Clothes Iron Meals, Coffee Pot Stews, and 6 Other Tips for Cooking Without a Kitchen

If you live in a major city and aren’t rich, you’ve got two options: Either you share an apartment, or you settle for a cheap studio without a kitchen. The challenge with the latter option is that you’ll have to get creative with your meal. But whether you’re living in a closet-sized apartment, dorm, or hotel room, frugal Redditors have got your back, sharing their essential tips for stove-free living.

If your alternative to cooking at home is eating out — a cardinal sin for penny pinchers — then you shouldn’t worry about spending a few extra bucks on pre-prepared convenience foods. Buying things like shredded carrots, canned beans, and dip will make cooking (or assembling) your meals a lot easier.

With the glut of kitchen gizmos these days, you hardly need a stove or an oven. Instead, buy an air fryer, an electric frying pan, an induction hot plate, a toaster oven, and/or a pressure cooker. It only takes one or two of these gadgets to start throwing together some tasty, home-cooked meals. And if you’re tight on cash, check your local thrift store.

While it may not be a long-term solution, one Redditor suggests asking local churches if you can use their kitchens. Another option is to simply ask friends and family if you can occasionally use their stove. Just be sure to share, or else you might not be invited back.

Related: What You Can and Can't Buy With SNAP Benefits

It’s a long shot, but if you’ve got a good relationship with your boss, you can ask to use the kitchen at your workplace. Negotiate by offering to cook during your break or after work.

You can cook a restaurant-quality, three-course meal using a drip coffee maker. Don't believe us? It’s already been done. If you think about it, a coffee maker is really just an all-in-one hot plate and water boiler, meaning that scrambled eggs, spaghetti, and soup are all on the table.

Related: Kitchen Gadgets That Are a Waste of Money

An Air Force veteran shares that he would make “clothes iron meals,” including grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. Just wrap whatever you want to cook in aluminum foil — bread, English muffins, and thin cuts of meat are all options — and press ‘em with the hot iron.

Related: 25 Kitchen Mistakes You're Probably Still Making

If you’re a Cheapim reader, then you already know: Costco’s $5 rotisserie chicken is a staple for penny pinchers, especially if you're living without a kitchen.

Related: The Best Rotisserie Chicken, According to Redditors

Instead of cooking your meals, you can assemble them. That means buying a bunch of fresh veggies, maybe some cheese, and throwing together the best salad you’ve ever made. Need a little extra protein? Add tinned fish, chickpeas, or pre-marinated tofu, and you’ve got a full meal.

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