Must Have Kitchenware:

• Measuring cups. Until you get better at "eyeballing", stick with measuring cups. Additionally, it gives you a good starting point if you see a recipe online or such.
  
  
• A rice cooker. This one (EDIT: I lied, I meant this one. For $7 more than the above one, it has a slow cooker function) doubles as a crock pot as well, if you're smart about it. Leave some veggies and let the rice go, easy meal. Which leads into the next point:
  
  
• A crock pot. If you want something more extravagant than rice and beans, try learning how to use a crock pot. It's easy to make ribs or pulled pork: just leave some bbq and pork in the pot and go to class. I know I had some trust issues leaving a kitchen appliance going for hours at a time, but once you get past that it's a life saver.
  
  

  Places to Shop:
  

  
  

• The Meat Lab (scroll down to the bottom). Great prices, and great quality. It's food right from the farms at school. As the name might suggest, you can get meat and eggs from there.
  
  
• Far East Grocery. Fave place to get my oriental groceries and everything you could ever want. It's cramped, very confusing, and has sketchy lighting-- reminds me of home.
  
  

  General Tips:
  

  
  

• Clean while you cook.
  
  
• Don't buy ramen because it's "the college kid food." One cup of (filling) ramen is ~$1, maybe 60c if you're lucky, or 40-60 bucks assuming you eat 2 meals a day. In comparison, 20lbs of rice is $10, and a month's veggies+potatoes+eggs is $15, and soy sauce is $5.
  
  With all of that, you can make a month's supply of some really damn good fried rice.
  
  
• When shopping for a recipe, write out what you need. Nothing sucks more than coming home and realizing you forgot turmeric.
  
  When I'm super lazy, here's my go-to meal-- Rice, salt and pepper, cumin, with a tomato sitting at the top, and maybe some carrots. I just toss them all in the rice cooker and watch some TV.

This is the one I have. You simply add the water, add some rice, add in the tray then put the meat in it and the seasoning from the meat will drop down and be enough to season the rice usually. You can also add broccoli/spinach with the meat on the tray and steam them at the same time for a meal with rice/meat and veggiesss

And for $50 you can get one of these bad boys. For a little more you can even get a pressure cooker that takes like a fourth the time.

I got this, it's dope:

Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Cooked (10 cup uncooked) Digital Rice Cooker

This is what I have. Rice cooker and steamer. One of my best investments. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055FSN0Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i have a combo cooker (rice cooker and slow cooker) so saves you space and $

edit: this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055FSN0Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one has served me well.

wtf? She needs to chill the fuck out.

If a white person asked me, or my SIL (who is also Asian) would we just laugh at the question and point to this Amazon link (https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-Housewares-uncooked-Exterior-ARC-150SB/dp/B0055FSN0Y)

You two should invest $40 in a decent rice cooker and never have this problem again. (Also, no need to drain rice in a colander). I just saved your marriage, you’re welcome.

Don't get a set. Get individual pieces you'll reach for daily.

I live all by myself, but I like to make 3 - 4 servings of whatever I'm cooking at once, and then portion it out for the week, so that I don't spend a fortune eating out.

https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Calphalon-Nonstick-Jumbo-Deep/dp/B001ASBBSG/
This is my favourite pan. In this one, I make pasta (it holds enough water for 1 lb of pasta), I can make soup, I can make pilaf, I can do stir-fries, I can make crepes and pancakes, and it cheerfully handles it all with no problems. The nonstick is good, although you do need a bit of fat to get things moving. I never run it through the dishwasher. Only hand wash with a soft sponge, and some dawn, and everything is fine. I only use wood or silicon utensils. So far, it's been a year, and it's held up great.

https://www.amazon.com/Anolon-Nouvelle-Stainless-2-Quart-Covered/dp/B00H273JYI/
This is a saucier. On the rare off occasion that I want a pot of ramen, or to make a tiny quantity of something, this is perfect. It's also great as a bean pot. When I make a pot of beans, I don't need a giant quantity. I just need enough for me to each lunch a few times. This is just the right size for me.

With those two pots alone, you can cook the vast majority of what you need on a day to day basis. I would suggest getting a rice cooker.
https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-Housewares-uncooked-Exterior-ARC-150SB/dp/B0055FSN0Y/
This one is the best one I've used, and I've used a LOT of rice cookers.

