbook you’ll be teaching yourself a valuable skill that will always come in handy no matter what.
Learning responsibility
By reading cookbooks and learning how to cook for yourself you’re actually learning to be more responsible and taking better care of yourself. At first, you might be intimidated and have no idea what you’re doing. Slowly but surely though you will learn what kind of meals work for you, what ingredients mesh well together, what you like and don’t like and be able to whip up nutritious meals with just the simplest of ingredients.
Cooking Tips To Help You Out in the Kitchen as a College Student
Seasoning
A great way to spice up your cooking is by using more seasoning in your dishes. Using different types of seasoning really helps to add that extra kick to make even the most basic and bland dishes into something that’s more palatable. Try out all different kinds of seasoning in your everyday meals and see what works for you.
Learn how to meal plan
Meal planning is an essential thing to pay attention to especially if you’re a college student. Knowing or having at least some idea of what kind of meals you want to have throughout the week can help you plan better and buy only the things you need to make your meals. In the long run, this helps save both your time and money, both of which college students don’t have a lot of.
Freeze your food
Learn to utilize the freezer more often. You probably don’t always have time to cook a meal for yourself every day, this is where your frozen food should serve you well. You can store most food items from soups to sauces, and a bunch of other meals for months in the freezer without them going bad. But if you’re running out of space or if you don’t have a freezer, freezer bags are always an option.
Microwave more
Microwaves are an indispensable appliance to have, especially in college dorms. Now we don’t want you to waste your money on unhealthy microwaveable meals like cup ramen and stuff. Instead, you should learn how to prepare healthier alternatives using your microwave. You’ll find tons of recipes in cookbooks that you can use a microwave with, from poppadoms, caramel sauces and even salmon.
Learn some simple recipes
This probably comes as no shock to you but learning some very basic recipes to start things off as a novice cook is really important. You can browse through your cookbook for some delicious one-pot recipes. They don’t really require a lot of effort to make and you can store them up to have them throughout the week.
You can also start off by learning a simple but delicious tomato sauce recipe. They work great as a base for a lot of dishes like pasta, enchiladas and even different kinds of stew. Once you get the hang of the recipe, you can change it up a bit, and add in some extra flavoring and spices to make it more suitable for you and your taste.
People Also Asked
What can I learn from college cookbooks?
Like most regular cookbooks, college cookbooks also cover a wide array of topics that talk about living a healthy life and eating good quality food while you’re in college. These books usually contain super simple recipes that would be easy for most college students to make.
Why is it important to eat healthily?
Providing your body with the right nutrients and supplements is key to living a well-balanced, healthy life. Considering how tough college life is, following a balanced and nutritious diet is even more important for a college student.
How can you start to eat healthy as a college student?
In order to start eating more healthily, the best thing you can do is increase the number of fruits and vegetables you consume daily. Along with that add in some legumes and whole grain foods to your diet as well and try to cut out extremely oily and processed stuff, like fast food, out of your daily meals.
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