It can be hard when you're moving into your first Athens apartment to know what you need in your kitchen to cook a meal. If you're like me, you probably want to be as prepared as possible, however, that isn't the most cost-effective option. How much you should bring also depends on how often you are planning on cooking, and how complex those meals will be. Sometimes you won't feel like cooking, and that's ok too! Athens has so many great restaurants to try as well! Whatever your level of experience with cooking, here are a few things I recommend bringing.
Cooking Utensils to have on hand in your Athens apartment
With cooking utensils, you can consolidate so you only need a few items. You need a large spoon for stirring, which can be wooden or plastic. This can be used for sauces, soups, and sauteing. Another important item is tongs, which makes it easier to pick up items you need to flip or take out of the oven/air fryer. Lastly, a spatula to use for flipping items, such as eggs and pancakes. For all these items, the material is up to you to choose. If you want wood utensils, just be aware that you need to take more care with them. If you decide to buy plastic, a good idea is to also get a spoon rest, so that you aren't tempted to leave the plastic resting on a hot pan.
Pots/Pans/Baking Sheets
With pots, pans, and baking sheets, I would try to have one of each. For baking sheets, you may want to have two sizes, but I wouldn't recommend having any more than that. For pots, you should have more than one, no more than three. The amount and sizes of the pots are up to you, but there will be recipes where you'll need more than one item cooking on the stove. Pans are similar to pots; I would say a medium-sized and large one is enough to get you through!
Other Miscellaneous Items
The most basic items needed would be a toaster and Keurig/coffee machine. Having a coffee and tea machine will save you a lot of money in the long run, and there are a lot of compact versions now that will help you save space on your countertops. Another item that isn't necessary but helpful is a rice cooker. It doesn't have to be one of the fancy electronic ones, because there are a lot of cheaper plastic options that you can put in the microwave and have ready-to-eat rice in a few minutes. Having a measuring cup is also a good idea!
Take your time!
It will take a while to have all the items needed to cook a college meal at UGA. The more you cook, the more you will know what you need. Until then, improvise!