Planning and preparation are the keys to hassle free cooking when RV camping.  The complexity of the foods we bring, and their preparation, will dictate our equipment needs.  Whether you are cooking inside or outside, or both, you must ensure you have the necessary cookware on board your RV.

RV CAMPING – COOKING

With Electricity

Our cooking choices are always greatest when electric is available which makes using drip coffee pots, hot plates, or electric skillets possible.  Further, using electricity for cooking instead of your on-board stove reduces the need to draw down your RV’s propane tank(s).  Depending on how often you go RV camping it can make sense to purchase some or all of these items specifically for your RV.  Alternatively, keep these items on a “grab from home” list if you do not RV camp often.

With Alternative Fuels

• PROPANE

Propane fuel is often used when electricity is not available for cooking.  For instance, RV stoves and ovens commonly use propane for cooking inside.  Likewise, outside the RV, propane fuels camp stoves and single burner base units.

A budget and space friendly option, single burner bases work great, but have limitations.  Best uses are for percolation type coffee pots and small saucepans, so these units are essentially for easy to heat up things in calm conditions.  Alternatively, a camp stove has multiple burner surfaces, protection from wind, and a lower center of gravity for greater stability.  On the other hand, these stoves are more expensive and take up precious storage space in your RV.

• WOOD & CHARCOAL – OPEN FLAME

Campfire rings, raised grills, and personal charcoal grills are all popular for RV camping cooking.  Although campground equipment often has issues, they are often easily solved for those who are prepared.  For instance, a portable/folding campfire grate with “legs” or  a “disposable” grate fixes issues of rust, grime, or broken parts.  Of course, using a personal portable charcoal grill circumvents all issues with campground equipment, provided storage space for it is available in the RV.

Take note if using open flame.  Some geographical areas ban the use open flame at certain times of the year.  During wildfire season, for instance, open flame may be banned but propane is permissible.  Know before you go so you are properly prepared.

• COOKWARE

Use your home cookware for RV camping cooking.  Either purchase dedicated cookware, or simply transfer the pots and pans used in your home kitchen to your RV, and return them to home use when your trip is done.  However, for open flame situations use strictly dedicated cookware because it will get beat up and abused.

Other cookware options which are fun go-to’s for outside open flame include tin foil, pie irons, and sticks.  Because, well, hotdogs and marshmallows always rule in camp, and frankly, the other methods are just plain fun and tasty ways to enhance the campfire experience!  For example, use sticks to toast bagels, make foil packets with meat and veggies, or line pie irons with bread of refrigerated dough and fill with anything from yummy pizza toppings to pie fillings.  Go nuts and have fun – the only limit is your imagination.