We have lived in an RV for over 8 years so we know a few things about what RV kitchen accessories are a must have versus those you can leave at home. Come see what our recommendations are based on cooking 1,000 of meals in our RV!
RV kitchens are small. But that’s OK. You really do not need to bring everything and the kitchen sink into your RV kitchen when taking an RV road trip, long-term traveling, or moving in your RV full-time. The list below will help you with what you should bring for your RV kitchen accessories.
We strongly believe that to make the most of your RV trip you want as few things as possible. Reason being most RV’s are small and the less things you have the less cluttered your space will feel and the more relaxing and enjoyable it will be.
With just a few basic RV kitchen gadgets you will be equipped with everything you need to make pretty much every meal you would make in your house kitchen. Granted you are not going to have your fancy shredder or kitchen aid mixer. But even without these essentials, you will still get by I promise. We have been feeding our family of 6 from our camper kitchen and RV fridge for the last 2 1/2 years without any issue.
Table of Contents
RV Kitchen Accessories
Cast Iron Skillet
We prefer a cast iron one (Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet 12 inches) since cast iron is very healthy for cooking on. This is totally your own preference. Yes, they take some getting use to (you can’t wash them with soap and you should dry them right away, plus things stick to them so clean them quickly – or just boil a little water to help remove the food). But we feel the health benefits are worth it.
- One Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Handle Holder
- Assist handle for better control
Cast Iron Dutch Oven Pot
This is our only pot we have for cooking. Yes sometimes it is larger than what we need but it always works for what we are trying to do. Mac and Cheese, Spaghetti, Corn on the Cob, Hot Dogs, it all works in the Cast-Iron Dutch Oven With Dual Handles. Just be aware these pots and pans are heavy!
- 5 Quart Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven. A classic cooker that doesn’t quit, the Lodge Cast Iron Dutch…
- SEASONED COOKWARE. A good seasoning makes all the difference. Lodge seasons its cookware with 100%…
9X13 Glass Baking Dish
You have to have something to make cookie bars and cake in right?! The 9X13 Glass Baking Dish is perfect for that. TIP – make sure the propane oven or convection microwave you have in your RV can fit a pan this size. If not you may be going for an 8X8 size pan. Also if you plan on taking a lot of meals or cookie bars places you may want to get a dish that comes with a cover.
- Measuring 9 x 13 – Perfect size for baking desert dishes
- Clear, nonporous Pyrex glass won’t stain or absorb odors
9 X 13 Small Cookie Pan
I use to bake all the time so this felt like a necessity to me. I have used it a few times so am glad I had it. Again measure the size of the oven or convection microwave to see what size will fit. For us the 9 X 13 pan fits great.
- 【Nonstick Baking Sheet Pan】Set of 2 quarter sheet pans for baking with durable double-sided…
- 【Heavy Gauge Carbon steel】Solid build with 0.7mm heavy weight carbon steel material, and the…
You can also check out these great baking dish options from Camping World. They have a wide variety of sizes that fit into RV ovens and microwaves – which can be hard to find other places! Also, things like drying racks and other RV sized RV kitchen accessories.
Toaster
We have room for a toaster so we kept one plus I splurged and got one that matched the color scheme of the RV. After a few times moving I quickly learned it was easier just to put it away in a drawer. I still love the way it matches our colors any time we bring out the Toaster. If you like toast find space for it. You will be glad you did.
- Retro style make unique: Retro and compact stainless steel 2 slice toaster with turquoise blue color…
- Be easy, not be simple: Simple operation with Easy one touch LED indicator button, Easy reach high…
Donut Maker
Necessities remember! We actually do use our Babycakes Nonstick Coated Donut Maker quite a bit and are happy we have it. If it isn’t donuts for you but something else that you know you make more then once a month and need a special appliance bring it with you. P.S. We know this is non-stick but hey once they make a cast iron donut maker like this we will be all over it!
