Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
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After going on 2 years I still haven't found my perfect kitchen appliance setup so thought I would throw it out there to folks since I am all over the place and getting ready for a big pre-Alaska purge.
I started with a Crockpot then bought a rice cooker and was given a pressure cooker. Recently I exchanged all three of these for an Instant Pot which I really like.
I bought a food processor and a hand mixer and I never use the food processor (giving that away soon) and the hand blender works so poorly I end up mixing by hand.
I didn't use a blender before and have only used mine once this whole time, so that's going also.
I gave away my Fry Daddy, but really miss it and am in search of a used fry baby (which they don't make anymore)
I love my wok and use it all the time, so that was a good bring along
The toaster I use daily, big fan of toast, so that's good
We kept our BUNN 2 minute coffee maker and added a nice percolator which we use when boondocking
Thank heavens I don't have this much change in the other aspects of my RV life. Where's everyone else at??
While we're pared down a lot of our dishes and kitchen gadgets over 3 years living in our RV, our appliances have increased, not decreased, but that was deliberate.
We didn't bring the 6 quart crockpot from our home, it took about 6 months before we found one we liked that was the right size (3 quarts) for us. We also added a coffee maker, but a much smaller one that doesn't have a glass carafe, that was also planned but took a bit of time to find and agree on one we both liked.
We're now thinking about the Insta Pot, not sure if we want that or not.
We brought the Braun Kitchen center that we've had for 20 years, I've used the food processor and mixer several times, but the blender has rarely been used so we're thinking about leaving that in our storage room this summer with the other components we left behind in storage.
Most of our purging has been plastic containers or items we had multiples of and decided we didn't really need 6 cutting boards, etc.
Good luck with it, I truly don't think the purging ever ends as we continue on the road.
We recently bought a Cooks Essential Air Fryer from QVC
It works really well and can replace lots of appliances. So far we have cooked steaks and hamburgers in it, they came out looking like they were cooked on a BBQ grill.
It cooked Frozen and Fresh French Fries, hash browns, breaded mushrooms and zuccini...
The demo video on QVC shows them frying chicken and even baking a cake.
Clean up is easy.
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"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
After going on 2 years I still haven't found my perfect kitchen appliance setup so thought I would throw it out there to folks since I am all over the place and getting ready for a big pre-Alaska purge.
I started with a Crockpot then bought a rice cooker and was given a pressure cooker. Recently I exchanged all three of these for an Instant Pot which I really like.
I bought a food processor and a hand mixer and I never use the food processor (giving that away soon) and the hand blender works so poorly I end up mixing by hand.
I didn't use a blender before and have only used mine once this whole time, so that's going also.
I gave away my Fry Daddy, but really miss it and am in search of a used fry baby (which they don't make anymore)
I love my wok and use it all the time, so that was a good bring along
The toaster I use daily, big fan of toast, so that's good
We kept our BUNN 2 minute coffee maker and added a nice percolator which we use when boondocking
Thank heavens I don't have this much change in the other aspects of my RV life. Where's everyone else at??
Trace
Microwave/convection that came built in.
Dishwasher…smartest thing we put in by far.
Breville toaster/oven/broiler/slow cooker now that we have a new one to replace our dying one.
Aeropress coffee maker and electric kettle to make the hot water.
Food processor.
Hand mixer.
Rice cooker (no way to get good rice otherwise).
Anova sous vide cooker…this is a device that sticks into a pot of water and maintains the temp at 125 or 135 or whatever temperature you want and has a circulating motor to move the hot water around. Sous vide cookery involves putting your meat/protein in a plastic bag with spices and cooking for several hours. The nice thing about is is that if you want your beef rare you just set it to 120 and the water goes to 120 which means the steak never goes above 120…nice and rare all the way through. Finish with a minute or two in a hot pan to sear the outside and…perfect steak. Steaks take maybe 45 minutes to cook but you can leave it in there 3-4 hours if you need to and it will still be 120 degrees, nicely medium rare, and ready when you want it to be. Lots of restaurants cook this way since you don't really have to wait for anything to cook…just have a container of rare steaks and a container of medium steaks and you can serve 1, 2, or 15 anytime you need to. It's a lot like a slow cooker except your meat still has some texture while still remaining nice and tender.
