Van Life Cooking & Kitchen | What Is In My Van Kitchen? 

Question of the Day: What is your favorite thing in your camping kitchen?

I don’t have a van or RV yet but I’ve been talking about traveling and camping when I retire for years. This is the year we retire. So last Christmas my kids gave us all kinds of cooking gear. Now we just need the vehicle.

Just the other day I showed my friend’s son a collapsing 🔌 electric kettle like yours because he travels sometimes for his job & found not all motels have those small coffee maker. Then I showed him my 12v kettle that can heat up to 1 liter of water, and put leftover hot water into a thermos for later use. I also showed him my Dash mini griddle that I make one egg omelets or cook up breakfast sausage links, it’s power draw is 300w.

I use that same heat shield/windshield and you’re right it makes it a lot easier

Thank you Bunny! I've been watching your channel even before I got my van a year ago. You have been SO helpful! 🌸

I have the same tiny kitchen set from dollar tree but mine are red. I just went with everything red for my utensils. I also have the same exact dinner bowl and the same color that you got from Walmart I love it that works for soups and sandwiches and everything... pasta all that stuff. Loved this! 😊

Love all of the gadgets you use. I have a collapsible funnel I brought from home. Have to find a different skillet as everything sticks in mine, even with oil. 😢 I may check out the larger ridge monkey for that purpose. Thank you!

I have what I call my backpack kitchen. Most of my pots, pans, utensils, bowl, cup, baggies, pot holders, dish towels, splatter screen, etc are all packed together in it. Even a rice cooker! Very handy. I do need to get a collapsable strainer though. 👍

Some of your things I haven't seen before. Thank you for showing us. Very cool! Thank you, Bunny. I like your bunny skillet too.

I continue my search for a Ridge Monkey. 😂 One of these years… Thank you for sharing, love your style and really enjoy your videos. 💜

Got the kettle and use it every day. Best thing I have purchased. Good tips Bunny.

Just a heads up, be careful with the utensils with silicone ends like your tongs, but this is with all kinds even spatulas. Whether they are made with metal or wood, because they are not completely fused together, over time food and moisture gets under the silicone parts and it begins to mold! Big yuck! 🤢

We also picked up some of those cheap Walmart, plates and bowls for the overlanding rig. It just makes sense. It doesn’t make sense to buy a bunch of expensive ones from the sporting good store.

As you know I’m an aspiring nomad. Last fall I reconnected with an ex from over 20 years ago and have been continuing a friendship. He, too, has been interested in vanlife. I have been aspiring for over 5 years so I’ve got a lot of research in it (I’m a single mom so I can’t just move my kids into a van, but some day I will be there). I happened across an ambulance for sale in one of my nomad groups. It was halfway across the country for me and it just so happened to be in the same metro area he was. He has since bought the ambulance and moved into it and traveled back to the state where we both are from and is camped at a friends land working on his build. This was perfect for me to send to him, thank you!!

Timely video....I m in tthe process of redefining n downsizing my van kitchen items. Love much of what you have. Tthank you!!❤

Great video and a great line-up of kitchen gear! I cook with a lot of vegetables and fruit, and am particular about the knives I use. Better knives probably won’t come with a cover/sheath, but you can always get a separate cover. My long-time favorite all-purpose knife is the Global 5.5 inch vegetable knife (it’s a Nakiri-style knife). It’s an investment, but I use it every day and expect to have it forever. A more affordable option is the Sabatier Santoku (5 or 7 inches) - this knife actually comes with a “self-sharpening” blade cover and costs less than $20 on Amazon. For kitchen shears, I highly recommend getting a pair that comes apart for thorough cleaning. We’ve had Kershaw Taskmaster shears for more than 35 years and they’re still going strong!

That funnel is amazing! I have often been in need of a funnel! I MUCH prefer yours! Talk a about a weird shape to store, normally! ❤😂❤

