A Complete Guide to Camper Van Cooking
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A Complete Guide to Camper Van Cooking
One of the major advantages of a campervan is the ability to go anywhere, to be free to adventure on a whim and to be self-sufficient when you do travel.
If you then have to constantly plan to visit restaurants, cafes or fast-food venues in order to stay fed, then suddenly that freedom is constricted. Plus, your camping adventure just became a whole lot more expensive.
So of course, people tend to look at ways of cooking in their camper van – saving money and enjoying a little bit of the adventurous lifestyle.
In this guide we’ll look at everything you need to consider about campervan cooking.
Contents
- A Complete Guide to Camper Van Cooking
- Camper Van Cooking Equipment
- Camper Van Cooking Methods
- Camper Van Cooking Utensils
- Camper Van Cooking Safety
- Campervan Cooking Space Saving Solutions
- Campervan Cooking & Health
- Campervan Cooking – Outdoor Cooking Etiquette
- Camper Van Cooking Tips
- Campervan Cooking Recipes
- Campervan Cooking - Final Thoughts
Camper Van Cooking Equipment
You can’t cook without the right equipment, so this is going to be one of your first considerations when planning your campervan cooking setup. Fortunately, there are lots of affordable products, designed to make cooking in a campervan easy!
You might decide to go all in and get a full set of cooking equipment from the get go, or you might slowly build your full kitchen over time. There is likely to be a trial and error process while you work out what the essentials are for your family - every is different!
When thinking about campervan cooking equipment, you need to consider:
- Cooking method
- Cooking utensils
For your cooking method, it depends on your campervan. You may have an installed kitchen which comes with a gas or electric hob. If not, you might want to pack a portable hob with you – there are 13amp hobs you can buy that plug into a typical plug socket.
Camper Van Cooking Methods
For your cooking method, it depends on your campervan. You may have an installed kitchen which comes with a gas or electric hob. If not, you might want to pack a portable hob with you – there are 13amp hobs you can buy that plug into a typical plug socket.
Not everything can be boiled or fried though, so you may also want to consider any of the following:
- Slow cooker
- Health grill
- Microwave
- Steamer
- BBQ for outdoor cooking
You can find small ovens that can work in a campervan, but these use a lot of power and are expensive. Ideally, you’ll want to try to plan your meals that don’t include an oven. You can find alternative ways to bake or roast foods using a BBQ if you need to.
Camper Van Cooking Utensils
Cooking utensils will vary depending on how confident you feel as a camping chef! If you are passionate in the kitchen then a quality, magnetic knife block might be a great idea. If you like to keep things simple, then cutlery and a chopping board might be all you need for your adventure.
Here’s a list of the essentials that you may want to consider taking with you:
- Saucepans – nesting, so that they can be stored easier
- Frying pan
- Cutlery – one set per person
- Scissors
- Tin opener
- Vegetable peeler
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Plates and bowls
- A sharp knife
- Cups and thermos flasks for outdoor adventures
- Re-usable kebab skewers - for meat and marshmallows (although perhaps not together)
Those are the bare essentials, but then think about the kinds of foods you enjoy and what else you might need. You may want to pack measuring spoons, a mixing bowl, a grater and so on. You know what you and your family like to eat, so plan around that!
Camper Van Cooking Safety
The main safety considerations with campervan cooking are:
- Always making sure doors and/or windows are open when using gas cooking appliances, so that there is adequate ventilation.
- Avoid cooking near anything flammable, including curtains or paper.
- Never leave your cooking unattended.
- Use proper equipment – don’t try to muddle through with unsafe items that aren’t designed for the job at hand.
- Use level surfaces when preparing food, to avoid spilling anything hot or hurting yourself with sharp utensils.
- Store food safely in airtight containers to avoid contamination with insects.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.
Always be mindful of safety whenever you’re cooking, because you don’t have a lot of space to work with. Making a mistake in cramped conditions can quickly turn dangerous if you aren’t prepared, whether that’s sharp tools left in awkward places or dealing with hot pans/liquids.
You also need to bear in mind safe cooking rules when cooking outside. Don’t use a flat BBQ directly on a grass surface, make sure any camp fires are protected and are away from anything flammable, and again never leave a BBQ or fire unattended.
Campervan Cooking Space Saving Solutions
Space being at a premium, there are a number of useful ways you can help to save room in your campervan when it comes to cooking.
You don’t want to compromise your ability to sit and relax inside your campervan just because it’s full of boxes of cooking equipment. You can also check out these 15 ingenious campervan storage solutions to help you prepare!
Here’s some ideas to bear in mind:
- Look for camping cookware that is collapsible. Collapsing bowls and colanders can minimize the space they need when they aren’t being used.
- Choose items with a low profile. Instead of a solid wooden chopping board, consider a thin plastic one. Instead of a standing cheese grater, pick a flat one.
- Try to buy multi-purpose tools that can do multiple jobs, such as a tin opener which doubles as a bottle opener.
- Use stackable items where you can, including food containers or smaller items like cutlery or measuring spoons.
- Considering your storage options – magnetic items can stick to metal surfaces in your campervan, or buy a hanger that can hold your kitchen appliances.
