Mobile Cooking Apparatus & Techniques

[Reverse Engineer]

I am sure this has been covered before in other threads here, but I would like to hear about how  various types of mobile dwellers deal with cooking issues, cleanup issues and refrigeration issues.

How much space do you have for cooking apparatus?  Obviously, a full scale Class 1 Diesel Pusher has a lot more room and facility than a Converted Van does.  Also more refrigeration room for newly purchased fresh and frozen foods and leftovers.

Power requirements also come into play, for running a 12V Thermoelectric Cooler or DC Refrigerator.

Do many of you use Slow Cookers, either DC or with an AC Power Inverter?

How often do you eat out in Restaurants or buy Prepared foods rather than cooking your own?  How does this affect your weekly budget?

If you don't have room inside your vehicle for cooking, where do you go to cook?

RE

 

[Almost There]

You're going to get answers that range all the way from the ones' that never cook, only eat raw and buy daily to those who eat a diet of 99% fast food all the way to those who cook full meals from scratch and never see the inside of a McD's.

It's not true that a Class A diesel pusher (your example) absolutely has to have more kitchen space than a converted van, nor that the kitchen would be used more.

We'll talk about what I did as an example. First, I'm one of those who cook from scratch and haven't graced the golden arches with my presence since the kids left home. When I was planning the interior of my van, I had some absolutes in there - a fully functioning kitchen was one of them.

Here's a picture of the kitchen unit in my van:



That tall cabinet on the right contains 5 drawers of varying depths to provide food storage. The small cabinet door hides a waste basket and my water jugs for the sink that hasn't been installed at this point. That big opening with the little cooler is where my 12v compressor fridge unit will go on a slide out tray. There's another deep drawer on the left above the opening for the fridge unit. It's for cutlery, cooking utensils and whatever else I can stuff in there....

What you can't see in this picture is space beneath my bed for another 12V compressor unit that will be used as a deep freezer. Above the driving compartment is the large overhead storage that will also be used for kitchen. It will hold some 120V appliances for when I have power, my pots/pans and dishes etc. and 12V appliances.

The left side of the counter is being held in reserve for a 2 burner alcohol stove. I'll use my portable single burner alcohol stove in the meantime.

I also carry a 2 burner propane stove and a small barbecue for cooking outside on.

Obviously if the weather is nice, it's nicer to cook outside on a table or the barbecue but I can survive multiple days of poor weather and/or can cook inside when on the road in a parking lot without ever suffering a bit....

BTW, those thermoelectric coolers are extreme energy hogs and only chill to about 40 F below ambient temperatures. They are not true refrigerators. Dorm fridges are also energy hogs. Better to save your money until you can afford a compressor fridge unit of the size you need for your style of eating even if it means using ice for a while.

There are lots of 12V appliances - crock pots, fry pans, small ovens etc. that can be put in to use as well.

As you can see, one needn't suffer in the cooking department just because you choose to live in a van.

 

[Reverse Engineer]

That's a GREAT response!  Are you OK with me quoting it and using your photo in my upcoming article on Mobile Living?

Also, would you like to do a Podcast to discuss these issues?

RE

 

[Almost There]

That's a GREAT response!  Are you OK with me quoting it and using your photo in my upcoming article on Mobile LiPodcast is out of the question. It's just not something I do and I'm more than a little hesitant on the rest.

Truthfully, I'm not comfortable with people who haven't been around the forum for a while. As of your last post, you've had only 9 posts and only joined on the 7th, so 4 days ago. It's nothing personal but just like in person, I want to get to know a person first before I agree to anything.

Ask me again after you've been around here for a while and/or come to the RTR.

 

[Reverse Engineer]

BTW, those thermoelectric coolers are extreme energy hogs and only chill to about 40 F below ambient temperatures. They are not true refrigerators. Dorm fridges are also energy hogs. Better to save your money until you can afford a compressor fridge unit of the size you need for your style of eating even if it means using ice for a while.

I did not find a Thermoelectric Cooler to be a problem to run while I was trucking. Of course, I was putting hundreds of miles each day on the tractor, so my battery system stayed well charged as a result.  In fact in winter, I never turned off the engine at all, I ran it all day and night.  You can do this if you are commercial in your living, it is also TAX DEDUCTIBLE!  lol.

