Over the years, a few utensils or tools have proved to be more useful than others in my RV kitchen.  My new favorite is a universal lid for pots and pans - sort of a 'one lid fits all'.  What are your favorites?  How do they make your RV kitchen life easier/faster/better/whatever?

Our newest favorite is our Sunbeam Rocket Grill.

It has no cleanup. You cook in these little parchment bags so all you do is throw it away when the food is cooked.

It grills meat, sandwiches, vegetables, and more.

We've cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled cheese, steaks, pork chops, green beans, asparagus, onions, spam... it all has cooked up great and has nice grill marks.

All the burned off fat drains into a section at the bottom of the bag, so the fat gets tossed out with the bag.

No propane, no water ... only electric used. Great for an RV.

QVC, Bed Bath & Beyond and Target carry them.... probably Wally World or get one online.

-- Edited by thebearII on Tuesday 29th of September 2009 08:39:09 AM

We don't often go out to restaurants when we are camping.  Our camping is up in the woods at non-hookup rustic sites.

Most of our cooking is over the campfire, or on the grill.  Inside we have only a convection/micro oven that we don't use, because it would require firing up the generator to run it. 

My *BEST* tool is the Coleman Instatart Oven that runs on either the small LP cylinder or a hose to a larger propane tank.  It bakes evenly, works well, and it sure beats running the generator at 6am to make a batch of muffins! 

My family laughingly calls it my Easy Bake Oven... tee heee



Second on our list is my stove top pressure cooker. I think it's 6 quart size. I use it for many things, including pre-cooking ribs, making stews, and cooking up chicken till it's fall-apart tender.  (no picture)



We like drip coffee, and found this coffee maker by Coleman that works like a drip coffeemaker, but sets over an LP flame (either camp stove or LP burner in an RV)  and requires no electricity to work.




When we cook out over the fire, we have two different devices... this is a smaller adjustable height cooking grate that Steve made.  You only need to pound in one stake at an angle near the firering, and the grate holds in place by its own weight on the slanted stake.  It's great when there are just 2 or 4 to cook for. Stores flat in a heavy plastic bag in a storage compartment and takes up very little room.




If we have a larger group along camping, I own a tripod that will cook larger amounts of food over the fire, but I let my sister and her husband haul it around for me.  The poles can collapse for easier carrying, but it gets rather greasy and charred... so they keep it in the back of their pickup truck for me. 




Without sounding too much like a commercial for Coleman, I also bought a slowcooker unit.  It seems to cook a bit too hot each time I have used it, so I called Coleman and they sent me a new regulator device (free!) to try out, but I have not gotten it out since to try the new part yet. I made soups and stews in here so far, and was worried about anything  thicker like chili or beans being burnt.  So next time I have the chance, I will try it out with the new part.
Again, this can run on the little cylinders or the big tank with a hose.




Inside the rig, I keep a full set of Tfal kettles for easy cleanup, and a flat Tfal griddle for pancakes and french toast.  I have a few collapsable bowls for storage and a collapsable strainer/cutting board combo that is really handy too.



One thing I found in an RV store that is very handy is an oval shaped container with separate sections.. .great to use for veggies and dips, or a mini salad bar or taco bar makings....  the reason I like it so much is that my large round Rubbermaid one from home won't fit in the motorhome fridge!   But the oval shape of this one allows it's use in shallower RV fridges.  It's great for taking to pot lucks as it has a snap on cover you can fill with ice and keep underneath for cooling.... and even the little center dip containers are removable and have snap on lids too.


It's called Salad Server, part 142044
https://www.berrylandcampers.com/rv-parts/product.php?productid=965&js=n
(sorry, I couldn't make that link clickable)

And my last thing is I have a *Favoritest Knife*... and woe to anyone who takes it outta it's special place in my drawer.  It better not ever get used to cut down a wash line rope, or dig out a staple on the picnic table, or to cut off a piece of hose to make a water thief fixture  (all intended purposes that I have had to rescue my knife from doing!)

We also have a Sunbeam Rocket Grill and really like it. There was a discussion about them a year or so ago on the forum and so I bought one at the Dollar Store. DH is visually impaired but he can "cook" in the rocket grill. Brenda

Wow Karen, are you ever prepared. When in the area expect us to drop by for a sample of your cooking!

Oh.. nope, I have never used the dutch oven like they show on some of the camping groups, with lumps of charcoal on the oveturned lid etc.

I would really love the name of that recipe book if you don't mind.  I did look at some dutch ovens at a Cracker Barrel one time and thought about trying that.  


My mom found a GREAT set of all cast iron cookware at a rummage sale, and I was trying to wrangle it outta her.  She has hauled the whole set back and forth in a compartment in their motorhome, from Florida to Michigan twice now.  She only used ONE pot this ONE time with us for beans....



I might have to ask her to put the set of kettles in the will for me!  LOL

Phyllis... I will make the meal if you bring the dessert, okay?

It's a deal but don't bet on me cooking it over an open fire!!! Phyllis

The name of the cookbook is Full Circle Dutch Oven Cookbook.  It's written by the Patrick Sisters.  Their website is www.thepatricksisters.com. 

We met themwhen we were both vendors at an RV show.  They were selling cookbooks left and right, as fast as they could get them out of their boxes.  The recipes are just fantastic.  We don't have a Dutch oven, but we've used some of the conversion instructions and the dishes turned out well.

Thanks.. it's going on my *Want List* for my birthday later this month... Has anyone used a solar oven? Made their own? Bought a reasonable priced one? Just thinking......

Question: What is your most useful kitchen tool?  Answer: A husband who cooks and cleans most of the time...including breakfast in bed.   

You got all the goodies and bet the food it to kill for.

TXRV; you love to dream don't you?

Bubba> Do you have a wife who knows how to use power tools, change a tire, knows the difference between a socket wrench and an electrical socket, wants the TV channel on the football game, can hunt with the best of the guys, and still be a lady?  

Breakfast in bed and a bit of cleaning is a small price to pay for utopia.  A small amount of sucking up is also not out of the question.

Our Keurig Coffee Maker is running a close second to our Sunbeam Rocket grill. This coffee maker uses the little pods so you're able to choose different flavors for your cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The pods come in a big variety of flavors, from just plain coffee to french vanilla, to hazelnut to donut shop to pumpkin spice plus lots of tea flavors as well. It makes one cup at a time so there's no waste and the pods are easy to dispose of so clean up is easy.

My favorite, and most used little appliance is my rocket blender. It comes in various brand names including Bella Cucina, Sensio, and Magic Bullet. It makes the best margaritas and frappucinos, and is great for blending ingredients in recipes that call for it. It's small, so it fits in my trailer's kitchen just fine.

the rocket blender looks handy.. may have to get me one... :)

I agree with the blender. We have the Magic bullet one and I use it everyday.

We are taking our juicer on our trip this summer. We have an MPG which is small, but we value our fresh juice so we will make the space for it.
finding the fresh fruit is going to be the challenge. We may just juice every other day, but that waits to be seen.

Close first between crock pot (electric) and magic bullet (battery op).