The 50+ Best Kitchen Accessories Full-Time RVers Need

When we first became RV owners and started preparing for a full-time life on the open road, I stressed over which RV kitchen gadgets and accessories we would need. I researched for days to find the essential tools and equipment that would help make our time on the open road both easier and feel like home.

I read articles, discussions in Facebook groups and watched YouTube videos. But you know what I found out? Deciding on the best RV kitchen supplies depends on one thing: the user.

What and how I cook for my family may be completely different than how you cook and what you make for your family. I cook mostly vegetarian. You might be a meat-every-night kind of person. Or maybe a fruitarian. Seriously, there are people out there that only eat fruit! Amazing.

It also depends on what your RV kitchen space, which appliances are built in, and the amount of storage space you have. While I have an oven, microwave, three burner stove, and one cabinet (okay, that’s an exaggeration…I have two), you might have a convection oven and a little more space.

So, what I’m saying is:

1. It’s going to take some experimenting in your RV kitchen to figure out everything you need and
2. Not all of these RV kitchen accessories will fit your needs

But I wanted to do an extensive list of our house kitchen items that we brought to our RV kitchen. I also include my favorite items I purchased during our travels that made my life in the RV kitchen easier. I hope what I share in this article helps you make easy, informed decisions about which tools, equipment, and organizational items you need for your RV life.

RV Kitchen Accessories for Stove Cooking

Side note: some of these items listed below I also use for our RV outdoor kitchen, which I have come to LOVE.

Ours is outfitted with a two-burner stove and a sink. I’ll do a separate post on all the benefits of having an outdoor kitchen and what we use it for.

Please also note: You may have different RV appliances than we did in our travel trailer. For example, a convection oven. Something I’ll admit would be amazing to have!

• Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Lid. This pre-seasoned 5qt skilled can be used to saute, sear, and stir fry. It comes with a heavy duty lid so you can also use it to bake. Offered at Amazon.
• Camp Chef National Parks Cast Iron Set. This commemorative edition set includes a 12″ dutch oven, which is deep and enough for large dishes, stews, and breads. It also includes a 12″ skillet and an interchangeable lid that fits both. Offered at Backcountry.

Another great benefit of using a cast iron skillet is being able to transfer meals directly from the stovetop to the RV oven. That makes it very easy to whip up a delicious and simple Frittata or deep dish of pasta.

I use a deep skillet like this at least twice a week. We enjoy a lot of one-pot meals like this Homemade Alfredo Sauce and Penne Pasta and stir-fries, so this skillet has been perfect for those.

NONSTICK SKILLET

I use skillets with an anodized (nonstick) surface constantly. My kids also use it when they want to cook up a quick quesadilla or scrambled eggs.

LARGE AND SMALL SAUCEPANS

I use a large 3 quart saucepan for blanching vegetables and simmering pasta sauces. A small saucepan is mainly used for heating up canned beans. I rarely use the small one but keep it on-hand just in case. Utopia Kitchen Store on Amazon offers a saucepan set, which includes a 1 quart and a 2 quart saucepan.

Nonstick Saucepans with Lid Set

$33.99

1 Quart and 2 Quart

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11/22/2024 01:37 pm GMT

Kitchen Accessories for the RV Oven

CERAMIC BAKING STONE

When I was in my research phase for cooking meals in an RV, I read in several  Facebook groups the importance of a baking stone.

Putting a baking stone on the bottom shelf of your RV oven helps spread the heat more evenly. I can vouch that this works!

When I don’t use the stone, the bottom of everything burns terribly and the middle and top do not get done.

I highly recommend purchasing and using a stone. But don’t forget to measure your oven first before purchasing one.

Ceramic Oven Stone

$39.99

Rectangular oven stone with wire frame. 15” x 12.1”.

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11/22/2024 12:16 pm GMT

SMALL COOKIE SHEET

I’m still learning some tricks for baking things in our oven.

When we first launched, I didn’t even attempt to use the oven because of the nightmare stories I had heard. I won’t be baking a Christmas turkey anytime soon, but cookies, sheet pan meals, cinnamon rolls, etc turn out really well on a cookie sheet.

Just be sure to know the measurements of your oven and cookie sheet.

MUFFIN PAN

I use our muffin pan all the time for whipping up muffins (obviously). I do breakfast muffins and corn muffins for chili.

I also use it for brownies. Say what? Yep, I make brownie muffins for two reasons: they cook quicker than in an 8×8 pan (which uses less propane) and they are the perfect size for ice cream sundaes.

