<p>I am an incoming freshman and I plan on living in a dorm but not having a meal plan. I like to eat healthy so I'm gonna cook my own food and have a mini-fridge. However, I'm wondering how big of a hassle it is to cook food in the dorm kitchens? I guess I'll store my pot/pan/dishes in my room, but are the kitchens usually crowded with people using the stove? Also, do I need to bring down a sponge/dish detergent/kitchen towel every time, to wash my dishes? I know I'll get used to it but just wondering if anyone can give any tips on using the dorm kitchens. Thanks:)</p>
<p>bring everything you’ll need for the kitchen yourself. with that in mind, the most complicated part of cooking in a dorm should be getting to the grocery store.</p>
<p>ok, are there a lot of grocery stores near the campus that I can take a bus to?</p>
<p>Publix about 1 to 2 miles west of campus</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen with friends who live in dorms, the kitchens aren’t typically super crowded, but yes, you definitely need to bring a sponge and/or dishrag to wash your dishes with after you cook. You can take the Butler Plaza bus to get groceries at one of the two Publix stores that are there, but I think you’ll get over this quickly… make friends with someone who has a car.</p>
<p>thanks! do the dorm kitchens typically have a microwave? and is there a place to keep my pots/pans in the dorm kitchen, instead of keeping them in my room?</p>
<p>if you keep anything in the kitchen it will be either stolen or destroyed by misuse. some people will never understand that you don’t use a non-stick pan as a cutting board.</p>
<p>also, most people have a microwave in their room iirc.</p>
<p>There’s TONS of grocery stores TBH, so even getting groceries shouldn’t be too bad. You can take a bus or ride your bike (but I’d use the bus, if you have a lot of groceries, it’s a hassle to carry them on your bike)</p>
<p>And just keep the pots and pans in your dorm. There’s people who could take some of them even by accident…or purpose.</p>
<p>The kitchens definitely have microwaves. I don’t think its necessary to buy your own, a lot of friends of mine who have lived on campus do not have them. It’s just a hassle to have one when you’ll likely end up moving off of campus in a year, to an apartment that already has one.</p>
<p>And yes, definitely keep your pots and pans in your room. It’ll be a hassle, but you have to, otherwise they will go missing. Get a big storage container and keep them in there, underneath your bed.</p>
<p>I’m in summer A right now which doesn’t offer meal plans (plus a lot of the other food places are closed as well). It’s not much of a hassle to cook food (I’m on the girls side, maybe guys cook more/less?). Our RA has left out bottles of dish soap for us to use but when that’s not their just use your own. And if you’re going to be doing a lot of cooking, I suggest bringing some kind of bag so you can haul your foodstuff to and from the kitchen. There’s only so much two hands can carry! </p>
<p>I’ve been going to the store once a week (route 12, which takes you to Publix and Target) and it’s not too bad. Then again, I’m only saying this since I’ll be getting my car down here in time for fall. A car is MUCH more convenient, but many students have just their bike and free bus service at their disposal and do just fine. There’s another bus that goes to Westgate Plaza (Publix) which is supposedly faster to get to, but I go to Target.</p>
<p>I never had a meal plan either and it has worked out very well. Cooking yourself is a lot cheaper than investing in a meal plan. During my freshman year I lived at Buckman and it was not super close to any of the dining halls, so I definitely found it a lot more convenient to either cook or just go to midtown.</p>