I currently do not have access to any sort of kitchen supplies except for an electric kettle. I have read about boiling eggs, or just using the water for oatmeal and hot drinks.

Do you have any experience with using an electric kettle to make dinner?

Where are you? In some places you can buy prepackaged meals to which you just add boiling water. Dried soup is another option.

Does the lid come off the kettle (to put something inside) or you can only pour the hot water out thru a spout?

You are in Paris - right? Just buy Cup noodles. I would not use the kettle to 'cook' eggs and such. One cracks and it will ruin the Kettle.

You're right janisj. This is our "vegetarian, no frig, little money" friend in Paris.

I've only made hard boiled eggs in a sarafe-styled coffee maker (like a little Mr Coffee).

Can't you buy dried soups, ramen noodles, that type of thing, where all you need to add is water?

Besides the Cup Noodles/Ramen -- I'm pretty sure instant soups are available in France.

The problem w/ 'cooking' in a kettle is the element is in the kettle itself, not encased below the carafe. So any food would come in contact w/ extremely high temps - similar to placing an egg directly on an electric stove burner.

Just get instant foods that you add hot water.

What about buying a small crock pot/slower cooker? Maybe that's considered "cooking" which is not allowed, but seems safer than trying to use a tea kettle for cooking meals.

Thanks! I did hard boil an egg in the kettle this morning and it worked just fine, so I may consider doing that again in the future. I will have to look around the grocery stores to see what types of packaged food they have but so far I haven't seen much. I do have some oats, so I am planning on using the water for those.

BTW, what is a "foyer"? Is it a French student hall of residence?

Maybe you can find a small gas cooker, like a camping stove? Something like this maybe? http://www.obelink.co.uk/camping-acc...gory_id%3D4257

Provided you can ventilate your room it should be usable safely.

Artemislife, sometimes Google really is your friend and far quicker than asking on a forum.
https://www.google.ca/#q=cooking+wit...lectric+kettle

Re the issue of the element in the kettle, not all kettles have an inside element. Some are the 'pan type' which avoids that whole problem. http://godrej.indiatimes.com/electro...0277/p_B928217

Some people even make scrambled egss IN a kettle using oil IN the kettle. You don't have to be limited to 'instant' add-water items.

There's no cooking allowed (per his other post) and regarding a camp stove.

I have made hard boiled eggs in a small Mr Coffee styled coffee maker. You just run the water thru and let the eggs sit at least 1/2 hour. So I know that works.

Look for "riz sachet cuisson" like this (groceries, Monoprix, Franpris, etc). The rice comes in small plastic bags that you put in boiling water and open when it is cooked (3 minutes)
Lustucru is the brandname.

http://www.shoptimise.fr/p/050693633...+90g+soit+450g

Also : instant mashed potatoes - Look for "Purée Mousline", add milk and water : http://www.maggi.fr/Mousline/
You can heat any can of food in boiling water as long as you open it first.

Please, DON'T consider using a camp stove indoors! It is very easy to die from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result. CO is odourless and it doesn't take a very high concentration to be fatal. Our daughter once camped beside a young couple who died in their tent as a result of using a small camp stove to keep warn. And here in Ontario Canada there was a recent CO fatality when someone who had lost electricity due to a storm was using a BBQ in their garage for cooking. The garage was attached to the house but there was no direct access/doorway between. Very sad.

Even at home when I want a quick snack but something hot I heat tomato juice. With cheese, bread, fruit it makes all much more satisfying. I use the microwave but I would think you could heat tomato juice in a kettle (either in open can as suggested above or by pouring directly into kettle).