If you want a small frying pan for breakfast dishes and the like, this one's good:
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/7-non-stick-aluminum-fry-pan/407FRYPANNS7.html
Very cheap, lasts long enough, and easy to use.

https://www.amazon.com/Equinox-Professional-Chefs-Knife-Protective/dp/B00ZHO50FY/
I have had this knife for 2 years, and it's still going strong. It feels a lot more expensive than it really is. For $15, the thing is super sharp, and does a great job on my chopping needs.

For cutting boards, size matters.

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Organic-CONCEPT-Eco-Friendly-Kitchenware/dp/B01DUZMBP8/
It's solid, it's beautiful to look at, and a pleasure to use.

Mine is almost the same. https://amzn.com/B0055FSN0Y
We use it several times per week. Main thing missing: Porridge Mode.
Other than that minor feature, we're very happy with it.

I have this one that does rice, steam, and slow cooking! I love it, it cooks rice perfectly and slow cooks everything. Only bummer is that is really doesn't have any settings or temp gauges for slow cooking. I had to figure out on my own that it cooks on low, and always make sure to temperature check my meats to make sure they are up to temp. Other than that, it's really handy if you don't have a lot of space. Not quite sure how steamed foods will come out, as I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Yeah-- I have one that you'd like.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055FSN0Y/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_dv-mybV54WBKW

It's $32 on Amazon. It's a rice cooker, but it comes with a steaming attachment to put veggies in while you cook rice. I've done it 3 times-- steamed veggies at the same time as making rice. But I mainly just use the Slow Cook setting and make recipes I find on this subreddit. It's fucking incredible and I don't know how I would cook without it.
Pros: everything is fucking delicious and perfectly cooked, white rice especially. Has a steaming attachment. Has a measuring cup and lines on the inside of the bowl. Bowl material is quite durable. Locking mechanism. Excellently designed. Has a keep warm setting for 12 hours. Digital display is super helpful.

Cons: The slow cook setting is High and you can't set it to low. Life is fleeting and we're all gonna die someday.

Here's what you do for each of these problems:

> Rice constantly sticks

Get one with a non-stick pot. Don't ever scrape it with something metal, always use a wooden or plastic spoon to remove the rice. Add enough water so it doesn't burn on the bottom. Usually this will be enough, but some high end cookers allow you to control the exact temperature they cook at, in which case, you'd use a lower temperature and cook for longer.

> it leaks

Hinge-top cookers tend to leak less than lid-top ones all else the same, but the big problem here is using too much water when cooking. Ideally, you want to use as little water as possible, just enough to cook the rice through. Maybe even a little less, leaving a tiny "bite" in the middle, like al dente pasta. So experiment by using: the same amount of rice, the same brand and type of rice, and the same cooker- but reduce the amount of water you use until you reach that "just cooked through point". This should 1) Use a bit less water 2) Cook a bit faster 3) Leak a little to a lot less 4) Make rice with a little more interesting texture

> it's difficult to clean

Knowing which are easy to clean or not really requires looking at the inside of the cooker and seeing where water and steam are allowed to go. Hinge top can control what happens more, but you also look for large overflow inserts. (You also clean out the overflow insert thingys every time you cook). In the cooker I linked, it's hard to see, but it's a clear, plastic, thin "cup" on the right side of the first and second last pictures. They pop out of the side of the cooker for easy cleaning, and their purpose is to catch overflowing water/steam.

> only makes 2 cups of rice (uncooked)

Buy a larger cooker.

-----

I recommend Aroma cookers for this price range. I've had a lot of success with them over the years.

8-cup capacity is probably what you want, but if you need to cook really large quantities of rice every day and counter space isn't an issue, they also have a 20-cup capacity one for not much more money.

They have: the capacities you're looking for, non-stick pots that work, overflow insert cups for if you do add too much water, and two different settings for white and brown rice, which is nice.

Anything under 100$ doesn't really do anything better than this. If you really want a cheaper option than the Aroma, go with the cheapest glass lid one you can find, and really work on getting the water added right (minimized), would be my only advice.

And if instead you wanted a more expensive one, you could spring for a Zojirushi, which have a really good reputation for consistent cooking, and have some neat features and stuff (I don't know I haven't used many of them), but are usually quite a bit above 100$.