- Bake 6 light and fluffy mini doughnuts in about 4 minutes
- Nonstick baking plates for ideal results and easy clean up
Coffee Pot/Espresso Maker
This lifestyle is all about having more time. So we make complicated coffee – but it is good! And we have been really happy with our Moka Express Espresso Maker – I actually prefer our coffee to Starbucks now!
A regular coffee maker would work too. Or if tea is your thing then an electric kettle would be the route to go.
- The original moka coffee pot: Moka Express is the original stovetop espresso maker, it provides the…
- Made in Italy: it is Made in Italy and its quality is enhanced by the patented safety valve which…
Dishes
We have 1 plate for each person. We travel with glass plates and have had no issues. Nothing goes between them when we travel and they have been fine. We have 8 inch size square plates and they work great.
Checkout these great RV dishes from Camping World:
Bowls
We have 1 glass bowl per person. Again all we need.
Glasses
We use mason jars for all of our glasses. We have a few in each size (8 ounce, 12 ounce, 32 ounces) We use them quite a lot so I would highly recommend them and again no issues on travel days. However, with these, we do sometimes put a kitchen towel in-between them since they can clatter and make noise. It can be hard to find these in individuals so you may want to find someone else to split the dozen order with. The only place I have found them in individuals is at Party City.
32 ounce size:
- Ball wide mouth quart jar. The size of the jar is based on filling it to the rim.
- Ideal for preserving jams, jellies sauces, mustard & flavored vinegar
Coffee cups
We have 2 one for Craig and I and that is it. If one breaks we go buy another one or use a mason jar for a while. Those things are darn useful! Craig got me one for my birthday from Starbucks that says Wisconsin on it – representing the hometown. Craig bought one for himself down in the Florida Keys – to remind us of our time there.
You could also get one of these cool camping mugs!
Cutting boards
Another thing you will want to have. Even just a small one or one that can go over your sink.
Blender
We have a Vitamix blender and use it almost every day. It is well worth it for us to have a blender with us so we make room for it!
Silver Ware
1 knife, 1 fork, and 1 spoon for everyone. You just wash them when you are done – this also makes us stay up on the dishes!
Cutting Knives
A nice set of knives with covers on them is useful. I really like the covers since it makes it easy to bring them with us when we go on hikes or are gone for the day and want to pack a lunch. We got ours at Costco.
Essential oil diffuser
RV’s can get stinky. Small space, black tanks, pets . . . an essential oil diffuser can really help with smells!
Mixing Bowl
One large mixing bowl. For mixing doughnut and pancake mix! Again check the size of your rig and where you will be storing your bowl to see how big you can go. We also use this bowl for popcorn on movie nights.
Ziploc Containers
Come in really handy on travel days. But we are trying to move away from plastic and will use paper plates or mason jars when possible. For now Ziploc containers work great.
- 3 deep square food storage containers featuring Smart Snap technology and leakproof lids
- Smart Snap technology makes it easy to lock in freshness and enjoy easy access to food, wherever you…
Hydro Flask Water Bottles
Everyone has their own Hydro Flas water bottle and this is what we mainly use for drinking throughout the day, on hikes, in the car, we basically take them everywhere we go. We use a cooler bag to carry all 6 of them around.
Berkey Filter
Our Berkey filter is essential for nice fresh water no matter where we are. Did you know water tastes different depending on where you are in the country? Seriously! But with a Berkey it always tastes fresh and clean. We currently have the Travel Berkey.
Utensils
Your basics. 1 spatula, 1 can opener, 1 wine bottle opener, 1 bottle opener, 1 large plastic spoon, 1 coffee grinder (since we make coffee from beans). We have a few other things too like a can opener, lemon squeezer, wooden spoon, random things like that – that we have collected over the years.
If we don’t use it we get rid of it.
Oven Gloves
Gotta have the ‘Ove Glove’ for cooking
- OVEN MITT: Comes with 1 machine washable, USA manufactured, hot surface handler Comoke Ove Glove
- FIVE FINGER FLEXIBILITY: Made with full finger mobility and can be used with your left or right…
Kitchen Towels
3 should be plenty. Check out these awesome camping ones!
