What’s the defining characteristic of a student kitchen?

So many pizza boxes

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Kanika Banwait, English Literature, second year

7Student kitchens will have takeaway boxes on the counter pretty much 24/7 – just accept it. And if there aren’t takeaway boxes there then you’re definitely doing student life wrong – who doesn’t have takeaway after a night out or when they’re too lazy to cook?

Lucy Heming, History, second year

No matter what student kitchen you’re in, by the end of the year there’ll be someone who starts cleaning dishes by blasting them with just water. It’s a classic.

Liz Couston, Chemistry, first year

No-one ever wants to empty it. It means having to leave the building in whatever socially unacceptable joggers or PJs you’re most likely wearing and run the risk of bumping into everyone you know – no thanks.

Alex Ball, English and German, second year

At the start of the year everyone will bring kitchen sponges with them, they’re an essential every parent will force you to bring. By the end of the year you’ll end up with a whole mountain of dirty sponges by the sink no-one ever thinks to throw out.

Safiya Shariff, History, second year

We all know about flat Whatsapp groups. They include that one person who tries to have good banter and fails horribly, the one who always takes control in organising nights out, and more specifically that one person who whinges about keeping the kitchen clean. If you’re reading this and don’t think your flat Whatsapp group has one of these – well, you’re probably that person.

Chris Handley, Economics, second year

There’ll be something gag-worthy somewhere around – guaranteed.

Becky Lee, Economics, first year

It wouldn’t really be a student kitchen if it weren’t for the enormous mountain of plates and cutlery which end up piled beside the sink. Even the clean dishes on the drying side of the sink still remain piled up and don’t get put away.

Alex Nash, Maths, second year

Regardless of which kitchen you end up in, someone’s milk will always leak. If you’re the unlucky one who has the bottom shelf of the fridge – well, you’re food will be swimming in a pool of milk the majority of the time I’m afraid.

Kalyani Narayanan, Management, first year

If university teaches you anything, it’s that if you’re determined enough you can always push last night’s pizza takeaway box further down into the already full bin so you won’t have to take out the rubbish.

Aaishah Rauf, English Literature, second year

Every student kitchen has stains and no-one ever really knows what they are, or how they got there.

Jack Rawlins, English Literature, second year

It’s fair to say most student kitchens are the definition of gross, and by gross I mean a complete health hazard.

Elizabeth Thurland, Law, second year

Bought milk and then it disappears faster than you’re drinking it? One of your flatmates is probably stealing it. Every kitchen has one.