What are must have kitchen supplies/tools for full-time dwelling?

[Sheena]

I'm beginning to get rid of my stuff in parallel to building out my van. 

What are some things you find you use the most for road cooking? Maybe some unexpected things? What are some kitchen items/tools that have really made cooking on the road easy. For me it's not hard to get rid of things, it's knowing what to keep. I just want to hear what other people have as a set up. Ditch the superfluous.

For instance – I KNOW I need my small sauce pan, but should I keep the wok?

What's in you kitchen?


xo

 

[Almost There]

Haha, I'm the wrong person to answer this one.

I tried to fit my dehydrator and electric roasting pan in and then figured out that I would just have to do without them.

My kitchen here in the van, has at least one of everything including the kitchen sink...

But then I could cook for a party with a barbecue, a two burner stove AND my one burner alcohol stove on board...see what I mean!

I like to cook. While I'm on the road travelling each day, I do try to eat as healthy as possible but I'm finding that I'm resorting to the $4.88 chicken from W/M, sandwich thins and salads. Not necessarily unhealthy, but I'm not cooking at lot except for when I actually park in a campground for an overnight. Then I cook a full meal and then breakfast as well before I get on the road. If I'm boondocking somewhere I'm usually out of there at first light and doing the cheese and cracker routine at a stop along the way.

The easiest way I know to figure out what you're actually going to want on the road is to do a practice run. It can be done at home. Take a meal that you would normally want to cook, take all the pots, dishes, measuring cups and utensils that you use and make a list. Make another meal, add to the list. Then repeat.

Oh, and don't forget the can opener!...

 

[akrvbob]

The one thing you probably haven't thought of that is really very useful in a van is a splatter guard. It's 3 pieces of tin about a foot by a foot each and hinged together. It goes around it and keeps splatters from flying. But I also use it outside as a wind guard.

One other thing I use it for is as a heater. I use my stove for nearly all my comfort heating. I put the splatter guard around it and then I have a cover I made out of aluminum foil. It's the long, heavy duty foul and about 5 layers of it. I just molded it to the splatter guard as a cover.

I also use it to keep the heat from going straight up to the roof where I don't need it and to keep things from falling down on the flame. I really like it, it works quite well.    It's $6.83 on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/1QDqodF

Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

If you like scrambled eggs and take a microwave along, the "Eggtastic" works mighty well.  And the main part makes a good soup mug.  Multi-use is a good thing.
Mom just got one of the "smokeless grill" stove topper.  We haven't tried it yet but I expect one may find it's way to my van.

 

[LowTech]

For instance – I KNOW I need my small sauce pan, but should I keep the wok?

What's in you kitchen?

xo

Yes keep the wok (if it's a good one). That, a wok spatula, and the ring.
I have mine and use it every day. W/ the ring being level it not as important.

That and a stainless pot for boiling pasta, rice, soups, etc. just about cover it all.

Add to that a good can opener, bottle opener, and tons of knives (well, . . . maybe that last part is just me ;-) )

 

[wagoneer]

find a nice 2 quart pressure cooker, I use a smallish wok and a 2 quart cast iron dutch oven ( everyone wants to buy) NFS, my go to is a 1880's hand made 10" skillet and don't forget a small strainer whisk and sharp knives I use ceramic. I will think of more.

 

[eDJ_]

I'll cosign on the Wok.  If you ever get one of these and have someone to show you how to cook in it
so you can try some simple recipes in it,  you may not want to be without one again.   Most of all it is very fuel
efficient and will make nutritious food for cheap. 

The lid and ring will nest in the Wok along with several of the tools, making it space conserving.  If you keep it in a square box you can use the corners for bottles of Peanut Oil, Sesame Oil, and other seasoning condiments such as 5 spice, corn starch, or anything else you would like to season with.  Yard sales abound with these often still
new in unopened gift boxes and sold dirt cheap.

I also like my 12" Cast Iron Dutch Oven.  I have a lid lifter and insulated mid arm length mitten that I use with it.

I carry one of the old style Boy Scout Mess Kits also. 

Miscellaneous knives and cutlery round it out for cooking for one.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I have a 9 inch frying pan a small pot, one a bit larger not big enough for spaghetti I buy penne or other shapes instead, I have a small kettle all of these are stainless, I have a can opener, an all stainless serving spoon with matching smallish spatula and a wooden stirrer thing, a bread knife, a chefs knife, and a smaller sharp knife in a sharpening sheaf. I have four smallish dinner plates, four bowls, four small plates two forks, knifes, spoons both soup and smaller and four cups that is what is in my kitchen along with a coriander that doubles as a fruit bowl.

 

[wagoneer]

Hey ways with all the "smallish"

 

[LowTech]

Dang you guys have Dutch's, still looking for the right one.

I don't use the wok lid, instead I use a stainless bowl about the same size as the lid. Need two hands to pick it off the wok but it packs tighter.

 

[MrNoodly]

I have one plate, three bowls (cereal, salad, mixing), one drinking glass, two forks, two soup spoons, two table knives, one chef's knife, one spatula, one serving spoon, one can opener, one 3-quart pot and lid, one large frying pan, one small frying pan, a measuring cup, a camp stove toaster and a potato masher. Mostly I just use the pot and eat out of it with a fork or spoon. The rest is for when I want to get fancy.

 

[eDJ_]

Could a handle like this with magnets on both end allow you to use the stainless bowl as a lid any better ?

Just bend the ends to conform to the contour of the bowl.  Then when you want it for a bowl again just
pull the magnetic handle off and stow it.

A 12" DO is probably the most usable size. You can fix up a "spyder" to sit in the fire and invert the DO lid on it and use it like a shallow
dish griddle.

 

[VJG1977]

Dang you guys have Dutch's, still looking for the right one.

I don't use the wok lid, instead I use a stainless bowl about the same size as the lid. Need two hands to pick it off the wok but it packs tighter.

I bet you could use a magnet for a lid handle.  I've seen them with hooks.

 

[Goshawk]

Any way folks can make a Amazon link like bob did? It helps understand what you are describing.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I have...  a potato masher. 

A beer bottle (empty or full) works great as a potato masher.

 

[LeeRevell]

A 12" DO is probably the most usable size.  You can fix up a "spyder" to sit in the fire and invert the DO lid on it and use it like a shallow
dish griddle.

"DO"?  Define please.  Never heard of it.   :huh:

 

[Sabatical]

"DO"?  Define please.  Never heard of it.   :huh:

Dutch Oven

 

[MrNoodly]

Could a handle like this with magnets on both end allow you to use the stainless bowl as a lid any better ?

Magnets don't work on some stainless steel items.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dont-magnets-work-on/

 

[SillyLilly]

find a nice 2 quart pressure cooker, I use a smallish wok and a 2 quart cast iron dutch oven ( everyone wants to buy) NFS, my go to is a 1880's hand made 10" skillet and don't forget a small strainer whisk and sharp knives I use ceramic. I will think of more.

I have one of these and love it to bits! http://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-Halulite-Pressure-Cooker/dp/B005N09K8A

The thing about pressure cookers is that they cook in a fraction of the time, thus conserving fuel.

 

[eDJ_]

Mr Noodly wrote

Magnets don't work on some stainless steel items.

Well, I guess LoTech will have to test his to see if it's magnetic or not.

Depending on how hot he gets that bowl,  perhaps suction cups or velcro.

When I cook with mine the cover is basically used to keep the warmth in after
the food is cooked.