What's in your van kitchen!

[vanbrat]

I carry a bread machine, a grain grinder, and several pounds of wheat and rye berries. The wheat and rye berries last for many months unlike preground whole grain flour. The bread machine runs on my inverter until the bake cycle begins, then I start the generator for the 1 hour bake. Fresh whole grain bread always.

yummy soooo if ever we meet on the road I'll cook us up a soup and we will have some fresh bread to go with it..

 

[vanbrat]

So as requested what do you carry in your traveling kitchen?
I have:

A small dresser thingy that holds all my small things:
At least 4 sharp knives from small to big
1 wooden spoon, wooden spoon doesn't melt
1 plastic spoon, plastic spoon doesn't get mildew spots
1 silicone spoon thingy, also used as a rubber spatula and maybe replacing ladle.
1 potato peeler, also makes fine thin potato, cucumber etc slices for sandwiches and fries
1 grater that doubles as a strainer for my small batches of pasta etc.
1 wire whisk
1 ladle spoon although it gets in the way so may be ditched
1 pancake flipper, also doubles as ice scraper though not with MY permission.
A few big forks and a few big food serving tongs. Good for BBQ
3 plastic flat small cutting boards. These are like sheets of paper and while they work I prefer something a bit heavier these may go...
1 set of measuring cups and spoons. DIL gave me these and while I don't really use them I love her and she likes to give me things like this. So I make sure she sees them there. They are pretty and hang on the wall so not really a big deal and hubby uses them if ever he wants to cook.
This drawer thing also holds all my silverware. I hate using plastic stuff. Sometimes it's ok for a party or whatever, but I want to use less plastic if I can help it.

Pots and Pans and cooking things
I have a microwave as well as an induction burner as well as a small BBQ and a small air fryer.

For the microwave I have

4 silicon cupcake cups, also for the air fryer
I have 2 lidded soup size clay pots for individual microwave stuff, his and her type meals.
2 glass mugs for tea, hot cocoa, etc. these are also my measuring cups as they hold just one cup and I also use these for my S&B cooking
2 small glass bowls
1 mid sized glass deep dish pie pan
if I am going somewhere and need to make something big, party etc. a big covered glass casserole thing.

For induction burner I have

1 grilling pan the heavy cast iron thing with ridges
1 cast iron fry pan
1 small sauce pan
1 wok, small
1 tea pot, small, this heats all the dish washing water as well as spitze bath water.
1 thingy I have not used yet that is supposed to make 1 cup of coffee at a time. I hate coffee, but hubby likes it.

For the air fryer I have
some recycled pie tins, very small
still exploring this tool.


For dish washing and clean up I have

several recycled shopping bags for trash
3 dish pans for washing dishes the reason for 3 is they stack and don't take any more room then 2 so I have one for cleaning other stuff too,
small dish soap, small bleach jar and small bleach wipes
small spray bottle of simple green stuff
1 small pot scrubber
3 wash clothes
4-5 small dish towels
3 pot holders
rolls of paper towels

For the tables I have

1 small fold up table 4x6 ish fits over my microwave when driving and is a god send when I am really into cooking.
2 large plastic table clothes (I hate to eat off of dirty picnic tables)
1 table clamp on light holder thingy
2 seat cushions that double as knee pads when needed, small and very much worth the space they take up.
1 small jar, microwave cooking mason jar that so far has only been used as a vase.

Dining stuff

4 plates
4 tall plastic glasses (seriously nobody wants to be around me until at least one full glass of tea is inside me)
4 cereal bowls
2 extra large cereal bowls, also mixing bowls for small batches of muffins or biscuits or ???
2 steak knives that are also in the sharp knife count.