I’m dying to know what the item you mentioned that you weren’t going to show us is!!! Seriously, I can’t figure it out and I watch regularly. That being said… I have the same exact kettle and absolutely love it! I take it with me whenever I go anywhere. I also ordered some Ridge Monkeys after seeing them on your channel and best by far pans that I own!!! I actually bought 3 different sizes. The two smaller ones I usually keep in my car with my two burner Eureka camp stove (which is Ah-Mayyyy-Zing!!!!). I keep the large one at home to use unless I’m camping with my family. I also keep a set of the 50¢ Walmart plastic dishes in my travel kitchen bag. I have a different style of the reusable ziplock bags, I just love the Stasher bags. They are a little bit pricey, but they last and last forever, they can be boiled or frozen, and even microwaved for when you have access to that. I have all different sizes and use them for storing my fruits, veggies, salads, and micro-greens a lot. I also marinate shrimp and chicken in the Stashers in my cooler or 12 volt fridge. I have never had a problem with them leaking or anything like that. I don’t like to eat with plastic silverware, even good solid camping sets, so I ordered a set of metal silverware that came with fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, and a metal straw in a cute compact little case. I even added a few extra pieces of silverware and a steak knife as well as a tiny vegetable knife that has a cover to it and everything still fits right inside the case, which is about the size of the disposable sets that come with takeout, maybe just a tad bit thicker once it’s full. I actually keep that set in my car console and I use them when I’m out running errands and need to grab a meal or a snack. So handy!!! The collapsible colander and funnel are also in my kitchen bag and I can’t say enough good things about them. I use them all the time. I try to avoid processed foods as much as I possibly can because I have autoimmune diseases that really are exacerbated by any types of dyes, preservatives, or additives of any sort. Because of my dietary needs, I typically eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, so I have to have a colander to wash those. I have a small compact cutting board as well and several good kitchen knives with the covers like you mentioned. Pretty much, I have a very similar travel kitchen to yours. It’s well worth it to be able to prepare and cook meals for myself rather than eating things that are going to make me feel bad and it saves me way more money than I spent on it within a very short period and then lasts for years and years to keep saving money. However, I am a ceramics artist, and I regularly travel with several breakable ceramic mugs because it just makes my tea feel like a special occasion and I am bougee like that. I just wrap them in a kitchen towel and then store them in my kitchen bag where they don’t get shifted around and I don’t have any problems with them being damaged. I actually had a bad car accident with them in my car like that and even though the car was totaled, the ceramics and I emerged completely unharmed. I really think everyone should have at least one handmade ceramic mug, but I might be a bit biased. Btw, two of the mugs I travel with a lot were made by other artists and I paid over $200 each for them, so I’m absolutely confident that they will travel well wrapped and secured as I described or I would never have even chanced it. And before anyone comes at me for spending that on a mug, I’m just going to remind you that this is what I do for my livelihood and it’s par for the course in my career. I’m not suggesting that anyone else should pay that much, you do you. I’m just saying that I have ample reason to be mindful of how I am transporting them and I am still confident in my methods enough to do so.

Those collapsable containers and those reusable bags are great

Those collapsible kitchen wares are awesome space saved

I use a Pringles can and put knives in it for camping works good

Great video. Im going on my 1st camping trip as an adult and putting together my camp kitchen. My main thing is deciding if i need an electric cooler or just the regular one, also what size. I am going to use the cooler i have for the 1st trip and then I'll see from there if i need something different.

For a knife with a cover check where they sell fishing tackle - like Walmart. I had all that stuff stolen, along with a bunch of other things at a usfs campground in northern California. Including the best cast iron pan ever. Haven't found one like it and prices are sky high now. The discount and salvage stores in quartzsite had butane three packs ridiculously cheap during RV show time.

I am an expert campfire cook but I do have a cheap double burner camp stove. Built in windscreen. Clearance, Walmart! Great stuff!

I have an collapsible pot with lid , it's a good sizee and cooks fast

I found collapsible measuring cups at dollar tree and I keep my measuring spoons in a small snack bag - it keeps them together and they don't get all spread apart. I don't live the van life I just live in a small apartment. Love the hints and tips you give us!

Still looking for a ridge monkey I can afford. I am getting ready to pack for a trip to Pennsylvania June second. In my wheelchair a 2010 dodge grand caravan. My challenge is I have to take my sister-in-law and my grandson with me. Space will be at a premium so I am trying to figure out what I can leave behind to be able to fit all their stuff in too! 🚐👍🏻

Very smart kitchen set up!

I just want to be as happy as you no matter where I am or what I'm doing..I just can't seem to find it.. maybe it's out there in nomad life 😵‍💫

I have that stove, had it for about 3 years, still a great stove😊 I also got me a steamer lunchbox, it has to be plugged in and it's very steamy😂 but it works fantastic and food comes out great😊

Thanks for sharing.

I definitely want to get that collapsible strainer and funnel. And I also like that ridgemonkey .I'm going to get one before I start my Nomad life.

Great content. Thanks

I’m switching from camping to full time minivan life in two weeks, and am refining my kitchen setup-choosing between my long-used camping pans (lightweight, but so familiar!) vs my good pots and pans, a collection refined and perfected over the years. How often will I need to cook for more than one? Will my kids join me, or will I join a group and share meals? Don’t know! I’m sure I will be dropping off stuff at GoodWill soon. Since I splurged on a power station and fridge/freezer, I’m also bringing a tiny rice cooker and a tiny waffle iron, and got a HotLogic for casseroles (hurray for midwestern roots!). My drip cone for coffee rounds out the collection.

Me over here trying to remember the thing you didnt show us... lol

I'm assuming the kitchen utensil you left out was the Morsel XL Spork. I've wanted one of those since I first saw it on your channel but they are always out of stock. I may breakdown an buy the metal version just to have it. Time will tell.

Loved this and all the kitchen items you shared. Id love to know how long does i butane can last if you cooked every day. (Approx.)

Question, I gave many products you have recommended and I know you use dehydrated food. Where can I buy dehydrated meat that is not in huge packages? Luv ya, love your channel❣️. 🥩🥓🍗🥫🛄🍲

How is your rooftop box holding up. Would you recommend it.

As for the kettle warming can't I just plug it into my Jeep plug and run the jeep till it boils rather than using the power station?

How do you wash your dishes? I've heard people just spray vinegar water?

I'm sorry I don't see any links to the items you showed?