One more surprise, muffin pans are great for single-serve Frittatas!

8×8 PAN

I brought one 8×8 pan with me and probably didn’t use it for close to a year. Did I mention I was scared of our oven? 🙂

I’ve since manned up (lol) and have made brownies and pasta bakes that have turned out great.

These nonstick baking pans are also handy for small lasagna bites or cheese enchiladas.

RV Kitchen Appliances

INSTANT POT

Yep, I’m an Instant Pot lover. I was a fan even before we bought our travel trailer and started RVing full-time. Bringing it with me was a no-brainer.

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1

$89.95

Functionality includes pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute, yogurt maker, and sterilizer, among other settings. Multiple sizes available (3QT, 6QT, 8QT).

Pros:

• Programmable settings allow you to set and forget
• Quick and easy clean up for RV cooking
• Built-in safety features to prevent overheating

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09/09/2024 12:46 pm GMT

A Slow Cooker Would Not Be the Best Way For Me to Cook in the RV

I sold our crock pot in a garage sale because, for me personally, it just didn’t make sense for RV living. But, I know other RVers love using their crock pot, so it just depends on how you like to cook and your lifestyle.

It didn’t make sense for me because of time. We tend to work in the mornings and play in the afternoon and evenings.

I didn’t want to spend any of my precious work time getting a meal ready for the slow cooker in the mornings and I also didn’t like the idea of leaving something plugged in while we are away from the RV.

RV parks are notorious for losing power for no reason. It’s also super easy to trip a breaker with appliances that pull quite a bit of power. I can just imagine coming back to camp after a day hike, setting the picnic table, only to find the slow cooker shut off with an uncooked meal inside.

An Instant Pot is Very Versatile

I have the 6 quart model and use it to make quinoa tacos, baked potatoes, or chili. Any of those meals can be fully cooked in under 30 minutes.

Moreover, in addition to the ease of making either a fast cook or slow cook meal, these handy appliances have a number of different functionality. You can use it as a rice cooker. Or, you can easily make a delicious pot of soup.

The newer models of the Instant Pot, well known for their pressure cooker functionality, also have settings that make yogurt or can be used as a sterilizer. Pretty ingenious.  In my opinion, the Instant Pot is a must-have item. It’s probably at the top of the list of my favorite RV kitchen accessories.

ELECTRIC GRIDDLE

I went back and forth on trying to decide if I was going to bring my electric griddle with me. The good news is that I am so glad I did.

We use it all the time, especially in the summers when I don’t want to heat up the RV with the stove. Even using the burners (and not the oven) increases the heat inside the trailer to a level that’s not comfortable.

It’s also very useful to have when we’re low on propane and I want to save it for heating our home and water.

We use the electric griddle for pancakes, grilled cheese, quesadillas, sausage, bacon…and the list goes on.

One item I might purchase soon is this Indoor Grill & Electric Griddle Combo. During our two-week trip to Canada, our friends invited us over for brunch. They had one of the combo griddles and told us how useful it is in an RV kitchen. It doesn’t take up too much space and you can cook just about anything, from bacon and pancakes to burgers and stir-fry meals. They’ve been full-time RVing for 3 years and are sensational cooks, so they know a thing or two.

TOASTER

We have just a basic toaster, nothing fancy, and it’s a well used RV kitchen accessory. From toast to bagels to English muffins…we use it quite a bit.

ELECTRIC HOT WATER KETTLE

I have shared previously about the reasons why I purchased an electric kettle and why these appliances are so great for RV living.

Let’s just say that my love for the electric kettle is still going strong. I am happy we brought it with us. We still use it all the time. In fact, it stays on my kitchen counter which is too small to fit anything else. That’s how much we use it. 🙂

Electric Kettle

$49.99

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11/22/2024 12:37 pm GMT

COFFEE MAKER

I would love to be one of those cool mountain dwelling hipsters who uses a french press while wearing a flannel shirt and beanie, but alas I’m not. (Well, I do have a flannel shirt and beanie, so I’m 3/4 of the way there.)

A 12-cup basic coffee maker is just what makes sense for our family of five. We all drink coffee in the mornings and this makes enough coffee for all of us.

Plus, my husband programs the coffee maker at night and that’s our alarm clock every morning. I can usually hear the coffee start and then it softly beeps three times when it’s done. And that’s when I get out of bed.

We do have a french press and I would like to start using it (another great reason to have the electric kettle). Maybe for some late afternoon/early evening decaf?

