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How to Cook Up a Feast in Your Van!
Welcome to the ultimate guide for motorhome and campervan cooking! Whether you’re a seasoned road-tripper or just getting started, we’ve got you covered with a treasure trove of cooking tips, tricks, and must-have equipment.
We’ve been living on the road for over five years and have a lot of experience cooking good food from fresh ingredients including a full Sunday roast to baking bread and even making tiramisu!
In this guide, we’ll be sharing the best motorhome cooking equipment, meaning you can cook like you do at home in your van. With a well-equipped kitchen in your motorhome and a few simple ingredients anything is possible; your motorhome meals will be five-star!
Conventional Motorhome & Campervan Cooking Equipment
Motorhome & Campervan Ovens & Grills
Most new motorhomes and some campervans come with a fitted gas oven and some incorporate a grill.
Some motorhomes will have a cooker, which includes an oven, grill (which may be seperate or incorporated into the oven) and four ring hob.
Some premium motorhomes also have an outdoor kitchen with a portable grill. Cooking in the great outdoors is one of our favorite things and you can create your own outdoor kitchen with a camping kitchen like this one and a simple gas grill.
If you are buying a new motorhome, you should consider whether you need both and check the configuration with the dealer.
Ovens often sit on top of fridge/freezers and can be quite high, making them a potential hazard for shorties like me! A fold-up step is a great way to access your oven if it’s a high model. Don’t forget about the weight allowance of your motorhome before you choose an oven for your van.
If you’re buying a used motorhome, you will have less choice about what you get unless this is a defining feature and a must-have, in which case it may take you longer to find your dream machine!
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Motorhome Microwaves
Unless you’re cooking in an RV with acres of space, the chances are you won’t be able to have both a fitted oven and microwave oven. If you do need both, then it is possible to carry a small, low wattage microwave with you, but only for use when you have electric hook-up.
The hazards of positioning with microwaves are increased, where you are more likely to have very hot liquids in containers, potentially above head height. Take this into consideration if you decide to retrofit a microwave into a previous oven space above a fridge/freezer or buy a van with a microwave already in this position.
You might prefer to carry the microwave in your garage and use it in the awning or kitchen when needed.
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Motorhome & Campervan Gas Hobs
All campervans and motorhomes come with a gas hob, usually with two or three rings depending on the size of your van.
Cooking amazing meals in your motorhome with just a gas hob is very possible with a bit of imagination, the right equipment, some chilli flakes, an onion and a clove of garlic!
Some people worry about cooking in a campervan safely due to the small space, and an outdoor cooking option may be preferable. We have found that making sure your workspace is clear and the van is well-ventilated helps.
Motorhome & Campervan Cooking Alternatives
Many van lifers prefer not to fry or cook meat or fish in their vans because of mess and smell, and choose instead additional options like these below, to make delicious meals without the hassle.
Some of the best camper van food we’ve ever eaten have been simple meals, cooked in the open air in front of an amazing view… and served with a cold beer, of course!
Portable Gas Grills
A portable gas grill is a great option and is much more than just a BBQ. The most common design is a metal bowl with a fixed gas burner in the centre, the heat from the burner is diffused through a plate or pan set above the ring.
The plate can be a traditional ridged BBQ plate, a flat griddle plate, a large cooking or frying pan or a pizza stone. This is topped off with a domed lid, which enables high heat.
We love the paella pan with our Cadac, we use it for everything from risotto to stir fry and even fluffy breakfast pancakes.
The manufacturers of these systems claim you can make a roast chicken with the lid on, a loaf of bread on the pizza stone and everything in between, and they are fair claims as both of these campervan meals are possible. The domed lid traps air and the water in the base of the pan creates steam, working just like a conventional oven.
All manufacturers make a number of sizes, some with legs and some without. They can be an awkward shape to store and once you add all the plates, the whole lot will be quite heavy, so make sure you have enough in your weight allowance and measure carefully where you will keep it when travelling.
All these devices will hook up to either a gas canister, bottle or an external gas point on your motorhome, making cooking outside easy and pleasurable. You can buy similar styles that use charcoal but as many campsites won’t allow charcoal grills, we’ve focussed on those that rely on gas instead.
Cadac
Cadac is probably the most popular of the outdoor grill brands with motorhomers and campervanners. Tried and tested and with a great range of accessories, the Cadac comes in a number of sizes and configurations.
Cadac Safari Chef
Cadac Citi Chef
Cadac Grillo Chef
Cadac Carri Chef 2 – Our Choice
Cadac 2 Cook 3 Pro Deluxe
Cobb
Cobb Premier Air Charcoal Barbecue Grill
Campingaz
Party Grill 400 Stove
Multi-Purpose Pots & Pans
Multi-purpose pans are great for campervans and motorhomes as they are space-saving and do more than one job.
Some of these pans will need a heat source, which could be a gas hob, camping stove or electric hob and some plug in, so be mindful of wattage when choosing your model.
Anything over 500w is likely to cause issues at busy times of the day and will not work with less than 10amps of electricity.
If you have a particular piece of equipment you use at home, like a slow cooker (dutch oven), pressure cooker, air fryer or instant pot, there’s no reason why you can’t take this away with you in the motorhome if you have room.
Ridge Monkey
Connect Combi & Steamer Set
Connect Multi-Purpose Pan & Griddle Set
Remoska
Remoska Electric Cooker – Our Choice
Leisurewize
Leisurewize Air Fryer
Lakeland
Lakeland Mini Multi Cooker
Omnia
Omnia Oven
Although there are lots of variations on this type of motorhome cooking equipment on the market, we think our picks offer the best value for money combined with the best functionality and quality available.
All have been tried and tested by motorhomers and campervanners across the UK and Europe, many of whom use this campervan cooking equipment day in day out over months and years.
The Gap Decaders Camper Cookbook
You’ll find great cooking top tips and simple recipes in our Camper Cookbook, which can be adapted to suit your equipment, ingredients and whichever season or country you’re in – whether you’re in your own motorhome in the UK or even a campervan hire in New Zealand!
Campervan & Motorhome Kitchen Accessories
Now you’ve got the major motorhome cooking equipment sorted, you’ll need all the bits and pieces to chop the veg, stir the pot and serve your meal in your campervan kitchen.
From whistling kettles to unbreakable stainless steel wine glasses and multi-purpose gadgets, you’ll find everything you need to kit out your motorhome kitchen in these posts, along with lots of other must-have motorhome accessories and motorhome housewares.
Best Motorhome Kitchen Accessories, Utensils & Gadgets
101+ Motorhome Essentials You Need + Packing Checklist
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