5 Helpful RV Cooking Hacks

Cartoon drawing of people with a grill

The art of RV cooking has evolved greatly over the last few decades; each passing year brings more ways to customize a motorhome’s kitchen to address the unique preferences of your family. You want granite countertops and dual ovens? Done. How about a full-sized dishwasher? For a certain price, you got it. Whether you’ve stepped up the lavishness of your RV kitchen to achieve the home-away-from-home feel or you opt to stick with the tried and true single oven, refrigerator, and limited counter space, these simple yet effective RV cooking tips are meant for chefs of all sorts.


Prepare properly

You’re guaranteed to have a better, more carefree cross-country journey when you’ve planned ahead, especially when it comes to packing the RV. You should always be sure to secure all items in the kitchen (from spices and condiments to heavier countertop appliances) and, to take advantage of all available space, stock the cabinets with only foods you’re likely to eat.


Go lightweight

We know you have favorite serving bowls and nicer utensils at home that you rely on, but on the road heavier, bulkier dishware becomes more a hassle than a luxury. With confined kitchen space, cleaning these items can get downright frustrating. Swap your fine china for inexpensive patio-style tumblers, dishes and utensils, made from recyclable plastic that’s durable but not unattractive.


Avoid tricky dishes

Certain foods should be kept away from the RV kitchen, especially if you plan on taking an extended trip. Pasta, all things fried, and most batch-cooked meals require a great deal of propane, draining your tank before your eyes and generating a ton of heat in your sleeping space. To conserve energy and make nights more comfortable, trade out difficult dishes for less heat-intensive alternatives that utilize the oven for a short period of time.


Marinate and freeze

A great way to stay out of the RV kitchen while still cooking at “home” is to utilize the grill as much as possible. However, limited freezer space calls for creativity when it comes to enjoying carnivorous meals out on the road. We like to marinate meats in zip lock bags and freeze them in the days leading up to a trip. Store them in the RV fridge or a cooler—they can be used as cold packs—and grill them up as they thaw.


Electric over gas powered

Rather than having to coax a burner to light and sapping your propane tank, try to use appliances that can plug into a portable generator or a campground power source. Electric skillets get the job done for most breakfast recipes, and the slow cooker, beloved in all RVing circles, requires minimal energy to make a meal throughout the day.

You don’t have to be a professional chef to create tasty RV meals on the road that the whole family will love, but you can always make your job a little bit easier by incorporating these expert RV cooking tips into your routine.


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Interested in more information about cooking in your RV? You might like:

Campfire Cooking: One Skillet Breakfast Hash
5 Easy RV Meals For Your Next Road Trip
RV Meal Planning On A Budget

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21 Responses to “5 Helpful RV Cooking Hacks”

  1. John Piro

    I hope I'm no going to get nickel & dimed ! I get the sense from my initial experience that may be the case. Why? Because I am resented with a cost to view any of the videos I supposedly paid for with my $2.95 first year offer?????

  2. Colleen

    How to live efficiently in a 5th wheel?

  3. Cynthia Haig

    We are moving into our RV full time in a park - wondering if installing a normal run. Of the mill dishwasher is ok or should I purchase one made for RV

  4. George

    We use a Induction hot plate for inside cooking and a Smoke Hollow grill. We also carry a 12" electric frying pan.

  5. Andrew

    Life is too short but we can make it very enjoyable with travel to beautiful places and enjoying the moment with RV. I have a 2016 27' Sunseeker. it has a very good cooking kit. but I bought an RV stove for outdoor cooking. there are some helpful cooking tips and idea in the post. Thanks, may it help me

  6. Sam Bullard

    Fairly new to the RV circle, though I have been able to cook out while camping, and have used most of the suggestion, while working with the Boy Scouts. That was a great way to learn for other Scouts and there Leaders. Just waiting for Mary to retire and hit the road. Pre-planning is the key for successful RV trips. See you around the camp fires Sam

  7. Dennis Bulver

    I want to learn how to manually put my main slide out IN should the 12V motor fail. I have not been able to locate the motor yet. Any advice appreciated

  8. Sam Bullard

    As you mention preparation is the key to any camp meal

  9. Daryl Boyle

    I love my electric pressure cooker!

  10. William

    We used to pack all sorts of foods in glass containers and put the leftovers in containers. Plastic zipper bags work for almost everything and save a ton of weight and space. Then just wash and towel dry to reuse.