We absolutely love to cook and entertain in our RV. While cooking with limited kitchen space can be challenging, we haven’t had to sacrifice any of the meals we used to make when we lived in a house. We just have had to get creative and be flexible.
Here are 8 tips to help you master cooking and grilling in an RV.
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare!
With limited space, you need to organize everything in advance. Chop, cut and prepare all of your ingredients ahead of time, and make sure all of your seasonings, oils, utensils, towels, etc. are ready to go.
We keep all of our outdoor cooking items together in a small organizer set. There is nothing worse than needing that extra dash of garlic and it’s not on hand. If you have to go inside to get something, you run the risk of flare-ups or even burning your delicious meal.
2. Choose an outdoor kitchen
We had to have an outdoor kitchen. It was a deal breaker. We suggest everyone shopping for an RV considers one. It’s worth it. You get extra counter space, an additional stove and often a second fridge and more cabinets. For us, it’s been a game-changer, and it’s a great conversation starter because everyone wants to know what we’re cooking up on the side of our rig.
3. Take the cooking outdoors anyway
Even if you don’t have an outdoor kitchen, you can still gain advantages from extending your cooking space outside. Indoor kitchens can sometimes feel cramped, and you may not want all of the smells to be trapped indoors. If you entertain in the fresh air, you’ll open up more options and increase your flexibility.
4. Use your outdoor shower to clean hands
Our outdoor kitchen doesn’t have a sink to wash our hands before and after handling food. So, we set up the outdoor shower hose and keep hand soap and paper towels close by.
Our guests enjoy washing their hands with the outdoor shower too, as they don’t have to go inside after eating. We made great use of this arrangement when we indulged in some crabs while visiting Maryland.
5. Purchase a grill
Grills come in many different types: charcoal, propane, electric and, of course, campfire grills.
We look for grills that are portable, lightweight and space-efficient. We currently use a propane griddle and a propane grill which can be stored in our outdoor kitchen when we are not using them.
We cook most of our meals on our griddle because it is so versatile. We chose not to have a charcoal grill because it is not as quick to start up and it requires more clean-up. Whatever you choose, find a grill that is easy to use and transport.
6. Use folding tables for everything
Folding tables are our favorite equipment! They can be used for just about anything. We use ours to prep food, hold our grills and eat our meals. They are endlessly adaptable, and they fit easily in our truck or RV when we’re traveling.
7. Transport your propane tanks in milk crates
Whether you are stationary or traveling, transporting your propane tanks can be a pain. But we have a handy tip: use milk crates. Milk crates will prevent them from rolling around in the back of the truck while you’re driving and make them easier to carry at a campsite.
8. Stock these essential cookware items
With all the cookware out here, it is so tempting to buy it all. But, you should try to keep it simple. Grab a couple essentials and you’re good to go. We recommend:
- Grill tongs
- Metal spatulas
- Cast iron pan
- Large pan
- Medium pan
- Large pot with lid
- Medium pot with lid
- Mixing bowl or two
- Two cutting knives
- Cutting mats (instead of cutting boards)
Make no mistake: you don’t have to limit what you can cook in an RV. Whether you have a large or small kitchen, you can create delicious meals. We hope these tips allow you to be a beast in the kitchen and the best campground chef around. Call the fam, grab some friends and enjoy a camp meal together.
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