Some of the extras I have are a small suitcase type bag that is our traveling bar.
And if we are going someplace where it is possibly warranted, an electric hand held emulsifier thing for smoothies and or margaritas

The bar is about 8x10 and 2 inches deep so it fits.
It has small bottle of his kind of liquor and one of my kind of liquor as well as a bottle of vodka, a plastic shot glass. It also has a wine opener.
and straws 'cause well yea.
I have 2 jerry jug water carrying things, but for now only one is needed.
I have one small ice chest with a wool covering cloth over it. If we are out someplace hot I can wet it down and let it evaporate and help keep it cooler.
I have 1 small electric freezer thingy
I have one big soft picnic bag thingy with a big ol' thermos thing another gift from DIL that is really useful.
She has also given me a very small slow cooker and it is still inside the S&B house I use it a lot here we'll see if we can find a place for it.
I have my own van recipe book that I am working on. My son thinks I should work on getting it so other people can read it, Not just in my shorthand scribbles, he thinks it is something he and DIL would like to borrow when ever he gets his van working, I am also making one for my mom as she is now a full timer. She is not moving smoothly to full time RV cooking. She has some ideas though that I need to try...

The person who has helped the most I think is that lady Sandra(?) something that did her semi home made cooking show.
I have also gotten some great ideas here from folks here.
Thanks everyone!



Oh yea this is all packed in my homemade kitchen wall counter thing in about 2 feet of back of my van. It fills it pretty full top and bottom with a small counter that holds my microwave and my water jug it leaves me with just a tiny space to work which is why I have a small table too. This sounds like a lot and it is, but cooking is something I love to do sometimes, so why not.

On one side of the 'kitchen' is a closet, about 8 inches wide that holds any tools we may need and on the other side of the kitchen is the doggy supplies and first aide bag. Also holds extra coats if needed.

Ok so now what do you carry?

After a few trips I have worked on this list a bit. I still do most cooking in the van whenever possible, but I don't do as much big meals as I want.
I have replaced the 2 glass bowls with one glass flat bottomed bowl for making egg sandwiches in the micro.
I have kept the plastic plates for now, but I think they will go I have not used them yet and I think I will just use the paper ones that we have used so far. But I want them if ever I do a "fancy" dinner with friends so ....
The coffee maker is gone, instant coffee, much faster and easier.
I still carry the one small saucepan but don't use it much.
The clay pots are gone.
I don't bring the cast iron fry pan. I did find a smaller light weight fry pan that lives in the van.
The 2nd jerry jug is gone
I did add a waffle maker it was another gift from DIL and it stays in the van full time with the small air fryer.
The bar got bigger and now we have 2 glass cocktail glasses cause cocktails don't taste as good in plastic or paper. We also know the amount of booze is ok but not if people want to share our booze and they always want to share my homemade booze. So now we carry a bigger bottle of that one.
The emulsifier is gone.
I added 2 string bags that hang without hitting or touching anything to keep apples bananas etc in so they don't get bruised while driving.
I only carry 1 dishrag and 2 dish towels.
The deep dish thing is gone.
The seat cushions just got to dirty and they are gone.
I only carry 1 tablecloth now and keep it washed and ready to use at EACH table. The one time I forgot it the table that night was yukky.
The cook book is still getting added to but mostly my cooking is heating up stuff that was cooked at home and frozen. I want to do more slow down and cook fresh but Hubby is still learning the whole slow down and enjoy the trip type road trips.
The ice chest now has 2 wool covers. They really help keep things cool. They keep the blocks of ice for 2-3 days longer.
I now carry 2 thermoses for cold milk water tea or ?? these can fit in the ice chest and the milk stays much colder and fresher longer.
The tool closet has more tools and the doggy side is also holding more. We are also learning to hold less in the way of groceries at any one time.
I have added a salad bag to my ice chest as I found lettuce doesn't keep well in there without some extra care.
I made a couple boards that have the lids for glass jars screwed to them and are now screwed to the bottom of my shelf the big one to hold flour, oats, rice, etc. the second one holds 14 small jars of spices and herbs.

