Cooking on an RV trip is all about proper planning. You want to think about how frequently you’ll be cooking in your RV’s galley versus campfire grilling. How many days-worth of food should you bring? Do you need to feed two mouths or five? Answering these questions gives you the opportunity to bring the right supplies to create mouthwatering meals that help make your trip unforgettable. Before you put your foot to the pedal, read our tips for RV cooking that will make you a 5-star camping chef!
RV Cookware Essentials
First things first: you need to pick the right cookware. Unlike cooking at home, you won’t have a fully-stocked kitchen. Packing light is the sign of any experienced camper, so you’ll want to bring only the most versatile options in your kitchen. Here are some of our top recommendations for essential cookware to keep in your RV:
Slow cooker – Slow cookers can cook a massive variety of meals with minimal effort or cooking expertise. Pick a size that’s right for your camping space and always keep it nearby!
Cast iron skillet – Epitomizing the phrase “less is more,” a cast iron skillet gives you the power to cook with almost any heat source, indoors and out. They’re also durable enough to last a lifetime, making them a great investment.
Lidded Pans – In addition to your skillet one or two lidded pans in varied sizes can round out your cooking options, letting you make a majority of your meals without taking up too much space.
Storage Containers – Transporting everything from pre-packaged food to leftovers, you can rarely have too many containers. Stack them when not in use and they can save a lot of room, too!
Tips for Cooking in the RV
For home chefs, camping in an RV galley may sound difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! Like anything else, it’s all about your approach. We have some tips to help make your RV cooking easy:
#1. Prep Meals Before You Travel
One of the best things you can do is prep your food supplies before you go. If you plan on making a lot of stews or stir fries, chop up your vegetables and portion them out in food containers or plastic bags at home. If you’re bringing a crockpot, you can prep full meals and freeze them. Just dump them in the crockpot and turn it on when you’re ready! Anything that can be done and preserved before you go saves you space and time.
#2. Keep It Simple
When you’re on the road, you need to make every inch count. Packing a bunch of different foods and ingredients often isn’t feasible. Instead, keep it simple with some core fruits, vegetables, and meats that you can cook in different ways. That doesn’t mean you need to eat boring food, either! Packing a variety of spices lets you add variation to your meals and they take up a minimal amount of space. Meats like chicken can be used in everything from soups to sandwiches and even salads!
#3. Not Every Meal Needs to be Cooked
Keeping it simple also means not to forget salads and sandwiches! Sometimes the easiest meals are the best options you have, especially when it comes to lunchtime. Toss in some sliced up fruit and you can put together a healthy meal in just minutes. Don’t forget that you can even pre-assemble sandwiches and keep them wrapped up for when nobody feels like cooking!
#4. It’s Easier to Cook in a Clean RV
Before your trip, make sure to thoroughly clean your RV. Just like cooking at home, keep clutter to a minimum and you’ll make the chef’s job easier. You can also clean out anything you don’t need – returning precious space to store new food or containers for your upcoming trip.
#5. Get Creative with Leftovers
Recipes that make a lot of food often give you the opportunity to cook two meals at once. If you had chicken the previous night, you can throw the leftovers over rice and vegetables to create a stir fry without having to cook more chicken. Bring hoagie buns and put leftover meatballs in a sandwich to keep things mixed up a bit! There’s plenty of ways to vary your food to keep things interesting without having to overpack.
#6. Don’t Forget the Campfire
If you end up boondocking or just want to change things up, there’s nothing more traditional than cooking a good meal over the open flame of a campfire. Hopefully you packed that cast iron skillet or a good over-the-fire grill. Either way, don’t be afraid to fall back to hotdogs, potatoes or canned beans. You can’t beat a classic!
RV Cooking Safety Tips
Always Practice Fire Safety
You can never be too careful when it comes to fires. The most important thing to remember is to never have an open flame near your RV. Whether it’s a campfire or a propane grill, fire can be unpredictable, and it’s not worth the risk. In addition to direct damage from fire, smoke can quickly blow into your RV and cause serious health issues.
Invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector
If you’re using a propane or charcoal grill, remember that they produce carbon monoxide as a byproduct. You should always keep a carbon monoxide detector powered in your RV. Without it, it’s impossible to detect this deadly gas, as it’s odorless and invisible. Grills are a common source of carbon monoxide poisoning, so always be cautious!
Cook Your Food Before It Expires
Many campers try to get the most out of their pre-trip shopping, but remember that many meats can’t sit in a fridge for more than a few days. Some luxury RVs have residential refrigerators, so you may be tempted to stockpile your whole trip’s worth of food. Make sure to freeze anything you won’t be using on the first few days of your trip. It’s better to have to make a quick stop somewhere for supplies than to ruin a whole trip with food sickness.
Contact RV Wholesale Superstore
Cooking in your RV starts with picking a travel trailer with the right galley and space for you. The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (844) 601-1171
Connect with us on Social Media!
Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest | Google+