Kitchen Essentials for Your First ASU Apartment (Buy Used)

Real Talk About First Apartments

Moving into your first off-campus apartment in Tempe is exciting until you realize the kitchen is completely empty and Target wants $400 for the full setup. The All-Clad pans, the Vitamix, the KitchenAid — you don't need any of that. Not even close.

Here's what you actually need, what to skip, and where to get it used for cheap.

The Actual Essentials (Start Here)

A skillet: One 10" or 12" cast iron or stainless steel skillet will handle 80% of what you cook. A used Lodge cast iron skillet at a thrift store for $8–$15 is genuinely better than a $30 nonstick from Target. Cast iron lasts forever, handles everything from eggs to steaks, and the seasoning only improves over time.

A medium pot: One 3–4 quart pot handles pasta, ramen, boiling eggs, and making soup. A used stainless pot at Goodwill or on Facebook Marketplace runs $5–$15.

A chef's knife: This is one item worth spending real money on. A $30–$40 knife from a student selling a used Victorinox Fibrox (retails for $50) is a great buy. Don't buy the block sets — you don't need six knives. One good 8" chef's knife handles everything.

Cutting board: Plastic or wood, doesn't matter. $5–$10 at any thrift store. Bamboo boards are fine and extremely common in the used market.

Sheet pan: For roasting vegetables, baking things, making sheet-pan meals. One half-sheet pan ($8–$15 used or $15 new at Target) is genuinely useful.

Measuring cups and spoons: $3–$8 at Goodwill, always available.

Wooden spoon and spatula: $5 total, everywhere.

Colander: For draining pasta. $5–$10 used.

Can opener: $4 at Dollar Tree. Just buy it new.

Total for the essentials bought used: $50–$80. Not $400.

The Appliances Worth Buying Used

Microwave: Buy used, always. A standard 700–1000 watt microwave from a graduating student runs $20–$45 and works identically to a new one. Test that it heats evenly before buying.

Coffee maker: Drip coffee makers and French presses hold up well used. A used Keurig for $25–$35 is a fine pick if you like single cups. A $10 French press at Goodwill makes better coffee anyway.

Blender: Useful if you make smoothies. A used Ninja or NutriBullet in working condition runs $25–$40 from students. Test it before buying — blenders get used hard.

Toaster or toaster oven: Toaster: $8–$15 used. Toaster oven: $20–$40 used. The toaster oven is more versatile but takes more counter space. In a small Tempe apartment, think about counter space.

Instant Pot: These are everywhere in the used student market — people buy them, use them twice, and then sell them. A used 6-quart Instant Pot runs $30–$50. It replaces a slow cooker, rice cooker, and pressure cooker. Genuinely useful for meal prep.

What to Skip

Full knife block sets: You'll use one knife and the rest will sit. Buy one good knife.

Specialized appliances: Waffle makers, panini presses, air fryer (unless you'll genuinely use it daily), electric kettle (fine, but a pot works). These clog up your cabinets and aren't worth hauling out.

Nonstick pans: Most cheap nonstick pans degrade quickly and you can't use them on high heat. A used cast iron is genuinely a better starting point.

Matching dishware sets: You need 2–4 plates, bowls, and cups. A mismatched set from Goodwill at $0.50–$1 per piece is completely fine for a student apartment.

Where to Find Kitchen Gear Used in Tempe

Goodwill (Tempe locations on Southern Ave and Apache Blvd): The best source for pots, pans, dishes, utensils, and small appliances. Go frequently — inventory rotates.

ASU List and Facebook Marketplace: Best for larger appliances (microwaves, Instant Pots, coffee makers). Graduating students post these constantly in April and May.

Facebook Buy Nothing groups: Search "Buy Nothing Tempe" — people give away perfectly good kitchen stuff for free. Worth checking before buying anything.

Dollar Tree and Dollar General: New, not used, but some things — can openers, basic utensils, dish soap — are cheaper to buy new here than to seek out used.

Prioritization for a Tight Budget

If you have $30 to set up a kitchen:

Thrift store: skillet ($8), pot ($8), cutting board ($5), assorted utensils ($5), dishes ($4)

If you have $75:

Add a used microwave ($25–$40), a decent knife ($15–$20 used), and a can opener.

If you have $150:

Add a used coffee maker, a colander, a sheet pan, and a second pot.

You don't need more than $150 in kitchen gear to cook everything a college student actually cooks. The rest is lifestyle creep. Focus the rest of that budget on your actual rent.