Well, you’ve finally done it! You’ve purchased your RV. Now seems like a daunting task to feverything all the things you’ll need for your road trip adventures. At the top of your mind, you’re probably wondering, “How do I set up an RV kitchen?”
Setting up an RV kitchen requires a few simple steps:
- Assess your RV space
- Determine your cooking style
- Choose only essential items
- Determine your cooking style
- Consider space-saving solutions
- Stock up on pantry staples
- Use multi-purpose items
- Stay organized
- Keep your kitchen simple
Assess Your RV Space
Before you start shopping for kitchen essentials, take some time to assess the size and layout of your RV kitchen, counter space, and storage space.
RV Size and Layout
The size and layout of your RV kitchen will help you determine what items you really need and what will fit comfortably in your kitchen. For example, we have a very small RV with a very small kitchen. If you have a smaller RV, you’ll have to assess exactly what you need.
If you were a tent camper previous to buying your RV, use your tent camping items as a starting point. Tent camping equipment is usually pretty bare bones due to space limitations. You can take those items and build upon them, depending on your space constraints. I wrote an article about RV kitchen essentials to help you get started.
If you have a larger RV, you’re in luck. This means you’ll have more options for ways to cook because you can store more items.
It’s a good idea to pair similar items close together if possible. For example, placing your pots and pans in the same or nearby location will help you quickly locate your needed item.
Some items that you’ll want to group together are as follows:
- Everyday dishes and utensils (plates, bowls, silverware, glasses, and mugs)
- Pots and pans and their respective utensils like string spoons and spatulas
- Prep Dishes like mixing bowls and measuring cups
- Serving plates and bowls
- Clean up items, like towels
- Food storage containers
- Baking items (if necessary)
Put your everyday dishes close to the sink, so they are easy to put away after you wash them. If you’re right-handed and you have space available, put them to the right of your sink.
If possible, put your pots and pans, string spoons, and spatulas close to the stove. This will make it easier to grab things when you need them.
Put your meal prep items near your largest section of counter space.
Store items that you use often in upper cabinets. I have some lower cabinets in our camper and it’s a challenge to get items out.
RV Counter Space
After you’ve determined the largest section of counter space. Consider other areas of counter space where you can put appliances. More than likely, you’ll have to store these items during travel, but when you’re using them, you’ll want to have them out.
Ideally, you’ll have outlets for these items on the counter. A must-have item for me is the coffee maker. But for you, it might be your Burkey water filter.
Determine Your RV Cooking Style
Do you like to cook elaborate meals or do you prefer to keep things simple? Depending on your cooking style, you may need different types of equipment and tools. For example, if you like to bake, you may need an oven or if you prefer to grill, you may want to invest in an outdoor grill.
I don’t like to cook. And I really don’t want to cook while we’re camping. I make meals ahead of time so I can enjoy doing something else.
I realize that there are many people that enjoy cooking. If you’re one of those, consider how you like to cook. If you enjoy baking, and your RV doesn’t have an oven, you might want to purchase an Omnia Stovetop Oven. Even though I don’t like to cook, I do enjoy the Omnia oven. Buy the set. Otherwise, you’ll get nickeled and dimed by buying all the additional parts separately. I wish I had bought the set initially.
If you enjoy grilling, buy a nice grill. We love our little Webber Q1000 grill. It’s compact enough to fit in the bed of your truck, yet large enough to cook for a family. We also have the smaller Blackstone Grill. It’s my favorite because my husband likes cooking on it. He sits it on the tailgate of the truck and cooks there.
If you’d like to know about all the camping cooking methods, read this article that I wrote.
Choose Only Essential Items
Once you have a sense of your space and cooking style, you can start shopping for the essential items for your RV kitchen. This may include things like a cookware set, utensils, dishes, and glasses. Look for items that are compact, lightweight, and easy to store.
I wrote a whole article on essential kitchen items for camping.
Decide Your RV Camping Style
Everyone has a different camping style. During most of our camping trips, we are boondocking. If you’re curious about what that is, I wrote an article about it. Boondocking limits our access to power and water. Aside from my coffee maker, I’m not operating a microwave or other powered kitchen appliances.
If you like to camp at RV campgrounds, you won’t have those restrictions. In California, where we live, state parks do not have hookups. And, for the most part, national parks don’t either. That’s something to consider when you’re setting up your camper kitchen.
Consider Space-saving Solutions for Your RV Kitchen
Since space is often at a premium in an RV kitchen, look for space-saving solutions to maximize your storage. This may include things like collapsible measuring cups, nesting mixing bowls, and stackable storage containers.
