Essential RV Kitchen Supplies

Preparing a meal in an RV can be challenging. You'll need some kitchen basics, but won't have room for specialized tools.

I've outfitted a fifth-wheel, a motorhome and a campervan. Here are my suggestions of what you need to save space, but still be able to cook a full meal.

Save yourself some trial and error by checking out what I've learned in twenty years of RVing. Once you equip your RV, you'll have some tasty meals on the road.

Cute RV Vintage Fifth Wheel Camper Travel Trailer Postcard by art1st

The first thing I add to a travel trailer or motorhome kitchen are covers for the sink and stove top. This gives you more space for fixing meals.

Usually the sink is a double except in the smallest RVs, but you want covers for each sink. That way you can remove one to use the sink and still have work space where the other sink is.

The last travel trailer we bought had one cover that went over both sinks. It was easy to fix. I just had it cut in half so each sink could be covered or uncovered individually.

Usually the table is not too far away, so when I cook, I use the kitchen counter and the dining table as my work area.

Don't fill the counters with non-essentials. I have the paper towels hanging under the cabinets, so that doesn't take up valuable space on the counter. I keep my dish washing detergent under the sink and out of the way.

Check on adding a flip-up counter extension. You can also pull open a top drawer and put a cutting board on it for some extra surface space.

Make sure everything is reasonably unbreakable. I always opt for sturdy plastic if I can find it for things like a measuring cup or mixing bowls. If you want real plates, opt for something like Corning that doesn't break easily. Put the rubber separators in-between each plate so they don't rub together while jostling down the road. I keep some paper plates and paper napkins in the RV too for times on the road when I don't want to bother with washing dishes.

1. Can opener (a manual one takes less space). Make sure it opens bottles too.
2. Measuring cups and spoons (plastic ones that nest together) - Even if you don't cook much, these come in handy.
3. A mixing bowl
4. A cutting board
5. Some basic kitchen knives for chopping, paring, steak, etc.
6. Set of dishes (although you can use paper plates), eating utensils (or plastic knives/forks/spoons), cups and glasses (plastic is best).

Some items are worth paying a bit extra for the convenience and space-saving. My folding dish drainer fits compactly under the sink, but when open, it holds quite a few dishes. A regular-sized dish drainer just would take up valuable counter space.

Use Multipurpose Items

You can't take them all. Don't feel that you have to have one of everything like in your regular kitchen. Space is at a premium. Choose things that do double duty. A single mixing bowl can also be a salad bowl and a popcorn bowl, so no need for specialized items.

I have a vegetable peeler that is a combination piece. It has a stiff brush, a soft brush and the peeling part. I can peel a cucumber, scrub a baking potato or softly brush a mushroom clean with this mulitpurpose tool.