 

[WandringKnight]

Sheesh

So as requested what do you carry in your traveling kitchen?
I have:

A small dresser thingy that holds all my small things:
At least 4 sharp knives from small to big
1 wooden spoon, wooden spoon doesn't melt
1 plastic spoon, plastic spoon doesn't get mildew spots
1 silicone spoon thingy, also used as a rubber spatula and maybe replacing ladle.
1 potato peeler, also makes fine thin potato, cucumber etc slices for sandwiches and fries
1 grater that doubles as a strainer for my small batches of pasta etc.
1 wire whisk
1 ladle spoon although it gets in the way so may be ditched
1 pancake flipper, also doubles as ice scraper though not with MY permission.
A few big forks and a few big food serving tongs. Good for BBQ
3 plastic flat small cutting boards. These are like sheets of paper and while they work I prefer something a bit heavier these may go...
1 set of measuring cups and spoons. DIL gave me these and while I don't really use them I love her and she likes to give me things like this. So I make sure she sees them there. They are pretty and hang on the wall so not really a big deal and hubby uses them if ever he wants to cook.
This drawer thing also holds all my silverware. I hate using plastic stuff. Sometimes it's ok for a party or whatever, but I want to use less plastic if I can help it.

Pots and Pans and cooking things
I have a microwave as well as an induction burner as well as a small BBQ and a small air fryer.

For the microwave I have

4 silicon cupcake cups, also for the air fryer
I have 2 lidded soup size clay pots for individual microwave stuff, his and her type meals.
2 glass mugs for tea, hot cocoa, etc. these are also my measuring cups as they hold just one cup and I also use these for my S&B cooking
2 small glass bowls
1 mid sized glass deep dish pie pan
if I am going somewhere and need to make something big, party etc. a big covered glass casserole thing.

For induction burner I have

1 grilling pan the heavy cast iron thing with ridges
1 cast iron fry pan
1 small sauce pan
1 wok, small
1 tea pot, small, this heats all the dish washing water as well as spitze bath water.
1 thingy I have not used yet that is supposed to make 1 cup of coffee at a time. I hate coffee, but hubby likes it.

For the air fryer I have
some recycled pie tins, very small
still exploring this tool.


For dish washing and clean up I have

several recycled shopping bags for trash
3 dish pans for washing dishes the reason for 3 is they stack and don't take any more room then 2 so I have one for cleaning other stuff too,
small dish soap, small bleach jar and small bleach wipes
small spray bottle of simple green stuff
1 small pot scrubber
3 wash clothes
4-5 small dish towels
3 pot holders
rolls of paper towels

For the tables I have

1 small fold up table 4x6 ish fits over my microwave when driving and is a god send when I am really into cooking.
2 large plastic table clothes (I hate to eat off of dirty picnic tables)
1 table clamp on light holder thingy
2 seat cushions that double as knee pads when needed, small and very much worth the space they take up.
1 small jar, microwave cooking mason jar that so far has only been used as a vase.

Dining stuff

4 plates
4 tall plastic glasses (seriously nobody wants to be around me until at least one full glass of tea is inside me)
4 cereal bowls
2 extra large cereal bowls, also mixing bowls for small batches of muffins or biscuits or ???
2 steak knives that are also in the sharp knife count.

Some of the extras I have are a small suitcase type bag that is our traveling bar.
And if we are going someplace where it is possibly warranted, an electric hand held emulsifier thing for smoothies and or margaritas

The bar is about 8x10 and 2 inches deep so it fits.
It has small bottle of his kind of liquor and one of my kind of liquor as well as a bottle of vodka, a plastic shot glass. It also has a wine opener.
and straws 'cause well yea.
I have 2 jerry jug water carrying things, but for now only one is needed.
I have one small ice chest with a wool covering cloth over it. If we are out someplace hot I can wet it down and let it evaporate and help keep it cooler.
I have 1 small electric freezer thingy
I have one big soft picnic bag thingy with a big ol' thermos thing another gift from DIL that is really useful.
She has also given me a very small slow cooker and it is still inside the S&B house I use it a lot here we'll see if we can find a place for it.
I have my own van recipe book that I am working on. My son thinks I should work on getting it so other people can read it, Not just in my shorthand scribbles, he thinks it is something he and DIL would like to borrow when ever he gets his van working, I am also making one for my mom as she is now a full timer. She is not moving smoothly to full time RV cooking. She has some ideas though that I need to try...