I am experimenting now with an Ice Maker that uses a real small compressor.  I do not see however how a van space could possibly have the same accoutrements as a big Diesel Pusher.

RE

 

[Reverse Engineer]

Podcast is out of the question. It's just not something I do and I'm more than a little hesitant on the rest.

Truthfully, I'm not comfortable with people who haven't been around the forum for a while. As of your last post, you've had only 9 posts and only joined on the 7th, so 4 days ago. It's nothing personal but just like in person, I want to get to know a person first before I agree to anything.

Ask me again after you've been around here for a while and/or come to the RTR.

I have been around FOREVER on the net, I go back to the Arpanet. lol.  I was a long time Moderator on AOL and Yahoo Groups.  I just found this particular forum.  I run my own forum on the http://www.doomsteaddiner.net/forum/index.phpDiner.  If you wish to get to know me better, simply read up there.  got about 17,000 posts up there, that's just in that forum too.  lol.

Podcasts are no big deal, it is not that different from chatting on a forum in text.  Just another step of technology long as it lasts.

RE

 

[TMG51]

I think maybe it just feels a bit too much like solicitation when in your first few posts you're asking to take content and redistribute it elsewhere. I'm not sure if there's a forum policy on this. You might want to have some input from our moderator staff before proceeding.

Not my business - just my two cents.

 

[Reverse Engineer]

I approached Bob first on this.  He says he does not have time for doing a Podcast.  So I reached out to more members of the community.  What is wrong with doing that?

 

[Reverse Engineer]

Also, absolutely I am solicting information!  I am currently writing an article about mobile living!  I need INPUT!  What is wrong with soliciting information?

I don't get your outlook here.  Seems bizarre to me.

RE

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the forums Reverse Engineer.

 Most of the forum members are very protective of their privacy so you're probably not going to get many people who are willing to do a podcast. The lack of responses to your other posts is indicative of this.

 Please read the forum rules - https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-The-Rules-of-the-Forum-February-2014

 Harassing or intimidating members is not permitted.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

And when I opened this thread I thought I might learn something about cooking in a van.

 

[compassrose]

I cook like I did when I lived in a house. I have a 12cf freezer. I fill it with large batch meals broken down into single servings. I have a foodsaver and use it. I don't do fast food. I don't eat out much either (NM sucks for decent food in my opinion plus the restaurants are either pass or fail... and they have to be really bad to fail). I live in a self-converted 40 ft school bus (skoolie). I don't stealth. I don't boondock. I tend to live in RV parks/campgrounds with full hookups.

 

[SoulRaven]

I have 3+ feet of empty kitchen counter top / work area, on which I can place my double burner stove, and/or my 2 x dishpan sinks. Everything is purposely kept portable so it can be used both indoors or outdoors.

Additionally I have a Dutch Oven, a folding Coleman style oven, and a stove top BBQ grill.

With this combination, I can cook almost anything with a minimum amount of equipment. The Dutch Oven also works as a slow cooker or crock pot, and in addition to being able to be used on my stove, it can also be used over a campfire, jut like my other cast iron cookware.

For refrigeration I use a simple 7+ day ice chest, the simplest, most dependable, and most cost effective solution. Basically I got tired of spending hundreds of dollars for powered fridges that only last a few years and eat up a lot of unnecessary power.

I cook full meals almost every day, but do enjoy eating out once or twice a week at a real restaurant. I sometimes do fast food for lunch.

I do not feel that my kitchen is limiting in any way.

 

[Reverse Engineer]

 Harassing or intimidating members is not permitted.

How is asking people if they would like to chat harassing or intimidating them?

I really don't get you folks.  I lived on the road for years.  I just want to talk about the lifestyle.  This is considered "harassment" and "intimidation" here? What?

 

[Reverse Engineer]

I have 3+ feet of empty kitchen counter top / work area, on which I can place my double burner stove, and/or my 2 x dishpan sinks.  Everything is purposely kept portable so it can be used both indoors or outdoors.

Additionally I have a Dutch Oven, a folding Coleman style oven, and a stove top BBQ grill.