1. best investment so far is a rice cooker/ food steamer. $37 bucks at wal-mart and you can cook rice at the same time you steam food. You can steam everything from asparagus to potatoes, you can even hard boil eggs in the steamer basket. Super easy clean up and makes prepping super simple buy setting a timer and walk away.
   
   
2. I get a giant skillet with w lid, use food scissors to cut 6 chicken breasts into nugget sized chucks season and throw in the skillet. Cook on medium heat until they are done about 15 min or so. No need for oil, water, stirring nothing.
   
   
3. Got a little magic bullet type mixer to throw my breakfast in in the morning. I put 4 egg whites and 2 eggs in the bullet first. I use 1 cup hash browns (13g of carbs per serve) cook those in a skillet throw them in the bullet, same skillet cook 1 serve turkey sausage throw it in the bullet. Spin that shit for a second or two to mix them up cook the mixture up in the skillet you've been using. Top it off with a cup of fat free cheese, I eat this everyday so bomb and filling. You only have those two dishes to clean and you can rinse and reuse everyday.
   
   
4. In your slow cooker (the rice cooker/steamer I have doubles as a slow cooker) fill it with whole chicken breasts. Fill to the tippy top with your fav bbq sauce cook on low for like 6 hours. Take out our breasts throw in a pyrex dish and shred with a fork. Makes BOMB shredded bbq chicken sandwiches or just eat it straight. ***Caution bbq sauce has quite a bit of sugar in it so be careful if your cutting.
   
   Here is my rice cooker- http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-20-Cup-Digital-Steamer-Stainless/dp/B0055FSN0Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1412186617&sr=1-4&keywords=rice+cooker

I use the Aroma ARC-150SB. Tiger rice cookers are supposed to be the Rolls Royces if you really want to ball out but my cheap little Aroma works for me.

Rather than just a crockpot I would suggest an aroma
It's a crockpot but it also works as a rice cooker and steamer. It will give you a lot more functionality. There are entire cookbooks dedicated to recipes for aroma cookers. These things are so cheap it would hard for it to not be a decent investment.

And yes, you can make food in the cooker and freeze it or keep it in the fridge and heat it up later.

https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-Housewares-uncooked-Exterior-ARC-150SB/dp/B0055FSN0Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1473739002&sr=1-3&keywords=rice+cooker
Best Selling one on Amazon is $37 new with 4.4 stars. Your price may be a little high.

It works. Source: I own one.

Amazon

Had this one for a year or two. It works perfectly
http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-ARC-150SB-Uncooked-Digital-Steamer/dp/B0055FSN0Y

Get her a rice cooker and some rice, one with a good recipie book and a steamer basket. It's really, really hard to screw up with a rice cooker.

This one is similar to mine. It's a bit large for a rice cooker - but it's just the right size for a soup pot. And it makes the most amazing soups and stews.

So as long as she can cut up an onion and some potatoes without a trip to emergency...

They have smaller ones, this is a 20 cup for only $37.

I'd imagine you'd make your money back in no time with hungry people everywhere.

http://amzn.com/B0055FSN0Y

You could also buy a rice cooker. I got the Aroma large one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055FSN0Y/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and it's amazing. There are plenty of rice cooker recipes out there like beans and rice, that allow you to make a one-pot meal in there with very little effort.

But, regardless, I'll also use the rice cooker to simply cook up large amounts of rice, and then seal them up into portions and freeze. I'll do both white and brown, and the brown I cook in the chicken bone broth I make, which also gets frozen. Red sauce, both with meat and without, do well in the freezer.
I buy packs of chicken breast and boneless thighs from Costco, and then cut the raw chicken into bite-sized pieces. Lay it out on a cookie sheet topped with parchment/wax paper and freeze. Freezing them like that means you can pour out some of the frozen meat, not all, plus it thaws quicker.
Make GF gravy and freeze it. I combine the chicken with the non-meat red sauce, or with gravy and have that over rice or waffles, or stir-fry w veggies over rice.
I found that it was better in the end if I did all the prep work and then frozen, rather than created meals. I also get onions - slice some, dice some, mince some, and freeze. Same w green/red peppers if you use those. If you use one of those vacuum sealers, you could make up GF pizza crusts ahead of time, freeze the proper portion amount of sauce to go with and same with freezing proper portion amount of shredded cheeses.

