Cheap, Easy DIY for College Students

I understand that many college students (especially freshman or people living off-campus for the first time that miss their precious meal plan!) don’t know the very basics of cooking. So here’s a list of things that I’ve picked up along the way that I should have known a long time ago. (And some that I learned the hard way!)

• Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.
• “Boiling” means when there are big bubbles coming to the top of the water very rapidly. “Simmering” means boiling just barely. Don’t confuse the two or you’ll burn a lot of things.
• When boiling pasta, add vegetable or olive oil to the water so the noodles don’t get sticky.
• Use foil on baking pans when roasting meat so there’s no mess. (Don’t do this with cookies!)
• Use the best, least scratched-up cookie sheet when making cookies. The no-stick kind are the best.
• Rice (not minute rice) sucks to make. You can’t stir it but once or twice or it will get mushy. Be careful not to turn the burner up too high or you’ll have rice burned to the bottom of the pan.
• Weird as it sounds, salt sometimes makes sweeter confections taste better, because it takes away the tart-sweet flavor.
• If your brown sugar gets brick-like, throw in a piece of wheat bread.
• Chicken is “done” when its no longer juicy on the inside when you cut it open.
• Spaghetti is done boiling when you can throw a piece to the wall and it sticks.
• When making scrambled eggs, crack the eggs into a bowl and mix them up with a little milk. It makes them fluffier and they don’t stick to the pan as easy. Also make sure to butter your frying pan.
• Make scrambled eggs in the microwave by mixing them up with a fork and nuking them for a minute or so. (But they’re not as good!)
• Bacon is best when it’s cooked slowly. Start with a cold frying pan and flip them over and over until they’re how you like. They’re done (and sterile!) when all the meaty parts are red. I like mine “floppy” but some like theirs crispy.
• Gravy is made by adding 1/4 cup of flour to a few tablespoons of bacon grase, along with about 1/2 cup milk and some salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat until thick.
• When making stir-fry, throw in the chow mein noodles on top after it’s done cooking so they’ll still be crunchy.
• When you make a grilled cheese, put butter on the outsides of the bread.
• When making brownies or cake, you can tell when they’re done by using the “toothpick” test. Stick a toothpick in the middle, and if it comes out clean, it’s done!
• Make baked potatos in the microwave: Wash the potato, put it in a Ziploc bag with about 1/4 cup of water. Place in the microwave with the bag open and bake for 8-10 minutes. Check about halfway through and add water if it’s all evaporated.