The person who has helped the most I think is that lady Sandra(?) something that did her semi home made cooking show.
I have also gotten some great ideas here from folks here.
Thanks everyone!



Oh yea this is all packed in my homemade kitchen wall counter thing in about 2 feet of back of my van. It fills it pretty full top and bottom with a small counter that holds my microwave and my water jug it leaves me with just a tiny space to work which is why I have a small table too. This sounds like a lot and it is, but cooking is something I love to do sometimes, so why not.

On one side of the 'kitchen' is a closet, about 8 inches wide that holds any tools we may need and on the other side of the kitchen is the doggy supplies and first aide bag. Also holds extra coats if needed.

Ok so now what do you carry?

Sheesh, way too detailed...

A cast iron pan, a wok, a kettle. Spatula, flatware, deep dish plate that serves as a bowl or plate. Metal coffee mug. 2 cutting boards - one as a counter top, and one to chop on. Coleman 2 burner stove with 5 pound propane bottle (lasts me about a month). Vinegar and water in a spray bottle, paper towels for rough clean and microfiber for finishing touches.

I have a lot of stuff that rarely gets used. Garlic press, whisks, serving spoons, small pots, scissors, grater...

I keep a small tote box with spices only, and a large one with canned and instant food. Fresh food stays in the fridge, mostly meats and dairy.

Damn, this list got long fast.

 

[eDJ_]

Tomorrow morning, Thanksgiving, Dollar General stores have advertised a few small appliances for $5 dollars each. Some of these are three times more expensive normally. They go fast too.

The 1 1/2 cup food processor is 100 watt and is a handy item.

They used to have all of their items for $5 bucks but now it is only the hand mixer, can opener, processor, and toaster. For a Van dweller, the processor & maybe the hand mixer could be useful. People in larger RV's may have room
and use for the other items. It's up to each individual.

Dollar General TG Sale appliances

 

[twomountainlions]

I just keep it minimal to conserve water for remote stays as cleaning after fancy meal cooking adds up. Right now I have to refill water once a month, so I can go from one 14 day dry spot to another without going to a town, while still keeping a lot of backup water for emergencies. My rule is to never be below 25 gals emergency water. I got 2 small pots and 2 baking dishes for cooking. Have full rv kitchen but cook outside on backpacking propane stove. My rv oven is also propane. Use paper plates for cutting things and eating a lot of things off them too. Got a blender but only used it after pulling wisdom teeth, just a bummer to wash it. Want to get outdoor portable oven.

 

[DLTooley]

I just got a small air fryer, love it.

 

[eDJ_]

Air fryer's have come a long ways. Facebook has pages with enthusiast and websites with recipes as well as message boards are becoming more common now. I visit this one from time to time:
Mine is a Bella, that I use liners with. I find liners at Walmart.

Air Fryer Addicts

 

[vanbrat]

I have a big air fryer in my S&B house and a small one in my van I love both of them.

I just keep it minimal to conserve water for remote stays as cleaning after fancy meal cooking adds up. Right now I have to refill water once a month, so I can go from one 14 day dry spot to another without going to a town, while still keeping a lot of backup water for emergencies. My rule is to never be below 25 gals emergency water. I got 2 small pots and 2 baking dishes for cooking. Have full rv kitchen but cook outside on backpacking propane stove. My rv oven is also propane. Use paper plates for cutting things and eating a lot of things off them too. Got a blender but only used it after pulling wisdom teeth, just a bummer to wash it. Want to get outdoor portable oven.

I like to cook and will if I can. I do both, minimal as in heat and eat. And full on 4-5 course meals. I don't always have time or power or energy to make a fancy meal but when I do I enjoy making something extra. Sometimes it turns out yummy sometimes we take a bite and nope skip to something else.

I don't judge if what you want is just the fast and easy if you don't like to cook..... Don't. If you don't want to cook and do the cleaning after.... don't. It's up to you.

