When I first moved to university, I thought I’d be living off takeaways forever, but once I realised
how unbalanced and unmaintainable that is, I started building my own cupboard of essentials.
These are the ingredients I genuinely can’t live without, the ones that have seen me through late
night revision sessions, lazy Sunday dinners, and the days when I’m too tired to even think
about cooking.
Pasta
If I had to pick one ingredient that has kept me alive at uni, it’s pasta. It’s my go-to on nights
when I’ve got no energy left after lectures. I’ll chuck some penne in boiling water, mix it with
jarred sauce or just olive oil and garlic, and that’s dinner sorted. It’s cheap, filling, and always
there when I need it.
Rice
Rice is a close second to pasta. I use it for quick stir fries with whatever veg, or I’ll make a fake
takeaway-style curry with a jar of sauce. I also keep a couple of microwave rice pouches for
when I’ve got exactly five minutes to eat before heading out. A big bag of basmati has saved me
so many times, it lasts forever and goes with everything, plenty of supermarkets sell bags as big as 5kg too (which helps save money if you have the space!)
Tomatoes
Tinned chopped tomatoes are honestly a lifesaver. They’re the base of most of my cooking. If
I’ve got literally nothing in, I’ll throw a tin into a pan with garlic, paprika, and chilli flakes, and
suddenly I’ve got pasta sauce. I’ve even made shakshuka-style eggs with them when I wanted
something that looked like I put effort in.
Olive Oil
I didn’t realise how important olive oil was until I tried to cook without it. Now I use it for
everything: frying eggs, roasting veg, or just drizzling over bread. It makes such a difference in
flavour compared to basic cooking oil, and a bottle lasts me ages.
Garlic
Garlic is a necessity for me, I use it in pretty much every meal; garlic pasta, garlic rice, garlic
bread (basically garlic everything). When I can’t be bothered to peel cloves, the little jars of
pre-chopped or crushed garlic are a lifesaver. It adds such an elevated flavour.
Spices and Seasonings:
Having a few spices in the cupboard makes such a difference. Paprika gives a smoky flavour,
chilli flakes add heat, and you can't forget about the obvious salt and pepper, together they turn
bland food into something decent. I’ve also used them to rescue plain noodles, or even to make
oven chips taste better. I don’t have a huge spice rack, but these are non-negotiables.
I find it also helps make my meals taste more like homemade meals too!
Instant Noodles
Yes, the classic student cliche but they’re in my cupboard for a reason. Instant noodles have
saved me more times than I can count, especially when I get back late and can’t be bothered. I
usually upgrade them by watching some TikTok recipes by adding an egg, spring onions,
cooking cream or chilli oil.
Tea
Not technically an ingredient but tea is a uni essential. I drink it when I’m stressed, when I’m
tired, or when I need an excuse to procrastinate. There are so many kinds but I stick to the
basic English breakfast in the mornings and peppermint at night to calm me down.
Stressed over exams? Feeling tired, under the weather or a bit homesick? Tea makes everything better.
Oats
Oats are the most underrated cupboard ingredient. I use them for porridge when I’m trying to be
healthy or overnight oats when I know I’ve got an early start. They’re filling, and make me feel
like I’ve got my life together. You can even get the microwavable flavoured oats to change it up.
Eggs:
The most underrated and universal meal is eggs, whether that is for breakfast with avocado
toast or scrambled for dinner there are multiple ways you can enjoy eggs throughout the day.
They have so much protein and are so filling as well!
Conclusion:
These cupboard staples have honestly kept me going at uni. They’re not glamorous, but with a
little creativity they turn into proper meals. Having them on hand means I don’t panic when I’m
low on time. If you’re starting university, trust me, stock your cupboard with these.
