Cooking Tips for RVs
Vacation is supposed to be a time of indulgence and cutting loose, after all, it’s one of the few breaks you get from the rules of daily life. So who wants to eat poorly when they’re on vacation? The problem is, many RVs, especially older ones, have small kitchens with low-quality appliances. Creating a menu of diverse, delicious dishes is no small feat! Luckily, if you’re willing to put in a little more work and planning, you can do just that. There are are also a few simple tips that will make the job much easier. Below, we’ve gathered some of our favorite tips for taking advantage of the good features most RVs have to offer while getting around the obstacles they present.
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Slow Cooker Instead of Oven
A slow cooker is an awesome tool for making delicious meals, but it’s especially helpful when camping in an RV. It uses less energy than an oven, it also produces far less unnecessary heat, and its one pot cleanup is perfect for the cramped confines of an RV. You can simply set it in the morning and come back to a hot, delicious meal.
Use the Microwave
The microwave is an under-appreciated tool for many people who consider themselves dedicated cooks. Yes, it’s helpful for warming up leftovers or canned soup. But you can also cook potatoes, steam vegetables, and even cook dessert if you’re clever. Plus, you can do all that without dirtying an extra pot or pan, and without using up an extra burner or space in your oven.
Freeze Meals in Bags Ahead of Time
Storage can be an issue in RVs, so you’ll want to have a good mix of refrigerated foods, frozen food, and dry goods in order to maximize space. Preparing meals ahead of time and freezing them flat in bags is a great way to have space-efficient meals that are easy to reheat at dinner time. Everything from casseroles to soups to pasta dishes can be made ahead of time and frozen. Plus, when it’s time for dinner, you can simply reheat without dirtying your kitchen.
Clean Throughout
When it comes to the actual act of cooking, one important tip to keep in mind is that things will be much easier if you clean while you cook. As you chop vegetables, throw away the waste immediately. When you’re finished with a mixing bowl or pan, quickly wash and rinse it. When mealtime comes around, you’ll have more space to serve and eat food. Plus, when you’re done with your meal, you won’t have as much to clean up!
Don’t Cook
If the weather heats up, you’ll have to work hard to keep your RV cool. One of the worst offenders in terms of sources of heat in an RV is cooking because it releases both heat and humidity. As much as possible, reduce your hot weather eating to cool dishes: salads, sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other things of that nature. You’ll have fewer dishes to clean up and your RV will stay at a reasonable temperature.
Batch Cooking
Batch cooking is a great technique for RVs because it takes the work out making future meals. If you’ve never heard of batch cooking, the basic principle is that you cook larger batches of foods which can then be eaten as-is later, or used as components in different dishes. For example, instead of grilling exactly enough chicken for your family, grill a double batch. That way you can cut up the leftovers and put them in quesadillas for lunch the next day!
These easy tips have really helped us here at Golden Gait Trailers and RV, so we thought we’d pass them on to you. Give them a try on your next RV trip! If you need service or maintenance for your RV appliances, stop by our service center. We’re located in Charlotte, North Carolina, near Columbia, Raleigh, Hickory, Asheville, Myrtle Beach, and Greensboro.