Long travels call for giving up some of our comforts at home. Your king-size bed, super equipped kitchen and spacious shower are just a few. But with a couple of tweaks here and there, you can ensure a useful as well as aesthetically pleasing RV kitchen. We’ve picked the must-haves to make cooking on the road easy, mess-free and yummy!
- 1. Water Filter
- 2. Portable Espresso Maker
- 3. Air Fryer
- 4. Cast Iron Skillet
- 5. Induction Cooktop
- 6. Flexible Cutting Boards
- 7. Immersion Blender
- 8. Stackable Cookware
- 9. Collapsible Bowls
- 10. Mason Jars
- 11. Camping Utensils
- 12. Dish Tub
- 13. Collapsible Dish Drying Rack
- 14. Non-Slip Shelf Liner
- 15. Splatter Guard
- 16. Tension Rods
- 17. Knives with Cover Sleeves
- 18. Magnetic Spice Rack and Knife Strips
- 19. Stainless Steel Glasses
- 20. Break-Proof Plates
- 21. Chalkboard
- 22. Collapsible Pots
- 23. Grill
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1. Water Filter
A water filter is the number one most used and money-saving purchase you need to make before hitting the road. Staying hydrated is essential, and buying bottled water can add up to a hefty cost. Even if you plan out your stops, you can’t be sure there will be drinkable water. A water filter might seem like an expensive investment since they cost around $300, but the average cost of bottled water in Australia is $2.75 per litre!
2. Portable Espresso Maker
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You don’t have to give up good coffee even when traversing the outback. Several portable espresso-making devices can provide you with a tasty cuppa. You have a wide choice from Aeropress, Moka pot to a classic espresso machine. If you’re a latte fan, portable milk frothers are also available and don’t take up much space. You’ll save time and money with a coffee maker and have a freshly brewed cuppa each morning.
3. Air Fryer
An air fryer is a great, handy appliance you must have with you on the road. It’s the latest fad, with so many using it as their go to for cooking all fried foods. Cook your favourite foods without needing to add extra oil. Not only is it an easy way to avoid a messy clean-up, but it also makes your meals healthier – you definitely want this on the road to ensure you maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. They’re not that expensive either when you consider how frequently you’ll be using it.
4. Cast Iron Skillet
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If you already own a cast iron skillet at home, don’t forget to pack it. You can use it on your stovetop, for oven cooking and even over a campfire. They’re durable, versatile and can be used to prepare every meal from breakfast to dinner.
5. Induction Cooktop
An induction cooktop cooks food faster, adjusts better to temperature changes, and takes no time at all to cool down. In addition, they’re easy to clean up and safe. Induction cooktops use magnetic currents to heat your pots and pans instead of the cooktop directly. Preparing your meals is easier, quicker and with precise control.
6. Flexible Cutting Boards
Perfect for caravans, flexible cutting boards are so thin, they make storing them super easy! They’ll add next to no weight to your van too due to their thin design. They’re also reversible, meaning less clean-up if you need multiple boards. Generally, these boards are quite cheap too, making them a great investment for your van.
7. Immersion Blender
Immersion blenders are not only valuable for your stationary kitchen at home. They can help you prepare all kinds of meals in your RV kitchen, like soups, sauces, smoothies, or grind seeds and grains for flour. Immersion blenders take up less space than food processors but can perform almost equally.
8. Stackable Cookware
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Space is precious, and you don’t want bulky cookware to fill up every shelf in your RV kitchen. Instead, look for stackable sets of durable camping cookware. They come with universal lids that fit all pots and pans in the collection and cost much less than what you would pay if you’d purchased them individually.
9. Collapsible Bowls
We don’t have to explain the practicality of collapsible bowls. From meal prepping to serving and storing, collapsible bowls are easy to upkeep, take up minimal space when they’re empty and are easy to carry with you for a picnic. In addition, they’re made of food-grade silicone, so they can resist a wide range of temperatures from boiling to freezing.
10. Mason Jars
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Mason jars are a sustainable storing item. You can use them for storing spices, grains, beans, leftover food or prepare cocktails, salads to go or overnight oats in them. They’re easy to clean, don’t absorb smell or taste, resist high and low temperatures and are tough to break. Plus, they’re much cheaper than Tupperware.