Grill outside…WeberQ 120 with a 1 gallon external propane tank.
Tossed our electric can opener when it died and got a nice hand Oxo one for 6 bucks from Amazon…we open maybe a can a week so the counter space wasn't worth getting an electric one.
That's it…sometimes I wish I still had my stand mixer, bread machine, and water smoker…but we never really used those enough to make keeping them around worth the space and really haven't missed them much.
You may already know what I have, but just in case you don't:
Instant Pot (gave away 6qt crock pot when we got it) - still getting used to it
3 qt crock pot - have only used 2 times in 18 months
Fry Daddy - use for wings - a lot
Air popper for popcorn - use it 2 or 3 times a week
Toaster - used 2 or 3 times per week
Electric griddle - for perfect pancakes - use monthly
Coffee Maker - used every single day
Hand mixer - got this after I gave my son my big stand mixer - have used it 3 times since July (I got a Kitchen Aide - works really well)
Last (but my no means LEAST!) our margarita making blender! (It's actually a plain Kitchen Aide blender) (You should totally remember we have that!)
Interestingly, I feel like purging stuff before we head to AK also, for me I'm thinking clothes - I've got a ton under the bed I haven't touched. Plus, we haven't stuck to the one in/one out rule at all - it's like it doesn't exist! LOL!
-- Edited by jrzygrl64 on Sunday 10th of April 2016 02:34:02 PM
We brought and have used the heck out of our 6QT crockpot BUT just bought a Instant Pot but have not used it yet.
We use our George Foreman grill a bunch
Toaster
Started out with a Baby Q propane grill but dumped it for a Green Mountain Pellet grill/smoker
2, yes 2 coffee pots (that's a story)
Bill and Kelly…see you are headed for Alaska…we did that trip last summer so feel free to drop me an email if you want to chat about things to see, things to take, things to not take, etc. I PMed you my email addy.
We did the caravan thing from Dawson Creek up to Haines then over to Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, Seward, Chicken then over the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City than back down through Iskut to Prince George. We would most definitely do the trip again…and would most definitely not go on a caravan there (or any other caravan…just didn't like the style of travel). My opinion is that if you've been full timing a couple of years you're more than experienced enough to go on your own…there's really plenty of fuel, internet, and phone signal pretty much every where. We ran into a couple of short (100 miles or so) stretches where there was no phone signal but there's enough traffic on the roads to get help if you need it…and Alaskans will almost always stop to help…
Our trip is on our blog from last season…http://guntherandkara.com and the trip started the end of June 2015 through end of August…although I mostly highlighted the cool stuff and not the drawbacks to either going to Alaska (there are a few but mostly minor ones) or of caravanning style of travel (because I didn't want to write a gripe-fest)…we'll be happy to share experiences/pros/cons/whatever if you like…but don't feel obligated to ask, just offering.
Almost 5 years FT for us, still throwing stuff out and pretty sure there will be more changes as we transfer to our new 5er at the end of May. In December we got the Instant Pot EPC and have to say I love it! It's definitely not your 'mamas' stoveotp PC! Those things scared that *&^% outa me lol. After I got used to using it (With the help of an amazing group on Facebook "Instant POt Community") I was able to get rid of my slow cooker, bread machine, rice cooker and even my bigger stew pan. Have never tasted soup or stew like I have made in this thing! Awesome.
Still use frying pan for eggs and bacon etc, don't have a deep fry pan, but looking at the air fryer. Still use conv/micro for baking. Will always keep my keurig, gotta have coffee. Oh and the ice maker, love that. Although the new 5er has a fabulous 3 door res' refer so may be able to get rid of that too after we move.
Huggs Kim x
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2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW
Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX
Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!
Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
My two must haves when living in the Airstream were the Insta Pot (love it) and the Breville convection toaster oven (love, love, it). Now we are in the Montana, I don't have counter space for the Breville, but the Insta Pot is a definite, I am finding the space. We don't fulltime but for the 3-4 months out at a time, I have to have my cast iron skillet, coffee pot and toaster. If I could figure out storage I would take my bread machine which I have had for at least 18 years and use frequently. After having the Montana for a year, I already know that down the road we will probably trade and I need a different floor plan with more counter space. I would give up the gas oven for space for the Breville.
I love gadgets, and even though I don't full-time yet, I was wondering what I could keep. But I'd never heard of an Instant Pot, air pot or sous vide. I may have to see if I can find room in my S&B kitchen!
The items I use the most are my Keurig and my Nutri-Bullet. I need a stand mixer about 2X/year and my food-processor only once in a while. I have a stick mixer/chopper container that I can use for small jobs.
We're on the verge of a big purge as well, so this is what we have and what we are planning on keeping.
George Forman Grill (with interchangeable plates) - Use as a panini maker, grill, waffle maker...keeping for now
Keurig small coffee pot - Use on occasion....keeping for now
French Press - Use daily
Toaster - Almost Daily
Instapot - About twice/three times a week as of now...hopefully more often once I figure it out better
Crock Pot - Purge
Hand held mixer - have used occasionally and will keep
Small food processor - I think others have borrowed it more than I have used it, but it doesn't take up much space, so keeping
Electric knife - An odd one, but with a mcgyver husband, he seems to have a consistent use for it (don't ask me!)
Nutribullet - Use it as a blender/smoothie maker and would not do without
Forced air countertop oven - On the chopping block, don't think it will make the purge
Convection cooktop plate - we use enough to keep it and great for an overnight stop when we keep the propane off
Coffee grinder - Use enough and small enough so it's a keeper
Vacuum sealer (small) - Use a lot
I think that's the whole kitchen...excluding the sink!!
And yes, can also confirm that Bill and Kelly need to keep the blender....great margaritas!!
Sounds like we need a margarita party!! Spending our winters in AZ, Dale has perfected making the prickly pear margaritas, but we both prefer them on the rocks, not crushed so no blender needed. Of all the Braun kitchen center attachments we brought along, the blender gets the least use, food processer the most.
I'm starting to look at the Insta Pot after Cori raved about it over dinner a couple of weeks ago, just not convinced that I would use it that much. Why? Because I forgot to mention our most important kitchen appliance, the outdoor Magma Grill! We grill about 70% of the time use the crockpot maybe 2-3 times a month. Just curious for those of you with the Instant Pot, how often are you using it and do you grill much? It sounds like a great product but I'm not sure I would use it, we don't eat much rice or yougart so those functions would not be used much.
We are in the process of making our lists and checking them twice, for items to have with us on a permanent basis. We are avid homebodies food wise and can't see that changing much except to sample "local fare" so to speak in specific locations.
Just curious if anyone is using or used the Power Pressure Cooker XL (I appreciate it's a large 6Qt capacity but we would freeze down a lot of). Be interested to hear your thoughts and comparison to the Insta Pot if anyone knows?
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Breathtaking Alberta. Her Mountains Draw You But Her People Bring You Back
The one kitchen item my wife will NEVER do without is her Nespresso Travel coffeemaker and bag. She even takes it into a hotel if we are staying at one! What can I say the woman loves her coffee made the Nespresso way. Bought her a newer one, the Pixie, last Christmas but it is still unopened on my side in the rear closet. It would be safer for me to throw out her fav dress than to throw out either one of those machines. My wife used to be a Chef so she is good with knives and hence the machines haven't been purged!
