Your first apartment kitchen is the category that catches everyone off guard — a dorm hid all of this from you, and now there’s an empty kitchen and four roommates who all assume someone else is bringing the pots. Here’s the complete shared-kitchen starter kit, and how to split it so you end up with one of everything instead of three colanders and no cutting board.
Cookware
- A basic pots and pans set covers most cooking
- A baking sheet for the oven
- One large pot for pasta and soups
Tools and prep
- A knife set (or at least a chef’s knife and a paring knife)
- A cutting board
- Cooking utensils — spatula, spoon, tongs, ladle
- A can opener, peeler, and measuring cups
Tableware
- Plates, bowls, and glasses — a set for the apartment
- Silverware
- A few mugs
Appliances
- Microwave
- Coffee maker or electric kettle
- A toaster if your group uses one
Cleanup and storage
- Dish rack and dish soap
- Food storage containers for leftovers
- Kitchen towels and a trash can
This is the category to split
The kitchen is where the double-toaster problem is born. Almost everything here is shared — you need one set of pots, one microwave, one coffee maker for the whole apartment. Four people each buying “just the basics” is how you end up with four can openers and a pile of wasted money.
Divvy is built exactly for this: everyone claims what they’re contributing, you see the gaps and the duplicates instantly, and you split the kitchen fairly before anyone shops.
👉 Stock your kitchen the smart way at joindivvy.app.
See also: First Apartment Essentials and What to Split With Roommates vs. Buy Yourself.
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