By: Liz Voosen
Living and cooking in an RV can feel like a fun adventure, but it also comes with some unique challenges when it comes to kitchen space and organization. In this post, I’m excited to share some of my favorite kitchen gadgets and accessories that make RV life a little easier, more efficient, and enjoyable. Whether you’re a full-time RV’er or just hitting the road for a quick getaway, these tools will help you stay organized, save space, and cook up delicious meals in your Pleasure-Way. Let’s dive in!
Cooking Tools and Accessories
Magma Nesting Pots
Nesting pots are a fantastic space-saver for small RV kitchens. If you remember those flimsy aluminum nesting sets from your Girl Scout or Boy Scout days, think of this as the grown-up version. Of the several brands available, a top-quality brand is Magma Cookware. Their 7-piece set includes a 5-quart pot, a 2-quart pot, a 10-inch pan, and matching lids. The set is available in 18/8 stainless steel or with a nonstick finish.
For cooking enthusiasts like me, who miss their All-Clad pans on the road (or are tired of them taking up so much space), the Magma Nesting set is a pleasant surprise. The triple-clad base (with removable handles) works perfectly with both induction and propane cooktops. I don’t miss my All-Clads at home with these, and they save so much space! Even if you’re not big into cooking, this set is still a win—it takes up less than half a cubic foot of space. I store mine under the sink in my 2023 OnTour 2.2, but they also fit nicely in the lowest kitchen drawer.
I added the stainless steel colander to my set, which nests with the pots. It’s been great for pasta, washing absurd amounts of fresh strawberries from a North Carolina market stand, and prepping veggies. Another item I like: the No-Skid Pot Protectors from Magma, which nest with the pots and keep everything quiet while driving.
You can find Magma nesting sets on Amazon, the manufacturer’s website, and other sporting goods sites.
Silicone trivets & nice oven mitts
To go with my Magma pots, and to protect the lovely Corian counter in my PleasureWay from heat, I picked up a set of inexpensive silicone trivets. Actually I have two sets.
The rectangular trivets (made by a variety of manufacturers and available on Amazon) do triple duty for me. They protect the counter when I take a hot pot off the stove. They function as excellent dish-drying mats (bonus – the water just shakes off and they’re easy to dry). And they protect my glass stovetop from things dropping out of the shelf above.
The trivets easily lie flat in a drawer, go upright wedged next to something else in a cabinet, or can be rolled and stuffed anywhere that is convenient. I leave mine on the stovetop when I’m not cooking. They stay in place while driving.
I also like smaller round trivets. They are less versatile than the rectangular ones, but I appreciate the smaller footprint on the counter when I have a lot going on there.
Finally, go ahead and indulge yourself in a nice set of oven mitts. I chose silicone mitts with a liner, but there are so many styles and types to choose from that work well. Your hands will thank you.
Sponge and soap holder
I saw this first on someone else’s van, and it is a brilliant way to get the dish washing tools off the countertop and also allow the sponge to dry out.
I keep a mini liquid dish soap container that holds several weeks’ worth of soap in the tray, alongside the sponge. I store the full-sized soap below the kitchen sink and refill as needed.
I love that the dish washing supplies are always at hand, and don’t need to be moved or anchored in any way each time I start up the van.
Paper towel holder
It’s convenient to have paper towels within easy reach when you need them, right?
There are many holders out there that will get the job done. I recommend one that sticks to your mounting surface (vs. screw-in). Placing it over the sink (not over the stove) keeps paper towels clean and safely away from flames, steam, and splatters.
I chose a simple stainless steel look holder that matched my van’s décor.
Mini-toaster
In the category of non-essential but fun to have! I found a mini two-slice toaster on Amazon that has a low wattage draw (a bonus when I’m running off batteries) and it works quite well.
Toast in the morning? Bagels? Check, check! Some things just don’t belong in the microwave.
This little toaster is small enough to fit in the bottom drawer of my PleasureWay (2023 OnTour 2.2), where I keep it, and also under the kitchen sink. Your van may have additional options.
This one is the Elite Gourmet ETO236 and uses just 650 watts of power.
Fridge Accessories
I love the fridge in my PleasureWay. It’s big enough to hold enough food for us for about 5 days, with minimal eating out (5.3 cu ft in the 2023 OnTour 2.2).
The two main keys to efficient (and cold) refrigerator usage are keeping the air circulating and organization.
Remember that cold air needs to circulate around your food to keep it within safe temperatures (under 40 degrees F).
Fridge Fan
First up, add a small fan to the fridge. A fan will make your fridge more efficient on warm days (keeping your food cooler) and will also reduce accidentally frozen food from cool spots. I like a battery-operated “RV fridge fan.” The batteries will last about a month with continuous running.
Note that the quality of fridge fans (at least the ones I’ve had) is not great, and may require some fiddling, either immediately out of the box, or sometime thereafter. This may involve aluminum foil, rubberbands, or other simple fixes to keep the batteries in contact with important parts. However, it is worth it – for the small footprint these little devices take up, and the fact that when they work, they work!
Place the fan on the bottom shelf of your fridge for maximum cooling, and make sure that air can circulate around it.
I have one made by Valterra (A10-2606).
Fridge and freezer thermometer
Keep an eye on your fridge temperature with a remote thermometer. Most sets you’ll see come with two thermometers – one for the fridge, one for the freezer. I keep the display reader either in the top kitchen drawer or sometimes in the passenger dashboard.
RV refrigerators, in my experience, need frequent temperature adjusting as I travel from one climate to another. The thermometer helps me know whether “3” is a sufficient setting, or if I want to crank it up to “5.”
I find a basic remote reader is adequate, but there are Bluetooth ones that will connect to your phone if you prefer.
Wire bins
Keeping with the theme of air circulation is good for keeping food cool, I recommend bins with holes or large openings on all sides (vs open-topped boxes). See the photo for some bins I picked up at the Container Store that are a simple wide-spaced coated wire.
Bins are an excellent way to help organize and corral items in your fridge. I like to use one bin for sandwich makings. It holds sliced lunch meat, cheeses, sausages, and more. I sometimes put the mayo and mustard in the bin too.
The goal is to be able to reach into the fridge, grab a bin, and have almost everything I need immediately. No more standing in front of the fridge, door open, looking for that pepper jack that I hope my husband didn’t finish off yesterday. Instead, open fridge, grab bin, close fridge, make sandwich.
Bins are also great for containing pre-made meals I store in ziplock bags. The shape of the bins keep the bagged food tidy and organized (I can see at a glance what I have left).
Conclusion
Thanks for joining me on this tour of RV kitchen gadgets. Whether you’re preparing a gourmet meal or just keeping things organized, having the right tools can make all the difference in your RV experience. I hope these tips inspire you to make the most of your space and enjoy great meals while you’re on the road. Safe travels, and happy cooking!
*Note that all equipment mentioned is available on Amazon, from a variety of brands, unless specifically otherwise noted.