On the Road Again: RV Cooking Made Easy

Whether you embrace van life full time or are spending just a few days getting your kicks on Route 66, many find the RV lifestyle alluring. Life on the road has a certain romantic mystique that appeals to our inner adventurer — but it isn’t without its drawbacks. 

While RVing offers unparalleled freedom and exploration, those cramped quarters do present a few challenges…especially when it comes to cooking. Fortunately, there are ways to make meal prep in an RV fun (and tasty).

The Challenges of a Cramped Kitchen

Hashtag #vanlife makes living in an RV full-time look glamorous, but have you ever seen an Airstream kitchen? There isn’t exactly a ton of room in which to maneuver around. Limited counter space makes meal preparation difficult; you’re often banging your elbows into walls when trying to chop and dice. 

Cabinet and storage space are also at a premium. In an RV, every spare inch matters. Focusing on the essentials, like salt and pepper, often means sacrificing cumin and oregano. The same goes with cooking utensils: you’ll have to limit yourself to a few good knives and ladles. Pots and pans? They take up a lot of room. 

Then there’s the stove itself. Burners are tiny and you might not even have an oven. Often, you’ll find yourself resorting to a campfire instead, where controlling and evenly distributing the heat is nearly impossible. 

Your RV might not even come with a refrigerator or freezer. When you rely on coolers to keep items chilled, your meal options dwindle even further. 

All these obstacles mean the only roasting you’re likely to be doing will involve marshmallows. Forget about that turkey or casserole!

Space-Saving Solutions for RV Cooking

While certain sacrifices are necessary when cooking in an RV, you don’t have to give up on the idea of ever eating a decent meal again. There are plenty of solutions for enjoying a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the go. 

If you’re really craving chicken kiev or longing for lasagna, these space-saving tips can make meal prep less of a chore:

1. Use a counter extension or cutting board that doubles as a sink cover to maximize counter prep space.
2. Invest in vertical storage containers to fit more food on your shelves or in your fridge.
3. Buy portable cooking equipment that can be packed up when not in use, such as compact grills or propane stoves.
4. Look for campgrounds or RV parks that offer communal outdoor kitchen facilities.
5. Embrace the idea of meal planning. You will save money (and valuable storage space) by buying only the ingredients you need.

Another option is to take advantage of Perfect Servings® meals. These individually packaged meals are the very definition of portable, taking up very little space. And they’re delicious and healthy, too! Packed with protein and plant-based ingredients, you can choose from a variety of enticing flavors including Spicy Chick’n Jambalaya, Be’f Stroganoff, and Creamy Chick’n Alfredo. Traveling with children? Our Easy Peasy Mac & Cheesy lineup is sure to satisfy kids (and kids at heart). 

Perfect Servings meals require nothing more than water and heat. They can be heated up on a stove or over the campfire and are ready within minutes. And they’re shelf stable, so you can pack enough to keep you nourished down all the highways and byways you desire.

Just don’t overstay your welcome in the Griswolds’ driveway. We hear Clark gets a little cranky when that happens.