Top 3 Items to Pack in Your Van Kitchen
Cooking in the van can be a truly joyful experience. You can be prepping your favorite foods while looking out over the landscape…feeling connected with nature all the while enjoying culinary bliss. You feel savvy, outdoorsy and like a true chef who can cook anywhere. Alternatively, cooking in the van can be a stressful, messy headache if you are not prepared. They may seem simple, but I have found that having these 3 items will enhance all of your van culinary endeavours.
Pack A Multi-Purpose Knife
A knife may sound like an obvious thing to have in the kitchen, but having the right knife makes a huge difference in your meal prep, safety and cooking enjoyment. And as we all know, packing efficiently is crucial to van travel. Since you do not want to bring your entire knife block on the road, it is very important to have a knife that can do many things. An 8” chef’s knife is a great size. It cuts nicely through meats and is great for chopping fruits and veggies. I would recommend the Misen Chef Knife or the Henckels Chef’s Knife. If you are feeling a little fancy, check out the WÜSTHOF Classic 8 Inch Chef’s Knife. I travel with the Misen Chef Knife, but all 3 are great choices for the kitchen.
Get a Non-Stick Pan
The last thing you want to be doing is soaking and scrubbing dishes in the van. Both water and space are finite in a van kitchen, and let’s be honest…doing dishes is just the worst. Having a non-stick pan saves you so much time and trouble while cooking. Non-stick pans do not get as smokey as their counterparts, which is another added benefit for cooking in a small space. These are some of my favorite pans:
INDUCTION COOKTOPS: The Always Pan is a great size, multipurpose, durable and attractive.
PROPANE COOKTOPS: Tramontina Traditional Non-Stick Frying Pan is excellent in every size. I use this pan at home and in the van.
Always Pack a Splatter Screen
There are some people who refuse to cook in the van because they think it is dirty and leaves the van smelling like food. It does not have to be this way! You can keep your space clean while you cook- even in a tight space. The best thing for this is actually two things. First, ventilate while you cook so smells do not get trapped inside. Open a window, turn on the fan, throw open the slider door- any or all of these makes a huge difference. Second, pack a Splatter Screen for your pans! No matter what you cook, if you just lay the splatter screen over top you will avoid so much clean up. Splatter screens can minimize spills and having to wipe grease off of all the cabinets. Grease leaves a lingering smell more than anything else. My favorite splatter screen is the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Splatter Screen with Folding Handle. I use it on a daily basis at home and in the van. It is durable, easy to clean and folds nicely into any cabinet.