Cooking in a van can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. Whether you are a full-time van lifer or planning a weekend camping trip, having the right equipment and knowledge is crucial to maintaining a healthy diet.

In this blog, we will cover everything you need to know about van life cooking, including choosing the best van life fridge or cooler, essential equipment for your van kitchen, practical cooking hacks and ideas, and some of the best van life cooking recipes. Cooking tasty food can be easy with the right tools!

Before setting out on your van life journey, you should consider your cooking options. A good starting point is to decide whether you want to install a complete kitchen camper van or keep it simple with a portable stove. A portable stove is cheaper and takes up significantly less space, but isn't anywhere near as versatile as a complete kitchen setup.

The core of the kitchen will be your heat source. The most popular options are fueled by propane, but diesel stoves like the X100 have been gaining popularity for their safety and reliability. Diesel stoves are much more compact since you don't need to worry about installing and refuelling propane canisters.

It’s also essential to have proper ventilation in your van kitchen. Cooking generates lots of excess moisture, which, if not ventilated properly, will condense and promote mold growth. Installing a roof vent or even an air conditioning unit helps mitigate this problem. But we suggest keeping the side door open while cooking if the conditions allow it.

One of the most significant challenges of van life meals is keeping food fresh. A fridge or cooler is an essential item for any van life kitchen.

When choosing between a fridge or cooler, you should consider how long you’ll be traveling, how much space you have, and your budget. A cooler is a more affordable option, but it requires ice to keep food cold, which means you’ll need to replace the ice frequently. A fridge, on the other hand, is slightly more expensive, but makes up for it with a higher capacity and more efficiency, and will keep your food fresher for longer.

When choosing a fridge, you should consider the size and type. A compressor fridge like the Indel B OFF Cruise line runs on battery power and is built specifically for use on the move. You can find out why a 12V compressor fridge is the ideal option for vanlife in our complete fridge guide, where we go in-depth about choosing the perfect cooling solution.

Regardless of whether you pick a compressor-powered or absorption fridge, make sure it fits your van kitchen. The perfect fridge depends on how much space you have, how long you'll be travelling at a time, and how many people are living together. Ideally, your RV fridge should be around 65-130 liters, or 2.5 - 4.5 cubic feet.

When it comes to van life cooking, it’s important to have the right equipment to make cooking easy and efficient. Some must-have items for your van life kitchen include a set of pots and pans, utensils, plates, bowls, and cups. It’s also a good idea to invest in a cutting board and a sharp knife for food preparation.

To save space, consider investing in multi-functional items like a nesting pot set or a collapsible colander. Additionally, a portable grill or campfire cooking set can be a fun way to cook meals outside of your van. Finally, don’t forget about storage containers to keep your food organized and easy to access.

Of course, you must take all safety precautions when cooking indoors. That means installing a carbon-monoxide detector and having a fire blanket or extinguisher always on-hand.

Cooking in a van can be a challenge, but there are many van life cooking hacks, ideas, and tips to make it easier. Because you're dealing with very limited space, you need to get creative when storing things. Consider investing in a magnetic spice rack that can be easily attached to the wall or using collapsible bowls that can be stored easily.

Depending on how long you'll be travelling, another idea is to meal prep before your trip, so you have pre-made meals that can be quickly reheated on the go. Even some simple mise-en-place like pre-cutting your veggies can save you a lot of space and cooking time later on.

Finally, don’t forget about the power source. Make sure you have enough battery power to run your appliances, or consider investing in an EcoFlow solar power kit to keep your van life kitchen powered up.

One of the best things about van life cooking is the freedom. You can cook simple meals like pasta or more complex dishes like curries and stews. When planning your van life meals, it’s important to consider the ingredients you’ll need and how long they’ll last without refrigeration. Some popular van life meals include breakfast burritos, stir-fries, and grilled sandwiches.

It’s also a good idea to consider the size of your van life kitchen and the cooking equipment you have. For example, if you have a small portable stove, you may want to focus on simple one-pot meals that require fewer ingredients. Alternatively, if you have a complete van life kitchen, you may want to experiment with more complex recipes and cooking techniques.