For Christmas, I got a Sea to Summit collapsable pot. I love how small it folds up! My husband bought the Magma stacking pots. They come in a case and are all nested inside one another. They are pricy, but a lifesaver if you have limited space in your camper. They also work with induction cooktops. I have a set of collapsable bowls, like these, that I also use as food storage containers.
Stock up on Pantry Staples You’ll Need for Your RV
Since refrigeration space may be limited, it’s a good idea to stock up on non-perishable items such as canned goods, dried fruits, and nuts. These items can be used to supplement fresh ingredients or to prepare quick and easy meals.
Having a well-stocked pantry is essential for cooking in an RV. Consider stocking up on non-perishable items like pasta, rice, canned goods, and spices. This will help you create meals without having to make frequent trips to the grocery store.
I love the packages of precooked rice, beans, and pasta. It makes it easy to whip something up for a quick dinner. They are shelf-stable and don’t take up too much room. I always have coffee, tea, and sugar among my staples. If you like milk in your coffee, as I do, consider buying shelf-stable milk. It tastes good in coffee and works great in recipes.
Consider the spices that you use most frequently in your kitchen at home; bring those.
Use Multi-purpose Items for Your RV Kitchen
Look for items that can serve multiple purposes. For example, a griddle can be used to cook pancakes, eggs, and bacon, but can also be used as a frying pan for sautéing vegetables or making grilled sandwiches.
A cast iron skillet is heavy, but it can be used to cook a wide variety of meals, from breakfast dishes to stir-fries and even baked goods. It can also be used on an outdoor grill or campfire. A dutch oven is another multiuse kitchen camping tool. A dutch oven can be used for baking bread, roasting meats, and making stews and soups. It can also be used on an outdoor grill or campfire.
One of the things we have in our RV is a mini blender. With a mini blender, you can make smoothies, grind coffee, and even make cocktails with it!
This collapsible colander can be used for draining pasta, but can also be used as a washing basin or cutting board.
If you’re really short on space, consider this compact 5-piece kitchen tool. This tool grates cheese cuts pizza, opens bottles, crushes garlic, and opens bottles.
One multi-use appliance that I really like is my Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer. Instant Pot makes one that is similar.
Keep Your RV Kitchen Organized
Keeping your RV kitchen organized is key to making meal prep and cooking a breeze. Use drawer dividers, cabinet organizers, and storage containers to keep everything in its place. Label containers and drawers to make it easy to find what you need quickly.
Of course, you’ll want a silverware organizer and a utensil organizer. Beyond that, a basket that hooks onto the back of a cabinet door can come in helpful. We use command hooks everywhere in our RV. They come in many shapes and sizes.
I have a plate organizer that I really like. It makes it easy to get to the plates and saves space. You might also want a shelf rack. These work really well when you have shorter items, like coffee cups. Another way to organize your cups is with a mug rack. I use a stemware rack at home for my wine glasses, but I wouldn’t recommend it in an RV. If you’d like to know more about how to store your dishes, read this article.
I really like the under-the-shelf baskets. They are great for linen closets where you have these voluminous shelves. Many people use shoe organizers to store kitchen and pantry items.
Use clear containers to store food items such as cereal, pasta, and snacks. This allows you to see what’s inside without having to open every container.
Keep your countertops clear of clutter by storing small appliances and items that are not frequently used. This makes meal prep easier and creates more space for food preparation.
Keep Your RV Kitchen Simple
Cooking in an RV kitchen can be challenging, so keep it simple. Stick to basic meals that don’t require a lot of prep work or complicated equipment.
Choose recipes that require simple ingredients, such as pasta, rice, canned beans, eggs, and fresh vegetables. These ingredients can be used to create a variety of meals and are easy to store in an RV kitchen.
One-pot meals, such as stews, soups, and chili, are a great option for RV cooking as they require minimal prep work and use only one pot or pan, which makes clean-up a breeze.
Before heading out on a trip, plan your meals ahead of time. This can help you determine what ingredients and equipment you’ll need, and make grocery shopping and meal prep much easier.
Pre-made or frozen meals can be a lifesaver when you don’t have time or energy to cook. Look for pre-made soups, stews, or casseroles that can be heated up quickly, or freeze meals ahead of time and heat them up in a pinch.
Stick to basic cooking methods, such as sautéing, roasting, or grilling. These methods are easy to do in an RV kitchen and require minimal equipment.
Conclusion
Setting up an RV kitchen requires some thoughtful planning and organization, but with the right tools, strategies, and mindset, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. By focusing on multi-purpose items, keeping things simple, and staying organized, you can create a functional and efficient kitchen that makes meal prep and clean-up a breeze.