Cooking question

[LANShark42]

Back when we bought our TT a couple of weeks ago, I made the assumption we would cook on the stove/oven/MW and add a portable grill for outside grilling. I've now come to the realization that we won't want to do a lot of cooking inside, because of the potentially overpowering odors (bacon comes to mind - and I plan on having it for breakfast A LOT).

Sooooo... Do we need to add a camp stove to our ever-growing list of camping accessories to buy, or can I find a portable grill that would perform double-duty? Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated by these noobie campers! Thanks!!

[spoon059]

We generally don't cook inside if we can avoid it. For stinky food we try to cook ahead of time and refrigerate things and microwave. Taco's don't smell that great at 10 pm when you are trying to fall asleep...

We have an electric griddle we bring with us and use. We bring an extension cord and plug into the power tower rather than trip the breaker in the camper. We cook eggs and bacon, pancakes, hamburgers, chicken, etc on the griddle. We have a small charcoal grill that we use to cook sausage or chicken or anything else on. The benefit of the charcoal grill is that we can use the spent coals to get the evening fire started.

We have a trailer on order with an outdoor "kitchen". It is a sink and a 2 burner cooktop. That should be great for cooking outside... no worry about splatter and indoor odors.

[D_E_Bishop]

We cook inside all the time and usually have the kitchen open and the stove exhaust fan going. I did change the fan out and installed a 4" computer cooling fan. VERRRRY little noise and on a cold blustery morning we cook bacon, eggs and pancakes with no residual order. Beside we like the smell of bacon.

[Dutch_12078]

We've been RV'ers, not campers for quite a few years now, so we do everything, including cooking, pretty much the same as we did in our S&B and do when we're in our lakeside cottage. BBQ'ing is done outside, everything else generally inside. The vent system and an occasional air freshener spritz take care of any lingering odors.

[Lilrhody]

You can buy a griddle pan that works on the bbq.

[Mcamper]

I agree with those like SwanInWA that just like to cook outside as compared to being enclosed in a camper kitchen. One of the reasons we camp is to enjoy the outdoors.

I think the OP was more concerned with lingering smells and clean up more than anything else. I think if the OP tries cooking outside some they will enjoy it because of the surroundings.

I will say the kitchen is nice when the weather is bad, or we are on the road and just need to heat up something quick for lunch etc...

[SwanInWA]

We cook everything outside on the open fire unless it's raining. Even then we might BBQ under the canopy. We love outdoor cooking so to us it's one of the best parts about camping! 🙂

[camper19709]

rvten wrote:
Cook inside all the time. Just turn on roof vents and open one window a little. To draw in fresh air.

Me 2 !

[Carb_Cleaner]

It's the greasy splatter that I find objectionable. The hood takes the odors/smoke away, but the clean-up is a bear.
Between the two of us, the SO and I have 4 or 5 camp stoves. Single burners, used for hiking and motorcycle camping, of various fuel and size. I don't bother to bring one (space and weight), because my SO does the cooking. She prefers cooking at the stove with her utensils, sink and frig, nearby. At first, I asked her repeatedly about cooking outside. I gave up, 'cause she cooks and I don't. She has no interest in cooking outside, unless it's on our 12"x12" collapsible, charcoal grill (about twice a week). I guess after 35 years of tent/motorcycle/van camping, she likes having amenities. I'm glad she enjoys them, and I can stay out of the way inside or go outside for a frosty beverage. You gotta pick your battles. I help with clean-up duties (I bought myself a frying pan splatter screen with a folding handle from William Sonoma for Christmas, although she uses it), and we get along for weeks on end. She's a keeper.

[DaveNH603]

In the past 10 years I think we've only cooked inside 4-5 times. We have a Coleman Road Trip with a variety of inserts (Burner, griddle, grill). I really like using it but it's kind of a pain to clean. our new camper has a mini outdoor kitchen with stove that we will try this year.

[2gypsies1]

We full-timed for 16 years and did all of our cooking indoors except for when we grilled, including in the Yukon and Alaska with the grizzlies :). Never had smells lingering but usually opened the small kitchen window and turned on the Fantastic fan.

[Mcamper]

LANShark42 wrote:
Back when we bought our TT a couple of weeks ago, I made the assumption we would cook on the stove/oven/MW and add a portable grill for outside grilling. I've now come to the realization that we won't want to do a lot of cooking inside, because of the potentially overpowering odors (bacon comes to mind - and I plan on having it for breakfast A LOT).

Sooooo... Do we need to add a camp stove to our ever-growing list of camping accessories to buy, or can I find a portable grill that would perform double-duty? Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated by these noobie campers! Thanks!!

This is a good stove made by Coleman and sold by most places that carry camping equipment. Most Walmart Supercenter and Camping World locations have these.

Coleman 425 Camp stove

This unit uses the Coleman fuel, but you can get dual fuel, or propane units as well. They have several units available, compare in person. I have a separate grill, as the all in one units are not for me, however you have a lot of good suggestions including putting a griddle on top of a gas grill, and an electric skillet etc.....

I use the liquid fuel version and I find that one gallon of the fuel last us over 4 weeks of use using it at least once per day, sometimes twice.


You had a lot of good replies, but there are also some that are a long way off subject. I hope this helps.

[VT_Skier]

mgirardo wrote:
Most of the cooking we do when camping is on the grill. We use the oven mostly for pizza, biscuits/rolls and reheating leftovers. We don't really use the microwave much.

Outside we have a portable grill and a two burner Coleman stove. Since most of what we do is grilled, we needed separate grill and stove. Bacon is made on a griddle as are pancakes. For our summer trip this year, I'll probably be bringing the smoker as well.

Coleman makes a 2 Burner Grill Stove. It's a little pricey, but fits the bill. There are probably others out there as well.

-Michael

Agreed!

[Super_Dave]

Another issue with cooking inside the RV that is VERY different than cooking at home is a low, carpeted ceiling. I cook inside quite a bit and actually use my oven! BUT, stuff that would cause the camper to smell like breakfast all day would not make me happy. We use an electric skillet outside for items that can be messy or leave lingering odors. Some people here probably smoke cigarettes in their unit and don't even realize that it smells inside.

[dewey02]

LANShark42 wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

LANShark42 wrote:
Do I like the smell of bacon? Yes. Do I want our camper to smell like it forever and ever? Not so much. Maybe I'm anticipating a problem that won't happen. I'm just trying to be ready for when we start camping.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Do you cook all your potatoes, bacon and other foods that smell outside when home ... why change when cooking in your trailer.

Of course not. But my home is over 3000 square feet. My TT is 224 square feet. The difference is even greater when you take into account cubic feet, rather than square feet. If I should happen to (god forbid) burn something - like popcorn - the entire house smells bad. To concentrate something like that in a tiny space like a tt would seem to be undesirable.

I asked a simple question. If it is not an issue for you, all you need to do is say so.

Camping is all about what you like and your personal freedom. It is YOUR camper. You can make use of it any way that pleases you. Several people here have recommended outdoor grill and stove types that work for them. Others don't think there is a problem with inside cooking. Consider the advice that meets your needs and disregard the rest.

Camping is about doing what works for you and doing what makes you happy. For me it is all about mood: Sometimes I want to be outside and cooking breakfast over the grill or over the fire. Sometimes I want to be more laid back and just cook breakfast inside. Rain, cold, wind, and (here in Minnesota)mosquitos and black flies also play a big role in whether I want to cook and eat outside or not.