This is something that I came up with a while ago that my roommate could make easily (he's not exactly culinary school material). It's ridiculous easy. Very tasty. VERY flexible (swap out proteins, seasonings, add veggies, you can do whatever you want to it). Should work in a crock pot if needed, definitely works in one of these combo rice cooker/slow cooker things.

Fajita Rice

3 cups of rice
Water for 3 cups of rice
1 can of diced tomatoes (don't drain)
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons crystallized garlic
1 lb ground beef uncooked
2 tablespoons fajita or taco seasoning
2 teaspoons jalapeno salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon of crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon chicken broth concentrate (or 1 big bullion cube (4 normal sized))
1 tablespoon beef broth concentrate (or 1 big bullion cube (4 normal sized))
about 1 lb of chicken (either a breast or thigh works) (thawed) cut up into 1 inch pieces
No butter or oil, the fat in the beef will be our fat

Mix all of this in rice cooker (break up the beef as much as possible), and push the rice button.

I was thinking about getting this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055FSN0Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

The most recommended one from america's test kitchen is like 30$. At that price I think there's no reason to not get one.

http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-UNCOOKED-Stainless-Exterior-ARC-914SBD/dp/B007WQ9YNO/

http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-uncooked-Digital-Exterior-ARC-150SB/dp/B0055FSN0Y/

10-cup rice cooker with steamer basket. The updated version sells for about $37 on Amazon. Works fine. Instruction manual here.

I use this one. Never had an issue.

I bought this a year ago and it's works perfectly every time. My last Aroma rice cooker worked well for 3 years but I wanted a larger capacity.

http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-ARC-150SB-Uncooked-Digital-Steamer/dp/B0055FSN0Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1406485651&sr=1-2&keywords=aroma+rice+cooker

Rice cookers are very simple technology, you don't need an expensive one to last a long time.

I have an Aroma that serves as a rice cooker, steamer, and slow cooker (crockpot). It works well and I really like it. My only complaint is that you can't set it to steam something for less than 5 minutes, so it's not good for blanching delicate veggies like broccoli.

Buy a rice cooker and for $35 you can cook up to 10 cups of rice (20 cups cooked). I cook about 10 cups on Sunday and leave the built-in bowl in the fridge for the rest of the week. One of the best investments ever.

Aroma rice cooker like this one. You fill it with the appropriate amount of rice and water, and it cooks it automatically. You can leave it in there for hours if you forget about it. Get an air fryer, and you can cook your chicken and broccoli in it by the time the rice is finished.

> This is impractical for people who may have errands to do during lunch or before or after school. Or those who need to pick up children from work. Or those who work odd hours (do you really want to be biking on a road at 2AM? Or during winter. or rain... nothing like showing up to work soaked wet...

1. It's only impractical if you don't have enough time to sleep/eat or don't have days off. 9 hours at work including lunch +9 hours sleep/eating at home and even a 1.5 hour commute leaves 3 hours for leisure time/running errands, and that's not including days off.
   
   
2. You can wear layers in inclement weather.
   
   >Cool. When I lived in Chicago, my heating gas cost was nearly $200, and I didn't keep it higher than 68
   
   Either that was a) a aberrant spike, b) was much larger than a 1 bedroom apartment, or c) your landlord was bilking you.
   
   >You need a mini-fridge. And you'll need a microwave unless you plan on eating cold rice and beans every day. And you'll need a stove to heat up the beans and rice.
   
   No you can use a gas stove-which we have and is also included in my gas bill-or a cheap rice cooker which happens to have a 15 hour delay so you can have your rice ready when you wake up and/or get home from work.
   
   The power rating of a typical rice cooker will cost you around $12 a month in electricity if you're using it 5 hours every day for cooking.
   
   >Boston, $769 will get you a median 340 sqft, or a 34'x10' space. IF you can even find a place that small.
   
   Median is even more useful than average.
   
   You forgot 1 bedroom shares*. My rent is 525 and I share a two bedroom small apartment outside Boston.
   
   Besides, we're talking about survival here, right? If you have enough space to live, why is it a problem?
   
   Or is it really not a starvation wage, but a "I take lots of things for granted and want to be able to have them" wage?