Read Next: 70 Of The Most Popular Caravan Essentials For 2021
11. Camping Utensils
Have you heard of spork? It’s a hybrid of a spoon and fork intended for liquid and solid foods, and as funny as it sounds, it can be handy when on the road. Some even come with a knife on the side. Jokes aside, investing in a good set of resistant camping utensils can save you a lot of hassle. Think of the mess of cleaning up delicate silverware daily when you’re working with limited resources.
12. Dish Tub
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A dish tub is an excellent way to save water and make less mess when washing your groceries or dishes. Some of them are collapsible and can work as a chopping board too! It’s a must-have for your RV kitchen.
13. Collapsible Dish Drying Rack
Drying racks take up a lot of space, but you still need somewhere to dry your freshly washed dishes. Get a collapsible drying rack that you can place over your sink. They fit camping cookware perfectly. Afterwards, you can collapse it and store it elsewhere. You’ll get the job done with minimal space used.
14. Non-Slip Shelf Liner
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We don’t need to emphasise the effect driving over uneven terrain can have on your RV kitchen. To prevent your dishes from sliding or falling out each time, use a non-slip shelf liner inside your drawers and cupboards. This way, you can avoid any damage to your cookware and save time rearranging the dishes each time you settle at a place.
15. Splatter Guard
No one imagines their time on the road to be spent cleaning a messy kitchen, especially after enjoying a nice meal. Splatter guards are an excellent way to prevent any greasy spots over your counter. You can even use them around your campfire to stop the wind from putting it out.
16. Tension Rods
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Curtains are not the only way you can use tension rods. Save some space and make your kitchen storage more organised by placing a tension rod for your tea towels and other kitchen equipment. They’re stable, won’t slip and take up minimum space in your cupboards.
17. Knives with Cover Sleeves
A great knife makes all the difference in your kitchen. You don’t have to give up sharp knives just because you don’t have the comfort of your home kitchen. Your knives have their own stand at home and don’t need covers but storing a sharp knife in your RV kitchen drawer is a cut waiting to happen. Covers are the best preventative measure and allow you to own perfectly sharp knives.
18. Magnetic Spice Rack and Knife Strips
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Magnetic spice racks are a revolutionary way to store your spices in lovely little pots without them spilling everywhere at each curve. With the magnetic strips, you can bring your favourite knives on the road with you. They make for a picturesque display on your counter, save space and prevent a mess!
19. Stainless Steel Glasses
Stainless steel glasses are suitable for all your beverages, from coffee, tea, water to cocktails and wine. They’re unbreakable, don’t get damaged easily and are easy to clean. Unfortunately, they aren’t stackable but are worth the sacrifice of space since they’re so versatile.
20. Break-Proof Plates
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Sustainable and budget-friendly dishes are a must, especially if you’re travelling with kids. Unbreakable plates are commonly made of materials like wood, food-safe plastic or natural wheat straw fibre. All options are sturdy, hard to damage or break and nontoxic.
21. Chalkboard
How many times have you gone grocery shopping only to forget half of the things you needed to buy? We’ve all done it. While phone notes work well, a chalkboard stand attached to your fridge or cupboards is much handy. You get to write down a thing at the moment. For example, imagine you’re cooking dinner and notice you’re short on rice – you’ll write it down right away and reduce the chances of forgetting it when making your grocery shopping list!
22. Collapsible Pots
To maximise space even more, collapsible pots are a great investment. Not only do they save room, but they’re also made from food grade silicone, making them safe for cooking. Most feature a stainless steel bottom to ensure they are suitable for any heat. The silicone is also designed to be non-stick, meaning washing these pots is an easy task.
23. Grill
Another essential item for your caravan’s kitchen is a grill. Easily portable, these accessories can be folded up nice and small to be stowed away for your travels and then brought outdoors for cooking. They’re a great way to whip up some delicious barebcues while on the road, so you don’t miss out on this amazing delicacy! They’re reasonably priced too, so you won’t need to worry about a possible splurge with this essential item.
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