The back-to-school rush occurs twice a year, during summer and winter breaks. These breaks allow students to unwind, rest, and travel to places they wish to visit.
But now that school is about to resume, and you have your bags packed, applied for scholarships, and checked out your course outlines, you must think about how to tackle feeding.
Of course, food is essential. So, before you leave for college, you must plan how you’re going to eat and what appliances you need to make cooking a breeze.
The thing is having an air fryer will make food less of an issue for you while in school. But as you may have heard, not all cooking appliances are allowed on the school premises.
Now, are air fryers allowed in college dorms? If you’re here to find answers, you have come to the right place!
Here is what we know about air fryers’ usage in the college dorm. Read to learn more!
Are Air Fryers Allowed in Dorm Rooms?
Every college has rules on acceptable dorm appliances. And while some schools don’t allow the use of fryers in the dormitories, others do.
So, if you have plans to purchase an air fryer to use in school, check your school’s regulation on small appliances to see if air fryer is prohibited.
However, colleges that don’t allow air fryers have their reasons. And those that allow have safety guidelines in place. Those who wish to use air fryers must adhere to the safety guidelines or risk being fined.
So, if the air fryer is allowed in your college dorm, you have every reason to be happy. Why? You can reheat your pizzas and prepare quick meals with ease.
Why is An Air Fryer Not Allowed in College Dorms?
Colleges that prohibit air fryers in the dormitories have their reasons. Check out the possible reasons below.
1. Increased risk of fire hazards
Air fryers can get extremely hot, making them a huge concern for the school authorities. Students using the appliance can get careless and set the dorm and entire building on fire.
The lives and properties of other students are at stake. And these colleges aren’t ready to take any risks.
However, many of these students use air fryers in their homes, and they haven’t burnt down their houses.
2. Negative experiences with the appliance
Most colleges have had their dorms and buildings razed down thanks to similar cooking appliances. And that could have forced them to ban the use of the appliance. It might be air fryers or other cooking appliances.
3. Smell from the food could permeate the entire dorm
This problem is particular in appliances like air fryers that can get super hot. They can make the smell of foods permeate the entire dorm, making other students who don’t like the smell of the said food uncomfortable.
Again, the possibility of foods cooked in air fryers getting burned is high. So, when allowed to use air fryers, pay close attention to whatever you’re cooking.
When foods cooked in air fryers get burned, the smoke is usually challenging to get rid of. And don’t forget that the smoke can make some students fall sick.
So, colleges that have rules prohibiting air fryers don’t want to take such risks. They rather ban the use of the appliance than risk the lives of other students.
Again, any heating device can leave foods burnt, not only air fryers. By the way, the air fryer won’t burn foods when monitored properly.
4. False fire alarm
Smoke from the appliance or when the air fryer gets extremely hot can trigger the building’s smoke/fire alarm.
You can easily push a button and turn off the fire alarm at home. That can’t happen in a college dorm.
Students need to evacuate from the building, and fire services have to be contacted when the fire alarm goes off.
Now, what happens if the fire alarm is false? You could be fined or punished for such an act.
So, you can see why most colleges aren’t in support of students bringing air fryers to school.
How To Remove The Food Smells From The Dorm Room?
Your food smells delicious to you. But others may have a contrary view. They may find the smell of the food you’re cooking or have cooked uncomfortable. And you don’t want to be the person who makes others sick when cooking.
Here’s how you can get rid of the food smell from your dorm room before it spreads.
1. Keep baking soda on hand
Baking soda is one of the items that should never leave your side when cooking. Why?
It can take care of the food smell in your dorm. Baking soda won’t only mask the smell of the food but absorb it.
So, if you plan on cooking something stinky, such as vegetables, tomatoes, or even fish, keep some baking soda nearby.
Why is baking soda so active? It is a neutralizing agent. Thus, vegetables, fish, and tomatoes are acidic foods that smell a lot.