Most of the time hubby can't stand being in one spot for to long so we move around a lot when we are out and the most water I have ever carried is 10 gallons. and even that is more than what I carry now. The last 2 trips out (only 3 days each) we just did the fast and easy.

 

[twomountainlions]

I have a big air fryer in my S&B house and a small one in my van I love both of them.

I like to cook and will if I can. I do both, minimal as in heat and eat. And full on 4-5 course meals. I don't always have time or power or energy to make a fancy meal but when I do I enjoy making something extra. Sometimes it turns out yummy sometimes we take a bite and nope skip to something else.

I don't judge if what you want is just the fast and easy if you don't like to cook..... Don't. If you don't want to cook and do the cleaning after.... don't. It's up to you.

Most of the time hubby can't stand being in one spot for to long so we move around a lot when we are out and the most water I have ever carried is 10 gallons. and even that is more than what I carry now. The last 2 trips out (only 3 days each) we just did the fast and easy.

I liked to cook fancy in a house, sometimes, but out there on the road it just never worked for me because of extra cleaning involved. 4-5 course meal is fancy.... Since I cook for myself it's really the same amount of prep, cooking and cleaning as for 2 people but I have to do it all by myself.
I carry may be 80 gals of non drinking water alone but like it to last with no pressure to go into town. If there is a creek its unlimited water but still all the cleaning without big sink and unlimited running water bums me out. I have and use tons of spices though. My rig is like a food warehouse with all the grains, jars and cans to last months if I get stuck

 

[bullfrog !]

I liked to cook fancy in a house, sometimes, but out there on the road it just never worked for me because of extra cleaning involved. 4-5 course meal is fancy.... Since I cook for myself it's really the same amount of prep, cooking and cleaning as for 2 people but I have to do it all by myself.
I carry may be 80 gals of non drinking water alone but like it to last with no pressure to go into town. If there is a creek it’s unlimited water but still all the cleaning without big sink and unlimited running water bums me out. I have and use tons of spices though. My rig is like a food warehouse with all the grains, jars and cans to last months if I get stuck.

I’m usually a no pan or one skillet cooking kind of guy! Lol!!! Usually breakfast and usually an egg dish for my hot meal unless open fire is allowed then grilled meat on a stick and foil wrapped veggies in the coals for dinner.

 

[maki2]

Something special in the way of kitchen appliance. A diesel fueled ceramic stove top that when you lower the lid is a thermostat controlled heater with a blower fan. Very fuel efficient. It made my breakfast and then kept my space warm while I ate and lounged this chilly Thanksgiving morning. The photo is of it in use on a boat. I did my build in a waterfront community so a lot of my fittings came from
Marine suppliers.

 

[twomountainlions]

I’m usually a no pan or one skillet cooking kind of guy! Lol!!! Usually breakfast and usually an egg dish for my hot meal unless open fire is allowed then grilled meat on a stick and foil wrapped veggies in the coals for dinner.

Peanut butter for breakfast, avocado sandivch and cold spicy cocoa, works for me lol, no heat or dishwashing required. I used to eat only raw food to try it out but didnt work too well, no cleanup and no cooking were nice though. I want to try folding outdoor Coleman oven but not sure on heat efficiency compared to indoor rv oven, wouldnt want to be wasting tons of propane

 

[vanbrat]

Peanut butter for breakfast, avocado sandivch and cold spicy cocoa, works for me lol, no heat or dishwashing required. I used to eat only raw food to try it out but didnt work too well, no cleanup and no cooking were nice though. I want to try folding outdoor Coleman oven but not sure on heat efficiency compared to indoor rv oven, wouldnt want to be wasting tons of propane