With this combination, I can cook almost anything with a minimum amount of equipment.  The Dutch Oven also works as a slow cooker or crock pot, and in addition to being able to be used on my stove, it can also be used over a campfire, jut like my other cast iron cookware.

For refrigeration I use a simple 7+ day ice chest, the simplest, most dependable, and most cost effective solution.  Basically I got tired of spending hundreds of dollars for powered fridges that only last a few years and eat up a lot of unnecessary power.

I cook full meals almost every day, but do enjoy eating out once or twice a week at a real restaurant.  I sometimes do fast food for lunch.

I do not feel that my kitchen is limiting in any way.

I used a simple ice chest at the beginning, but found that I spent more money buying ice in a year than the cost of a thermoelectric cooler.  I also was not always in places I could even buy any ice for several days.  I didn't have an energy problem with running it because I put on so many miles every day my batteries were always charged up fine.  With the interior kept to around 65F or so via air conditioning, the TEC would actually go below freezing if I kept it plugged in all the time.  So I unplugged at night when the engine was not running and kept the cooler at avg temp around 35F.

My biggest problems were in Cleanup, not having a huge on-board water supply.  So after cooking, I would have to find a bathroom I could bring my pots and pans into for a rinsing.  Usually I would do this in Truckstop showers, which I got for free because I bought so much diesel every day, but normally cost around $6 (at least they did then).  Where do you usually do cleanup?

 

[rvwandering]

How is asking people if they would like to chat harassing or intimidating them?

I really don't get you folks.  I lived on the road for years.  I just want to talk about the lifestyle.  This is considered "harassment" and "intimidation" here? What?

  When a forum member declines your request for a pod cast and you persist, yes, that is harassment. When a forum member explains why they do not want to do a pod cast and you call their behavior strange and bizarre, yes, that is intimidation.

  You may not have been welcomed the way that you wished but the members have attempted to help you. The advice that you have received is good - read past posts, contribute if you can, get to know us and let us get to know you, then try again and you may get better reception.

 

[Reverse Engineer]

  When a forum member declines your request for a pod cast and you persist, yes, that is harassment. When a forum member explains why they do not want to do a pod cast and you call their behavior strange and bizarre, yes, that is intimidation.

  You may not have been welcomed the way that you wished but the members have attempted to help you. The advice that you have received is good - read past posts, contribute if you can, get to know us and let us get to know you, then try again and you may get better reception.

I do not agree with that, but I will abide by your opinion on this since you are a moderator and I am just a newby.  lol.

I'll have up a new article on mobile living on Sunday.  It will unfortunately lack input from you folks, but I have plenty of time spent this way to write it up on my own.  Yeesh.  Talk about unfriendly people.

 

[BC Guy]

I'll have up a new article on mobile living on Sunday.  It will unfortunately lack input from you folks, but I have plenty of time spent this way to write it up on my own.  Yeesh.  Talk about unfriendly people.

No. Talk about an arrogant  person.

 

[GotSmart]

I cook like I did when I lived in a house. I have a 12cf freezer. I fill it with large batch meals broken down into single servings. I have a foodsaver and use it. I don't do fast food. I don't eat out much either (NM sucks for decent food in my opinion plus the restaurants are either pass or fail... and they have to be really bad to fail). I live in a self-converted 40 ft school bus (skoolie). I don't stealth. I don't boondock. I tend to live in RV parks/campgrounds with full hookups.

Yep Keep it up Compassrose, and I will show up to get my cooking fix!  I can only do so little in a van!   

I gotta cook!    

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

My biggest problems were in Cleanup, not having a huge on-board water supply.  So after cooking, I would have to find a bathroom I could bring my pots and pans into for a rinsing.  Usually I would do this in Truckstop showers, which I got for free because I bought so much diesel every day, but normally cost around $6 (at least they did then).  Where do you usually do cleanup?

I have a beagle that loves to do the 'pre-wash'.  When water is available, I wash dishes in a tub.  When water is scarce, washing is done with a squirt bottle filled with 50/50 vinegar & water.  Silverware is kept in a waterbottle filled with vinegar & water.  I just take out what I need when I need it.  Waterbottle changed ~ weekly.

-- Spiff