Once we purchased our fifth wheel, it didn’t include a built-in outside kitchen — and at first, that felt like a draw back. However after years of RV journey and plenty of real-world cooking at camp, it turned out to be among the finest issues about our setup.
We’ve owned an RV with a built-in outside kitchen earlier than, and whereas it was handy, the restrictions added up quick. Now we arrange our personal outside kitchen at each campsite, and truthfully, I like this strategy significantly better. It’s versatile, works in additional circumstances, and makes cooking really feel like a part of the tenting expertise as a substitute of simply one other RV chore.
Video Walkthrough
Within the video beneath, I stroll by means of our actual outside kitchen setup and clarify why we choose cooking this fashion when RVing. You might even see a brief video advert play earlier than the walkthrough masses.
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Why We Don’t Miss a Constructed-In Outside Kitchen
Years in the past, we had a smaller bumper-pull trailer with a built-in outside kitchen. It had a two-burner range, a small sink, and a pull-out counter, and at first it appeared actually handy. You simply opened a hatch and began cooking.
However over time, the downsides turned onerous to disregard.
The range was mounted in a single course, so there was no option to regulate for wind. Some days we had been cooking in full solar, and different instances we had been crammed beneath the trailer awning attempting to remain cool. The counter was small and flimsy, which made actual meals prep irritating. The sink was extra like a shallow basin than one thing actually helpful.
What I disliked most was cooking proper towards the facet of the rig. Between grease splatter and meals smells, it simply wasn’t one thing I loved coping with day after day.
Our present setup solves all of these issues by giving us flexibility.
How We Set Up Our Outside RV Kitchen
As a substitute of cooking proper subsequent to the trailer, we set our outside kitchen up throughout the campsite. The hearth pit and chairs often sit between the RV and the kitchen space, which provides us room to unfold out and loosen up.
This format makes cooking really feel intentional. It’s not rushed, and it doesn’t really feel like we’re squeezed right into a nook simply to get a meal achieved. Relying on the campsite, we will regulate our setup for wind course, shade, and views.
That flexibility alone is a large motive we don’t miss a built-in outside kitchen.
Our Prep House and Cooking Gear
We use folding tables for prep house and to carry our cooking gear. One desk often holds our Blackstone, and the opposite holds a propane camp range and a tabletop grill. Relying on what we’re making, we might use one, two, or all three.
We additionally preserve a full-size trash can proper subsequent to the kitchen. That may sound like a small factor, however it makes cleanup sooner and retains trash from piling up across the campsite.
Nothing about this setup is fancy — however every thing has a function.
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Why We Hold Water on the Kitchen
One of the crucial necessary elements of our outside kitchen is the water jug. We preserve it proper subsequent to the cooking space so we will wash our fingers whereas cooking and pre-wash dishes earlier than they go contained in the RV.
Doing a fast scrub exterior removes meals and grease earlier than dishes ever hit the sink contained in the trailer. That helps save house in our grey tank and retains indoor cleanup fast and easy. When dishes come inside, they often simply want a quick soapy wash and a rinse.
This one behavior makes a giant distinction after we’re boondocking or staying someplace with out hookups.
Shade, Mats, and Staying Snug Exterior
All the things in our outside kitchen stays beneath a shade cover. That helps a ton after we’re tenting in summer season warmth, and it’s simply as helpful after we’re coping with rain.
We additionally put down RV mats beneath the kitchen space. They make cleanup simpler and assist preserve mud and filth beneath management, particularly after we’re boondocking. It’s a small addition that makes the entire house really feel extra snug to work in.
To keep away from working out and in of the RV continuously, I exploit a carrying tray to carry meals and utensils from inside to the outside kitchen. That retains every thing organized and saves plenty of back-and-forth.
Our Propane and Storage Technique
For cooking gas, we use a full-size 20-pound propane tank as a substitute of the small one-pound inexperienced bottles. It’s extra dependable, lasts for much longer, and works higher for the type of cooking we do.
All the things in our outside kitchen has a spot — utensils, oil, seasonings, gas, flashlights, paper towels. We set the kitchen up with each wind course and views in thoughts. It’s sensible, environment friendly, and simple to regulate regardless of the place we’re tenting.
Cooking and Consuming Exterior A lot of the Time
I like cooking exterior, not simply because it retains warmth and smells out of the rig, however due to the views. Once we’re boondocking, our outside kitchen typically faces wide-open surroundings that you simply simply can’t admire from contained in the RV.
We eat exterior more often than not too. Why have a look at a campsite by means of a window when you possibly can get pleasure from it nose to nose?
If the climate turns chilly or wet, we’ll nonetheless cook dinner exterior after which carry the meals in to eat. That provides us one of the best of each worlds.
One Vital Security Tip for Outside Cooking
If you happen to’re tenting in bear nation, don’t go away cooking tools, meals, or meals waste exterior. It’s not simply unsafe — it’s unlawful in some areas. At all times observe native guidelines and take wildlife security significantly.
If You Don’t Have a Constructed-In Outside Kitchen
In case your RV doesn’t have a built-in outside kitchen, don’t fear. You possibly can construct one thing that works even higher — identical to we did.
A versatile setup enables you to adapt to every campsite, management the place and the way you cook dinner, and make outside meals an actual a part of your tenting expertise.
