9 Effective Ways to Cook in an RV

For many RV enthusiasts, the camping experience is as much about the food as it is about communing with the outdoors. Of course, one of the benefits of traveling via RV is that you can have amenities like a stovetop or oven in addition to an outdoor grill and campfire. However, although convenient, those cooking methods use propane, so utilizing electric appliances is a great alternative when camping at sites where you can access electricity. You can also use electric appliances outside the RV, eliminating lingering cooking odors inside the RV. In this blog post, we will share 9 effective ways to cook inside your RV besides your propane stove or oven.

Instant Pot

The Instant Pot is, first and foremost, a pressure cooker. Depending on the model, the Instant Pot also offers the ability to do slow cooking, steaming, sauteing, and more. You can cook entire meals like a pot of chili, spaghetti, a pot roast, or pulled pork sandwiches. You can easily make a pot of rice to go with shish kabobs off the grill or some baked potatoes or steamed veggies as side dishes. You can even sauté some caramelized onions to go with hot dogs or brats.

Air Fryer

Air fryers are another popular kitchen appliance that has surged in recent years. Air fryers can mimic the crispiness of oil frying for frozen foods like French fries, frozen snacks, and chicken wings. They are also a great way to prepare baked potatoes, dinner rolls, cookies, hard-boiled eggs, and veggies. Some people recommend cooking bacon in the air fryer. However, others complain it is too messy because of how the air circulates during cooking.

Crock Pot/Slow Cooker

Slow cookers are popular because you can immediately add ingredients, walk away, and return to a home-cooked meal hours later. If using your RV for vacation or a weekend getaway, you can save time and cleanup by cutting up your meat and vegetables at home and putting them in a zippered storage bag. You can find some great slow cooker recipes on Pinterest and food blogger sites.

Electric Frying Pan

The electric frying pan or skillet was invented in the 1950s and has been a popular addition to kitchen appliances ever since. You can cook anything in an electric skillet that you can cook in a regular frying pan without using propane or infusing the interior of your RV with cooking scents. Using a cake pan and a small baking rack, you can even bake cakes in an electric skillet.

Portable Cooktop

A portable cooktop can replace your built-in RV stove or add more burners. You can find portable cooktops that use induction cooking or electric burners. It is important to find a portable cooktop with enough power to accommodate your needs and fit your pots and pans.

Portable Oven/Toaster Oven

Portable ovens have come a long way since the toaster oven of years ago. Options like the Ninja® Foodi™ Smart XL Air Oven can air fry, roast, bake, broil, toast, reheat, and dehydrate. With limited space, like in an RV, the more functions any appliance can do, the better. 

Electric Grill

Although one of the best parts of RVing and camping is grilling outdoors, an electric grill can be handy when there is inclement weather or you do not feel like dealing with the need for fuel for your fire. You can find options with interchangeable cooktops to use your grill as a flat-top griddle. The George Forman 360 can function as a grill, panini maker, quesadilla maker, and pizza oven, and there are a variety of Ninja Foodie Grills that you can use in multiple ways.

Sous Vide

Sous vide cooking is trending right now, and it can easily be used in your RV. According to Good Housekeeping Magazine, “this type of cooking works by putting food in a plastic bag or container, removing all the air and cooking, sealed, under water at a specific temperature.” This is a great way to prepare steaks or pork tenderloin, especially when you sear it on your grill or in a hot pan before serving.

Waffle Iron

We’ve saved the most fun and creative for last. In recent years, home chefs have had fun thinking of ways to use their waffle iron for more than standard breakfast waffles. We found recipes for savory waffles, mozzarella sticks, mashed potatoes, cinnamon rolls, quesadillas, omelets, hashbrowns, bacon, and more. Or you could make waffles to enjoy with bacon and eggs made over the campfire.