When I first got the Instant Pot, I used it almost every day! I was able to get rid of the crock pot plus a few larger pans too. Now, on average I probably use it 2 or 3 times a week. There are only the two of us, so we tend to have leftovers from the IP. I could cook smaller portions, but the food it cooks tastes so much better than cooked on regular stove top, something to do with there being no evaporation so the flavor stays in the food. We don't like yogurt, so have never used that function, I have used it to cook rice and even for layering' ingredients, for example, last night I put homemade chicken stock (made previously and frozen from IP) in the bottom on the IP, added 4 chicken thighs and a little chopped onion, on top of that I put the trivet in (comes with the IP) on that I put about 4 large potatoes halved and set the time for 8 minutes, after the pressure released, I took out the chicken, threw it on the George foreman for a few mins (not necessary) while I mashed the potatoes, I then added a little cornflour slurry to the juice in the IP and made a tasty gravy. There is also something magical about making hard boiled eggs in the IP (seriously) I cooked 6 eggs for 6 mins and threw in ice bath for 6 mins, they practically peeled themselves! And if you cook the eggs on top of potatoes, you have an easy potato salad ready in 6 minutes
Hubby still works fulltime and I love making him a good meal to come home too, since I got the IP I can make roasts stews etc through the week and not have to spend all day over a hot stove/oven. I love it and cannot imagine cooking any other way now.
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2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW
Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX
Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!
Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)
We are just getting started the RV life style. We're going to buy a class A 30 footer next week so I'm stocking up kitchen stuff. I'm so tempted to buy a stand mixer since it's been my dream forever to own one.
My husband told me I could buy whatever I want, but he also gave me a warn that stand mixer is heavy and huge. I'm not so happy with his response. I wanted him to tell me that I should get one, and we would be fine! Now it's all my responsibility to decide
I guess I must have missed these posts last year. When some topics get resurrected they can still be of great importance. I think this is one of those topics.
I want to fulltime or snowbird to live for stretches at a time without the encumbrance of "stuff". In my rv kitchen, as in my s&b kitchen, this culinary school graduate has learned that the basics are much better than the gimmicks. I have a good assortment of knives for different uses but the knife I use the most is my 8" chef's knife. I have found that a saute pan, sauce pan, griddle pan, loaf pan, casserole and good sized pot are all that are necessary for cooking on the stove top and in the oven. Make certain your saute and sauce pans are heavy duty and can go in the oven. We have our coffee maker and a toaster. Any tools I have are hand tools. I rely heavily on a whisk but in the event I need an electric hand mixer, I have one.
Want to bake bread? I have hands and a loaf pan. Want to cook rice? Use the 2 to 1 ratio in my stove top pot. Want stew? I do my prep work in the morning and cook in the oven in my casserole dish (plenty of wine to finish off).
My only concession to kitchen "toys" is a blender, because as we all know, that tequila isn't going to mix itself.
Cooking is much like most of life. Keep it simple and it will be simple and more enjoyable.
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Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
I'm brand new to this forum, but we have been living in our RV since Jan. 2016. I have had to modify my cooking ever-so-drastically.
Long story short, we purchased a commercial property in far West Texas and have been in the RV on-site while remodeling (it had hook-ups and a cover already, so we saw that as a sign). Sadly, our rig has been land-locked ever since we moved it here in 2014, and the best part of RV living is the wheels moving under you... but I digress :)
I was a personal chef before we sold the house (for now, we've got all our belongings in storage but a new full-timer goal is on the near horizon). I also write a food column for the local paper. My husband and I are both avid cookbook collectors, and once The Great Storage Purge begins, I know my heart will break with every cookbook I put a "For Sale" sticker on.
I quit trying to use the 4-burner gas stove one winter when I had to open the window and let the 20-degree air flow in for ventilation, and opted for an induction cooktop instead.
My Breville Smart Oven is a life-saver - I used it for years in the sticks-and-bricks kitchen.
The InstantPot was a total game-changer for me.
Kuerig, burr grinder and Magic Bullet get daily use as well.
Being land-locked on our property, my husband also uses his barbecue pit, a rocket stove, and a discada over a propane stand. I had an outdoor screen tent kitchen when we first started because I was so frustrated knocking things in the sink while at the stove. In the "Tent Kitchen," I started out with a Coleman stove and quickly upgraded to a 3-burner propane (can't think of the name right now) stove, and bought the pizza oven add-on for it. It also has griddle, which is fantastic.
It's pretty empowering to know that I can still produce the same quality of meals with minimal appliances... it might take longer since I pretty much use one pan at a time for things, but it's all good. :)
-- Edited by krysta on Sunday 8th of April 2018 02:17:48 PM
...... For me it would be margaritas.