NINJA BLENDER

I don’t use this kitchen appliance as often as I’d like. And, I’d like to change that fact. We all love smoothies. I got out of the habit of making them since we’ve been living full time in the RV.

Part of the reason is because it’s tucked away. If it’s not in an easy access spot, it tends to get filed away in the out-of-sight, out-of-mind category. The other reason is because I simply don’t keep many ingredients used for making smoothies.

I still think it was a good idea to bring it with us and hope to start using it more for cold soups, smoothies, and shakes. Breakfast smoothies are a great way to fuel up before an early morning adventure hike in the great outdoors.

Utensils & Gadgets

Here’s a list of some useful accessories and RV kitchen utensils I use on a weekly basis: (I figured these were self-explanatory, so no commentary from myself needed. 🙂 )

• Collapsible Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Glass Measuring Cup for Liquids
• Can Opener
• Wooden Spoons
• Whisk, Ladle, Spatula, Tongs
• Cheese Grater
• Wine Opener – I used to have an electric wine opener, but realized it didn’t make much sense to bring it with me, so I sold it. I miss you.
• Knife Sharpener – Cooking is so much better with sharp knives. I am so happy I brought this.
• Basic knife set
• Silverware
• Utensil Caddy – I store the silverware, wooden spoons, spatulas in this on the counter
• Wooden Cutting Boards – At least one large and one small. I can place the large cutting board over one side of the sink for more counter space when prepping the meal.
• Colander – I have a steel one that works for me and stores with my stockpot, but if you want to save space, try a collapsible colander.
• Lighter for Gas Stove and Firepit
• Veggetti Spiralizer – Ok, this isn’t exactly an essential kitchen item, but we love our zoodles! Side note: I’m not super impressed by this particular (as seen on TV) model, but it’s a space-saving hand-held model. Let us know if you can recommend a better one.
• Wine Aerator – This is my favorite little wine gadget and it takes up little space. Cheap grocery store red wines taste better when using this. I promise. 🙂

Okay, I lied. I added a little commentary from me.

Dishware & Glassware

• Plastic Plates, Bowls, and Cups (we decided glass dishes were not a great option)
• Coffee mugs
• Plastic Wine Glasses

Storage & Organization

• Plastic Food Storage Containers (Spoiler alert: the lid to container ratio increases over time. I’ve heard a rumor that your missing socks from the dryer turn into container lids.)
• Shelf Racks for Cabinets – I have two of these in one cabinet and it gives us extra room for dishware, mugs, and cups

Kitchen Linens & Kitchen Clean Up

• Dish Towels – An option to consider is the flour sack type because they last forever and fold up fairly small
• Apron – My mom bought me an apron from Anthropologie and I had to bring it with me and yes, I actually use it. Just call me the Martha Stewart of RV living. Just kidding, please don’t.
• Potholders
• Large Cutting Board – I have a large plastic cutting board that fits perfectly over our stove (I measured before buying!) It serves as more counter space and the area I place the dish drying mat on.
• Dish Drying Mat with Rack – I love this dish drying mat and it’s been one of my best purchases for our kitchen. I initially bought a collapsible dish drying rack to put over one side of the sink. Long story short, it was annoying and didn’t work for me. This mat goes on the cutting board over the stove when in use and folds up nice and flat when not.

RV Refrigerator Gadgets

Although most RV refrigerators are pretty small, they can still get messy, disorganized, and leave you asking “what the heck is in there?”

Some of these kitchen accessories for the fridge help with RV organization and some help keep things in place while you’re on the move.

• Double RV Refrigerator Bar – helps hold food in place on move days
• We did not purchase an RV Fridge Brace, but I think they would have come in handy a couple of times. If you purchase a gizmo with that design, make sure your fridge has interior wire shelves, which the brace will attach to.

Miscellaneous RV Kitchen Accessories

• Tension Rods – I put these in the cabinets to prevent our dishes and mugs from flying out
• Mixing Bowls
• Trivets – I use these way more than I thought I would. They’ve been perfect for the occasion I need to place a hot dish on the table or kitchen counter.
• Microwave Plate Cover – This keeps microwave messes at bay and easily stores in the microwave

Phew! I believe that’s it for my RV kitchen accessories. I truly hope this list helps you when you’re trying to decide what to bring to set up an RV kitchen that works for you.

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Julie Bonner

Julie specializes in helping you whip up delicious meals in your tiny RV kitchen, as well as RV organization tips and helping fellow RVers make their RV feel like home. Her favorite RVing spot is in Banff National Park in Canada where yes, the water really is that blue and the people really are that nice.