Kitchen Organization Hacks
Long trips are going to require a lot of Tetris skills. We’ve gathered a few organizational hacks to make it easier to keep your kitchen organized for long and short hauls.
Before You Begin:
Know your kitchen and figure out your space:
- how big are your cabinets, how many are there
- how much counter space do you have
- does your stove come with a cover that can turn it into additional counter space. Alternatively, can you get a cover?
How are you going to use your kitchen:
- will you be cooking a lot of meals that involve extra prep,
- will you be reheating a lot of meals that you’ve pre-made,
- what extra appliances (if any) are you bringing like an instant pot or kettle.
Prioritize your fridge space:
- what needs to be in the fridge and what would be a luxury, for example: water, beer, soda = lower priority for fridge space. Having those drinks cold is a luxury, or can be stored in a cooler.
- Keep older foods near the front so you remember to eat them along with any foods that will spoil quicker like fresh fruits and veggies.
- Organize shelves by category so it’s easier to find things. Fruit and veg on one shelf, sauces/condiments in the door, cheese/meat on other shelves, etc.
Organize and maximize your cupboard and drawer space:
- Dishes go in the same space, snacks in another, coffee/tea together, and so on.
- Find containers that will fit perfectly to maximize your use of space. This will save you on having to reorganize differently sized boxes or bags.
- Clear storage containers for dry items: cereal, etc. get ones with strong lids that aren’t easy to remove, so in the event something falls over it’s less likely to pop open.
- Transfer items out of critter friendly packaging; i.e. plastic or paper bags
- Look for BPA free plastic containers, they won’t last as long as glass but will be more resistant to dropping and lighter weight.
- Add additional shelves, particularly in cupboards. You can get light metal or plastic shelves in a variety of sizes to create more space for smaller items like cans.
- Get drawer dividers! Consider getting adjustable drawer dividers to keep things organized. These can expand or shorten to fit many spaces and can work in the bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen! Allowing you to customize just how you divide those spaces and keep them organized.
- Look for hanging storage solutions: Hanging shoes racks can be great for things like: spices, freezer bags, bandages, etc.
- Pull out storage! You can find shelves that can be easily installed into your cabinets that will pull out and save you from hunting for things in the back of the cupboard. These are great for garbage bins if your rig doesn’t have one factory installed.
Keeping Your Rig Clean:
- Don’t dump liquids from cans down the drains like tuna, canned beans, fruit etc. It can make your gray tanks smell awful.
- Use old coffee or hot chocolate cans to collect these liquids to throw out!
- One pot meals are awesome if you don’t want to deal with a lot of dishes in your kitchen.
- Cooking for a crowd? Use disposable paper plates and cutlery. Not the greenest solution, but get the right ones and they’re more environmentally friendly. (Just don’t toss them in the bush!)
- Keep a hand vacuum or broom and dustpan in your rig. Don’t leave any crumbs or messes around to encourage pests to join the party. Check out our Pets or Pests post https://nobullrv.ca/pets-or-pests/
Any other absolute RV kitchen tips we miss? Let us know in the comments!