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A touring caravan is a bit like having a fully furnished and equipped home that you can take wherever you want. While the kitchen facilities will be already in place at purchase, namely the cooker, hob, sink unit and fridge, there will be far more items to purchase before your first touring holiday. Our rundown of the most practical items you will need will help you to be the best equipped possible.
Of course, what you want or need in your tourer’s kitchen, and how much you will use it, will be reflected in how you use your kitchen at home. For example, a keen cook or baker may require the tourer’s kitchen to have all the facilities they need to cook or bake while away, while for those who do not do much food prep or cooking at home, the touring kitchen may not be used beyond drink making.
The main factors to take into consideration when kitting out your touring caravan’s kitchen are taking only essential equipment, available space, whether your items will travel well and the ability to double up on the uses for items.
Essentials
A knife – a complete set of chef’s knives isn’t always practical to take when touring as long as you have one good quality knife that can be used for different purposes including peeling, chopping/dicing, slicing/cutting. Do not be tempted to take an older knife from your kitchen at home; investing in a new knife will save money in the long term as it will be sharper and remain so for longer.
Kettle – be mindful of weight and ditch the heavier domestic style of kettle in favour of a lightweight camping version. If purchasing an electric kettle, remember to choose a low wattage model.
Corkscrew/tin opener – not all tinned goods have a ring pull and there is nothing more difficult to do than try and open a can without an opener! If your tin opener has a combined bottle opener, even better. Similarly, after a long day walking or sightseeing, you may be looking forward to a relaxing glass of wine in the evening, so pack your bottle opener.
First Aid Kit - always have a first aid kit in your caravan and make sure everyone knows where it is. Always return it to its usual place after use and replace any items you use as soon as possible.
Fire Extinguisher - a dry powder fire extinguisher is essential to cope with small fires, including petrol, diesel, cooking fats and flammable gases (including butane).
Space-saving
Pans – pans with detachable handles are perfect for cupboards where space is at a premium and often one handle will fit several pans in the same range. With the handles removed, pans can be stacked more easily too.
Collapsible items - collapsible items such as bowls, buckets and drainers which fold flat for easy storage are ideal for the kitchen as they won’t take up much space. Collapsible storage boxes are also useful as you can store them away flat when not in use and can be used in under bench storage areas. Nesting items such as bowls and measuring spoons will also save you valuable vertical space.
Sachets – condiments such as salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard and salad dressings can take up a lot of precious space but all are available in sachet form, as are many hot chocolate drinks. With beauty items, such as shampoo and shower gel, shop for the travel size bottles. If you will be doing laundry while you are travelling, consider hand wash detergent or take just enough washing powder tablets to last the duration of your trip as these will take up much less room than a box of laundry powder.
Durability
Crockery – leave your best Royal Daulton dinner service at home, it will break or chip and it’s heavy! Melamine crockery sets have come a long way since the 70s and today the choice is wide with something to suit every style of caravan interior, from rustic farmhouse to contemporary. Additionally, melamine is lightweight so, if you choose to use washing-up facilities on a campsite, it will be easier to carry in a washing-up bowl.
Glassware – it goes without saying that glass travelling in a touring caravan is not the best scenario. Today, polycarbonate glassware offers a great alternative, which is dishwasher safe and impact-resistant. A range of styles is available from beer and wine glasses to stackable, child friendly tumblers.
Versatility
Dual purpose items are invaluable to the touring caravanner. As mentioned above, a tin opener with integral bottle opener will take up half the room of two separate items. With cutlery, also, it may be worth investing in sporks if storage is especially tight and they are useful if individual items go missing between the wash station and your pitch.
With over 40 years’ experience in caravan accessories, BEC Ingoldmells has a wide and comprehensive range of accessories that are perfect for kitting out your touring caravan kitchen. These are available to buy in our stores on online for home delivery.