Therefore, you need a neutralizing agent such as baking soda to absorb the smell of your acidic foods. And yes, baking soda does a good job in this regard. It would keep the pH level balanced and reduce the odor drastically.
2. Add baking soda to the trash can
Before pouring dirt into your trash can, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the trash bag. You can also sprinkle baking soda on dirt that already stinks.
Baking soda is an odor-absorbing superhero, and it’s versatile too. You can use it to stop the smell of food from spreading to the entire dorm.
3. Use a plug-in air purifier
Use a countertop or the plug-in air purifier while cooking to deodorize your kitchen before the smell of your food spreads to the entire dorm.
This device is superb at getting rid of smoke-related odors, including viruses, mold, and even bacteria.
Benefits of Using An Air Fryer in College Dorms
Air fryers make cooking enjoyable and quick. They also make us consume healthy meals. Check out the benefits of air fryers below.
1. Let you consume healthy meals
Students that consume healthy meals don’t fall sick easily. And when you don’t get sick often, you can focus on your studies and achieve set grades.
The air fryer is designed to help you avoid food-related diseases, like heart diseases. How?
We all know deep-fried foods are a big issue health-wise. But with an air fryer, you can cook the same foods with less oil, which will turn out super delicious.
2. Low maintenance and ease of use
Air fryers are super easy to maintain, and the frying basket is dishwasher safe. You only need to deep clean this appliance once a week.
Using air fryers to cook is also a breeze. Just put the food items in the frying basket and turn the appliance on. That’s it!
3. Easy storage
Air fryers are perfect for college life. Lightweight and size make air fryers super easy to transport and store.
Small sizes also make air fryers ideal for dorms’ small counter spaces.
4. Lets you cook with less mess
Cleaning up the mess after cooking can be frustrating and tiring. Students don’t even have time to dedicate to these tasks, given the huge workload on their shoulders.
So, if you want to prepare meals and have less mess to deal with, get yourself an air fryer.
By the way, you need less oil to cook in an air fryer. And this means that your cooking area won’t get messy.
5. Zero radiation risk
Foods prepared in air fryers are 100% safe to consume.
6. Reheat foods
You can quickly reheat your leftover pizzas and other foods if you have an air fryer.
Safety Instructions To Follow For Using An Air Fryer In College Dorms
Does the college you attend allow the use of air fryers? If not, don’t bring an air fryer with you when resuming school.
If the school authority permits air fryers, follow the instructions below to use yours safely.
- Read the appliance’s instructional manual to know how it works.
- Unplug your air fryer immediately after you finish cooking. Please don’t leave it plugged in.
- Ensure the basket isn’t oily or greasy after cooking—clean the appliance when you finish cooking.
- Be careful while removing foods from the basket. Remember it will be very hot. Use a spoon or mitten to take out the food.
- Does your room boast a good ventilation system? If yes, go ahead and use your air fryer. If it doesn’t have, desist from using an air fryer.
- Always use quality air when cooking.
- Soak the air fryer basket for a while before washing. Avoid hard scrub.
What Cooking Appliances Are Allowed in Dorms?
The rules on cooking appliances in dorms differ from one college to another.
So, if you’re a freshman, below are the appliances your school might accept. However, you still have to check to be completely sure.
- Food steamer
- Rice cooker
- Coffee maker
- Crockpot
- Electric kettle
- Waffle maker
- Bread toaster
- Microwave
- Food dehydrator
- Crepe maker
Conclusion: So, are air fryers allowed in college dorms?
Every college decides what appliances students can and can’t bring to their dorms.
You need to check what your school permits before buying any appliance you plan to use in school.
Air fryers are beneficial and can make you eat healthy and nutritious meals. But if your school permits using this appliance, please follow the guidelines on safely using an air fryer.
You can also do something about food smell when cooking in the dorm. We shared tips on addressing the smell of foods when cooking before it engulfs the whole dorm.