Air Fryer
We recently bought a stainless steel Air Fryer for our rig that fits under our cabinet on the shelf next to the oven. Craig did have to cut the bottom stand down a little bit – but not much to make it fit. You can check it out here. 
It has become one of our favorite RV kitchen accessories!
Others might recommend an instant pot (pressure cooker and also a yogurt maker) or a crock pot but we don’t prefer those and are much happier with the air fryer!
- COOKING FUNCTIONS: This premium 1800 watt toaster oven and AirFryer, is equipped with an AirFry…
- CAPACITY: Large enough to toast 6-slices of bread, air fry 3-pounds of chicken wings, bake a 12-inch…
Propane Grill
We don’t cook outside much at all. We use to romanticize about being in an RV and cooking outside every night . . . The reality is it is a lot of work to bring everything outside to cook! And the RV kitchen is so accessible and easy to use.
We do eat outside at the picnic table from time to time but normally will cook all our food inside and then bring it outside. But when we do get around to wanting to grill the Coleman Classic Propane Stove is great! Just don’t forget the propane! It is the worst when you get all set up and then realize you are out of propane.
- Versatile outdoor grill ideal for camping, hunting, and tailgating
- Delivers 11,000 btus of heat across 180 sqaure inch of grilling surface
- Lightweight and Portable
B
lackstone Griddle
lackstone Griddle
We recently got a Blackstone griddle. We love it when we take it out and use it! If you enjoy cooking outside we definitely recommend a Blackstone. It is also easy to clean.
- 24,000 BTUs of heat from two H-style burners
- 361 sq. inch heavy-duty cooking surface
Tension Rods For The Fridge
Things move around in the fridge when you are driving. We purchased tension rods for the fridge and they have been very helpful.
- Bars keep items in place in RV refrigerator
- Extends from 16″ to 28″
Sink Strainer
This inexpensive little gadget can save you from having a gray tank clogged up with coffee grinds or seeds. Get a sink strainer.
- 2PCS Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink Strainer.
- Stainless steel construction for reliable, rust-free service. Suited to daily utilitarian use for…
Colander
Great for straining food. A collapsible one is even better and is a great space saver!
- Adjustable Over the Sink Strainer: Designed with superior drainage in mind, this convenient…
- Large Enough, yet Foldable: The non-slip handles expand to almost 26”, and the colander can hold…
We cleaned out our kitchen before moving into the RV and it was amazing how many cups and bowls and wine glasses we had! How the heck did we accumulate all of that? Now we know you just really don’t need that much and one of everything is more than sufficient and keeps you on top of cleaning. Plus we never lose anything in our kitchen and know where everything is and what is in each cabinet.
RV Setup and Organization Tips
1 – Usually RV cabinets are really deep or really high and just don’t make a lot of sense. For that reason, it can be very helpful to go and get cabinet organizers. Or to add your own additional shelves in a cabinet.
We added 2 extra shelves to our cabinet and it made a big difference. We also got some organizer items for in the cabinets and were really glad we did.
2 – RV pantries are usually the same thing. I ended up going to Bed Bath and Beyond and spending $300 on pantry organizers . . . it took time to measure and trial and error to find what would fit. But it made the pantry much more functional!
3 – Paper towel. There usually isn’t a paper towel holder in your rig. We opted to get a portable one so we could bring them outside with us when we eat at the picnic table.
4 – Baskets – we added baskets on the side of our island for fruit and water bottles. It is great to have this extra space!
Every rig is different so it is good to get into your rig. Measure the spaces and after that figure out what is going to fit. But take the time to work through it and make your RV kitchen work for you!
RV Kitchen Tips:
1 – Plan your meals ahead of time so you don’t overbuy. This is annoying when you have to get your list together. But really nice when you have limited space.
2 – The fridge and freezer are usually not that big so buy smaller size items when you can. But don’t overstress. Most RV fridges can easily fit a gallon of milk.
3 – Don’t buy everything you need for a whole 2 or 3-week trip. You can easily stop at the grocery store with your rig.
