Trying to outfit your RV kitchen–or even a small apartment kitchen? How can you maximize your small space? Check out these space-saving RV cooking essentials.

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Most tips and tricks for RV kitchens can also apply to any small kitchen. So, even if you are not an RVer, you will benefit from these RV cooking essentials.

Pots and Pans

The most quintessential of RV cooking essentials are pots and pans. You can, of course, go the route of the space-saving meets minimalist all-in-one versatile pan. However, if you are travelling with your family, one pan often won’t be enough to cook a whole meal. And those pans are pretty expensive.

But you still don’t need–or have room for–an entire set of pots and pans. Solution? Nesting pots! Generally speaking, nesting pots rest and stack within each other. But, the set that I prefer does so much more.

Recommended: Neoflam 9 Piece Nonstick Cast Aluminum Cookware Set

Why?

• The two pots and two pans nest within each other in one neat compact stack
• The entire set shares one removable handle so the stacked pots can fit in any corner
• The lids are glass so you can see what you’re cooking without opening
• The pots and pans are oven safe
• They are nonstick so they cook and wash well
• The set is dishwasher safe–your RV may not have a dishwasher, but you can run them through at home before storing
• The two storage lids allow you to store leftovers directly in the pots
• The whole set is under $100, I’ve even seen it under $75
• The set is available in several colors or even a multicolor set

Bonus Kosher Tip: This set is available in multiple colors including blue and red if you wanted to buy separate meat and dairy sets. Be sure to label the handles and plastic storage lids. I like to keep red and blue nail polish in my kitchen for just this purpose.

Colanders

Colanders, also known as strainers, may not seem like an “essential”. However, not only will you probably make a great deal of pasta on an RV trip with your family, they can be used for so much.

You can use them when washing fresh fruits and vegetables or straining hardboiled eggs and cooked vegetables. You could even use them as a serving dish for snacks (chips, popcorn, etc.), a non-liquidy side dish, or an undressed salad.

You will never again underestimate the importance of a strainer after you try rinsing boiling pasta in an RV kitchen without one.

Recommended: Silicone Collapsible Colander Set of 3

Why?

• These are collapsible and stackable for easy storage
• The handles allow you to hang on a hook to dry or store
• Dishwasher safe (when you return from you RV trip)
• Varying sizes
• Rubberized non-slip bottom (great when on the road)
• The bottom is raised so you don’t have to hold it to drain

Bonus Kosher Tip: Although there are many similar sets available, this set includes one each in red, blue, and green. Perfect for meat, dairy, and pareve!

Cooking Utensils

You could just use a plastic fork or spoon to stir your pots. But, they’re too small and flimsy. They could melt, get dropped in the pot, or be just too small. Let’s face it: they are impractical and definitely not environmentally friendly.

But, you have a limited amount of space and want a variety of options. You also don’t want to have to wash off your one and only cooking utensil every time you want to stir a different pot.

Recommended: Farberware 30-Piece Spin-and-Store Knife and Kitchen Tool Set with Rotating Storage Caddy

Why?

• This set includes 5 basic cooking utensils and 5 different kitchen knives
• Also includes 6 steak knives, which are great for those barbecues
• This set has kitchen shears as well as sharpening steel for all those knives
• Peeler and can opener
• Even though you can get by eyeballing and estimating, this set even includes measuring cups and spoons
• In an RV, you can put the whole caddy in the sink on drive days and then on the counter when you set up. Alternatively, you can just store everything in a drawer with or without an organizing tray and ditch the caddy.

Bonus Kosher Tip: As touched upon in the pots and pans section, I always keep red and blue nail polish in my kitchen (at home and in my RV). This way, I assume all these matching utensils from the same set are pareve until used otherwise. At that point, I simply mark the handle with some red or blue nail polish to indicate meat or dairy, respectively. I don’t rely on remembering, especially when many months can pass between uses of our RV. This also prevents [some] unnecessary mix-ups. A word of caution: make sure it dries completely before washing and be sure to re-apply as needed.

Outfitting your RV kitchen for the first time can seem quite daunting, especially when faced with such limited space. You’ll be off to a great start with these 3 space-saving RV cooking essentials.

Be sure to get the 5 Disaster-Preventing Road Trip Essentials before you hit the road

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