Campervan Cooking & Health
When it comes to campervan cooking, a lot of people will immediately think of the unhealthy classics – BBQ’d burgers, frying pan sausages, and toasted marshmallows (or even s’mores, if you’ve felt the American influence on camping).
And while you’re absolutely right to treat yourself – you’re on holiday after all – you might decide to throw in some healthier options. This is particularly important if you plan on doing any physical activities, such as hiking, during your trip.
If you're struggling with storage space for perishable items such as fruit and veg, consider pitching up near a local market or investing in a large cooler. Some coolers can keep produce fresh for over 48 hours.
Skip to our campervan recipes for some amazing healthy options while you're on the road (and some indulgent ones too!).
Campervan Cooking – Outdoor Cooking Etiquette
Cooking outdoors is one of the best experiences you can have when you’re on a camping adventure, but you have to be respectful of the rules and etiquette around outdoor cooking, especially on shared campsite. You can click below to reveal the golden rules!
The Golden Rules of Campervan Cooking
Camper Van Cooking Tips
These tips will help you have the easiest experience when cooking in a campervan:
- Plan your meals before you travel – it might feel a little less ‘free and easy’ but it will make it much easier to prep everything you need.
- If you do pre-plan meals, pack the spices you need for each meal in small containers, pre-measured for ease.
- Prep any items you can in advance – if you can pre-cook anything and just reheat it, you’ll be able to cook much faster.
- Plan meals around versatile ingredients – you don’t need to eat the same meal every day, but if you can use one or two ingredients in different meals then you can bulk buy and save.
- Try to plan one-pot meals – foods you only need one pan for are much easier, and save on washing up.
- Use local stores – farmers markets are abundant, but expensive, so also look for cheaper stores if your campsite doesn’t have its own.
- Big flavours! Opt for flavors where a little goes a long way such as fresh garlic or smoked paprika - it will save space & last longer!
Campervan Cooking Recipes
Here is a selection of our favourite camping dishes to inspire your culinary, camping adventures! These can all be adapted to be cooked over fire, on a hob or in a slow cooker so get creative and work out what is best for you and your family.
Healthy Breakfast: Apple Crumble Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
Rolled oats-cinnamon-all spice-milk-grated apple-honey-brown sugar-dried fruits
Method:
Combine the spices, grated apple, some honey & milk in a bowl. Cover and leave in the fridge or cool box overnight. In the morning, rub together some oats, brown sugar and butter. Finish on a tray over a fire, under the grill or in a pan for your sweet, crispy topping.
Our tip: Overnight oats are a great vessel for all kinds of flavours! Switch it up to suit your preferences.
Feast with Friends: One-Pan Tomahawk and Mediterranean Veg
Ingredients Tomahawk steak-cherry tomatoes-garlic-courgette-aubergine-oil-rosemary-seasonings-butter
Method:Bring the steak to room temperature & rub with the oil and seasonings (just salt and pepper is fine). Get a large pan very hot and sear the steak both sides until it has a golden crust.
Reduce heat and add your veg around the steak. Slice the garlic bulb in half and add to the pan with the rosemary and a generous amount of butter. When the veg is cooked, remove the steak to rest. Serve with crusty bread.
Our Tip: This method can be used for all steaks and many other cuts of meat and can be achieves over a fire, bbq or hob!
Vegetarian Warmer: Low and Slow Minestrone
Ingredients: carrots-celery-onion-garlic-tinned tomatoes-dried pasta-stock-beans--herbs-greens-oil
Method: Roughly chop the carrots, celery, onion & garlic. Saute in olive oil for a few minutes. Add the tinned tomatoes, stock, beans and herbs (thyme and rosemary work well).
Cook low and slow until the veg has softened. Add the pasta and any greens (spinach, cavolo nero etc). Cook until tender.
Our tip: If you plan to venture out while your soup cooks, cut the vegetables nice a thick. To lower cooking time, finely chop them. Finish with grated parmesan & lemon to bring this dish to life and enjoy by the fire under a starry sky,
Microwave Marvel: Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Ingredients: Macaroni-cauliflower-milk-cheddar cheese-butter-butter
Method: Roughly chop the cauliflower and add to the bowl with dried pasta. Pour over boiling water and blast in the microwave on high, in bursts, until tender.
Drain the water and pour over the milk and add plenty of grated cheese. Microwave on high again, stirring halfway through. Add butter and cheese on the top and microwave for a final two minutes.
Our tip: Jazz up this classic with herbs, dijon mustard, a mix of cheeses and plenty of black pepper.
Sweet Treats: S'more Nachos
Method: Break up the biscuits, smash the chocolate and tear the marshmallows. Layer in a foil tray and stick over a fire or in the oven. Wait until the chocolate has melted and the marshmallows are beautifully squishy!
Our tip: If storage and resources allow, serve up with some fresh fruit and ice cream for the ultimate camping dessert!
Campervan Cooking - Final Thoughts
The best way to properly enjoy your campervan cooking experience is to be brave and really embrace it. Limiting yourself to basic ideas on a BBQ will get repetitive quickly, and with just a couple of tools and some basic utensils, you can create all kinds of meals, including healthy options that are perfect for the whole family.
Just follow common sense advice on staying safe, and avoiding upsetting other campers near you, and you’ll love the different meals you can prepare when you’re on your next camping adventure.