4 – If you are going to buy frozen pizza check your freezer size and if you have just take the pizza out of the box to store in the freezer. It is a great space-saving trick.
Your rig will most likely have either a propane stove or a convection microwave for an oven.
5 – Propane stove – don’t be afraid of it they really do a great job cooking your food!
6 – Convection Microwave – As long as you preheat it before you use it it will work out great. I also recommend if you are cooking 2 pizzas (and they won’t fit in there together) then when one pizza is down let the fan run to cool it down and then preheat again before cooking the next one. I don’t know why but this really made a big difference in the second pizza outright.
If you preheat the cooking time is normally pretty close to what the box says. However, there will be times you have to cook a little more – have never had to cook less.
Also, the convection microwave can act as a storage space too.
Summary
Above all remember you need the basics and it is good to simplify but if there are RV kitchen accessories that you really enjoy then bring them with (the donut maker in our case). Just try to limit what those things are to 1 or 2 things. And guess what if you end up wishing you had something with you – you can always stop at the store to buy one. More often than not you will realize you didn’t really need it anyways.
Living in an RV doesn’t mean you have to settle for food you don’t like – just be sure you get the right RV kitchen accessories! If you are in a motorhome, 5th wheel, or travel trailer you can set up your RV kitchen to work for you!
Learn more about how we shop and eat in our RV here: Grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking and eating in an RV
Is there anything you would add to your list of RV kitchen accessories?
Learn more about full-time RV living and RV tips:
RV Living – 68 Things You Will Want To Know [Free eBook]
Full Time RV Living – 31 Things We Have Learned After 3 Years On The Road
Best Gifts for RV Owners- 43 Things They Will Love
40+ Helpful Tips for Planning an RV Trip
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She loves being outside and exploring new places which is all made better when doing it with family and friends!
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My friend and her husband recently bought an RV to travel around the country. I’m definitely going to share this with them so they know what they need!
Awesome! Thanks!
I’ve always wanted a similar experience. It must be so great to be able to travel with your family and to have such a comfort on the road. The donut maker and the blender are must-have for me!
It really is! We are loving this lifestyle!
Great tips! Super useful. Always told that some day I’ll have an RV to travel around. 🙂
Thanks!
Don’t live in a rig, but will start using your kitchen essential/accessories list to thin out my kitchen stuff!
Awesome! Let us know how it goes!
Great list, we were at one point considering doing an RV trip down from Canada to the far south of Central America. I think I would skip the donut maker and replace it with a waffle maker. I agree a cast iron fryer is a great pan!
Can’t argue with a waffle maker!
Omg a vitamix is so expensive but I swear to god it is the best purchase ever made. I manage to get greens into the kids with it by disguising them in smoothies lol
Exactly!
For what you say it is a small RV kitchen, you have a lot of items. All useful and interesting. I actually have some in my home kitchen 🙂 Enjoy your travels!
Thank you!
Innovative list! But can’t say that I’d ever purchase a donut maker for my house or an RV!!
You’re missing out 😉 They’re hot and fresh and sooo good!
I have never been in an RV, but I like the concept. I agree with you on most of the items you have recommended, but there is one items I would definitely carry with me if I did own an RV and that is the cast iron skillet. I have one at home and I use it for everything.
Those coffee makers are the best! We’ve had one for years at home and the coffee is brilliant. I also love that a doughnut machine is one of your essential items!!
Oh yeah gotta have the doughnut maker :)!
Mac and cheese sounds perfect for camping on a cold night. Love that the colander is collapsible! Saves so much space.
Love that you have your own coffee maker and blender! You sound so incredibly well prepared. Fantastic.
Great tips and list here! I always bring a cast iron skillet and dutch oven when car camping on roadtrips. They’re irreplaceable!
We love our Bialetti Moka Pot!! Seriously one of best purchases ever!!
Your article is very helpful for making the beautiful kitchen. I like coffee so I like your coffee percolator. This is very beautiful coffee percolator.
Thanks, we love that coffee maker!