I made a reflector oven out of $$ store cookie sheets and tried it out at the firepit in the back yard it worked just fine so I packed it into the van ..... where it has not been out again yet. It worked and I baked biscuits just fine watched them close and they didn't taste smoky or anything, but the oven is a bit of a pain in the butt to put together and the fire bans have made it less then practical.
I have this year gotten more into cold plates of goodies and 2-3 times a week right now we just have a cold salad and deli meats or ? with cheeses and bread or crackers. I read somewhere that shellfish is good for some types of brain health so now I have an excuse (as if I need an excuse) to eat more shrimp cocktails with my cold plates. I don't know if that is true or not but I'm not going to take the chance.
Because I am doing more cold dinners, I am now thinking of increasing the size of my ice chest. Maybe, or I want to make something for my milk bottles/jugs. Hubby has his type of milk and I have mine so I want to find a good box and put my empty jugs of milk in it and fill the spaces around them with spray foam. I will have space between them for a freezer thingy but the Idea is that it will ONLY hold the 2 milk things as they take up the most space in the ice chest and if they have their own box the other Ice chest will have more space. Also if the foam stuff is good and thick and covered with a good foam lid and wrapped in wool it will keep the milk cold longer. Last summer I used 2 old really good thermoses for the milk and put them in wool blankets and they stayed cold for 2 days. but not really cold at the end of the 2 days. So any input on the spray foam idea????

 

[eDJ_]

Interesting vanbrat. Wish you could post a photo of that build.

Some time ago I used Dollar Tree foil items to make a smoker grill.







The clips you see on the grill are paper clips used to hold the four sides together. The lid is one of those Turkey deep dis pans where the top has a damper made from a #10 size can lid. The grill handle has a hole in it just slightly larger than the rod it rides on. By leveling the handle it's elevation above the fire can be changed. Weight and friction is what holds it in place. When it's all knocked down and and pieces placed together it takes up very little room.

When positioned above a bed of embers I place wood chips (Hickory usually) wrapped in foil and pierced with a fork into the fire to produce smoke. Wood chips are soaked in water for a couple of minutes so hey are less likely to ignite while producing more smoke.

When smoking meat, fish, or fowl I try to keep the temps at around 230 F for this method of cooking. I use a temp probe to make sure what I've has reached a safe temperature.

 

[twomountainlions]

I made a reflector oven out of $$ store cookie sheets and tried it out at the firepit in the back yard it worked just fine so I packed it into the van ..... where it has not been out again yet. It worked and I baked biscuits just fine watched them close and they didn't taste smoky or anything, but the oven is a bit of a pain in the butt to put together and the fire bans have made it less then practical.
I have this year gotten more into cold plates of goodies and 2-3 times a week right now we just have a cold salad and deli meats or ? with cheeses and bread or crackers. I read somewhere that shellfish is good for some types of brain health so now I have an excuse (as if I need an excuse) to eat more shrimp cocktails with my cold plates. I don't know if that is true or not but I'm not going to take the chance.
Because I am doing more cold dinners, I am now thinking of increasing the size of my ice chest. Maybe, or I want to make something for my milk bottles/jugs. Hubby has his type of milk and I have mine so I want to find a good box and put my empty jugs of milk in it and fill the spaces around them with spray foam. I will have space between them for a freezer thingy but the Idea is that it will ONLY hold the 2 milk things as they take up the most space in the ice chest and if they have their own box the other Ice chest will have more space. Also if the foam stuff is good and thick and covered with a good foam lid and wrapped in wool it will keep the milk cold longer. Last summer I used 2 old really good thermoses for the milk and put them in wool blankets and they stayed cold for 2 days. but not really cold at the end of the 2 days. So any input on the spray foam idea????

That DYI stove sounds really neat and saves $50 extra on Coleman stove.
If you are going to have ice in that chest I'm not sure spray foam wouldnt prevent cooling, actually. May be can try packing foam peanuts, easy to remove.
I just tried new Walmart whole dried milk (never cared for fat free version) and its heavenly. I think I found solution to my cocoa milk for 2-4 week runs away from towns. I run propane fridge only at night when its cool, so things don't survive for that long in it except in the freezer. I was loading on packaged almond milk from Dollar Tree which is easy to restock in many small towns, but it takes up space.

Last year I sold my great hardly used big electrical car fridge/freezer for $100 on FB, new one like that costs $300, there might be fridge deals from people who are relocating and need to sell stuff, it used 40watt on average when it was running and only was running 50% of the time, it was easy to keep it running with basic portable solar