What are you cooking with?

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by golfersmurf57

Nothing like the smell off a running crock! Beef stew anyone?

Have you tried one of the new "smart pots"?

[2martins]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Yes, it's a yeast bread. It's very simple to deal with. Truth be told I buy 20 lb sacks of pizza mix at the local restaurant supply store. All you add is water then let it sit in a fridge for at least 12 hours. I cut off a hunk of dough and roll it out either as pizza size or pocket bread size. They blow up like a balloon during cooking, which takes 15 to 20 minutes. Flat bread obviously cooks faster than loaves. Works great for bread sticks too. You can make loaves from this dough but it takes more time to bake.

Makes the bus smell just like you'd imagine and warms things up nicely in the mornings. Fresh bread, a pot of really good coffee and a quart jar of last summer's blackberry jam. Mmmmmmmm!

The blackberries were so thick last year I made almost 5 gallons of jam.

Now I'm hungry.

[2martins]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Have you tried one of the new "smart pots"?

My son really likes his instapot but it uses a lot more electricity than a crock pot I believe.

[2martins]

Originally Posted by GypsySkool

My partially converted bus has no oven/stove. I am debating on whether or not I need one or what else you use to cook your food.

I have a microwave (don't know if I want it on the bus).
I have a griddle/grill (definitely taking).
And I have a crockpot (definitely taking).

I plan on getting a propane camp stove.

I do plan on living on the bus for quite a while with my two kids and fiance.
We will cook what we can over fires

Do you think what I have is sufficient?
What do you use to cook with for your family if you don't have an oven/stove?

Thanks for the help!

This week we got a full size range already converted to use propane off FB for free. So that's what we're using. Recently someone asked me what our color scheme was going to be. My reply? "Free." Got the kitchen cabinets free off FB also. I like the stain fine but I would just paint them if I didn't.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by 2martins

My son really likes his instapot but it uses a lot more electricity than a crock pot I believe.

I am about ready to order one and try it out with my kill-a-watt to see what the real world power consumption is.

[2martins]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I am about ready to order one and try it out with my kill-a-watt to see what the real world power consumption is.

That would be great info. He gave his to his aunt before he went to college last fall and is going to get another one when he goes back to college this fall and has a kitchen, so we can't do it. College is 3000 miles away!!!

[2kool4skool]

We are not full time.

Micro on a counter, toaster, port. propane oven/stove I use outside, port. bbq. No permanent kitchen. If it's crappy wx we go to restaurant or cold sands.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by golfersmurf57

The propane campstoves are ok.I guess but you have to buy the bottles. I have an unleaded one that I will happily pump up and fix you some bacon and eggs on or fry chicken or pork chops its like half of a stove top. Oh and with a factory windscreen included at no charge.

You don't have to buy bottles, change the line to go to the main propane supply.
I see these have been popular:
https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Cam...=RV+camp+stove

[golfersmurf57]

Originally Posted by o1marc

You don't have to buy bottles, change the line to go to the main propane supply.
I see these have been popular:
https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Cam...=RV+camp+stove

Yes marc but mine is a suitcase model and tank stores in it. I'd take the check out of a inlet line and fill the bottles off my house propane tank then get one if those portable grills. [emoji16]

[john61ct]

Those insulated non-powered soup-stew crocks for taking to potlucks are great, just get the food up to high temp, seal it up and it will keep cooking for hours, no more energy required.

Saw a big modern one at Walmart $60

[CaptSquid]

I use an induction cook top. Works just fine - in fact, I'm cooking a pot roast tonight.

[Beachvbguy]

I'm seriously considering this set up:
https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Cam...SZG?th=1&psc=1

I think I saw it in a couple of rigs at the Gainsville H.O.W. show.

I have a couple of questions:

1. They do warn against indoor use because of oxygen consumption... I'm assuming a rooftop kitchen fan of some sort will cover this concern.

2. They also say the oven gets quite hot, since it's just non-insulated metal walls. I'm thinking I need to build ceramic tiled walls around and below it for safety.

Any thoughts about these steps? Anything I'm missing?

Any comparable or better alternatives? I think two burners enough and a small oven also more than adequate, since I'm a solitary old codger.

[somewhereinusa]

1. They do warn against indoor use because of oxygen consumption... I'm assuming a rooftop kitchen fan of some sort will cover this concern.

It's not going to consume any more oxygen than any other RV propane stove.

[BarnYardCamp]

I could be mistaken....
I believe that some states require you to have some sort of built in food prep system (stove) in order to meet their requirements of being a RV.
So, while insta-pots and microwaves are good ideas, you need to check what your state requires.

[2kool4skool]

Camping right now and made lunch with the same stove. We cook outside most of the time.
If we need to cook inside I use a toaster oven, hot plate or microwave. Have them all

[john61ct]

If a product is labeled for outdoor use only, I would take that seriously, and **not** assume I know how to set it up to be safe in a tiny confined space.

[kazetsukai]

Anyone else cooking all-electric? Induction cooktop and (soon) a June oven here.

[somewhereinusa]

I have induction cooktops and combination microwave/convection oven.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by 2martins

My son really likes his instapot but it uses a lot more electricity than a crock pot I believe.

Well I now have a year of experience with the Instant Pot.

If you use the IP as a crock pot then power consumption will be very similar to a regular crock pot.

When you use it in pressure cooker mode it uses significantly more power while running but does not run nearly as long.

Sunday I cooked a 2.5# roast with potatoes and carrots. Pressure cook time was 4 minutes.

I will DEFINITELY be taking my IP on the road.

[john61ct]

Cook during peak solar from "free excess" power, or while you top up the bank with your genset