need space saving ideas, please

[okmunky]

Hi Y'all,

I'm a soon to be full-timer and first time motorhome owner. Downsizing is a little overhelming right now. Can anyone give me some ideas for space saving in the kitchen? I do not drink coffee or fry anything which should help -- I hope. It's just me and a capuchin monkey, but she makes it next to impossible to have anything sitting out or hung on the walls. Sena likes to explore and "dissect" everything.

[sky_watcher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by okmunky Hi Y'all, I'm a soon to be full-timer and first time motorhome owner. Downsizing is a little overhelming right now. Can anyone give me some ideas for space saving in the kitchen? I do not drink coffee or fry anything which should help -- I hope. It's just me and a capuchin monkey, but she makes it next to impossible to have anything sitting out or hung on the walls. Sena likes to explore and "dissect" everything.

Remember that bigger is not better and that lighter weight is not necessarily better.

My indispensable items from selling our house came in the form of my cast iron cookware. Not light weight, I realize, but when preheated, cooks evenly and actually uses less propane. My stove top manufacturer emphasizes 10" fry pan as the max for the burners, and that has always been my favorite size. I also have 2 Cuisinart cast iron pans and one stainless steel pan I use for rice. I have one 8qt stainless stockpot w/pasta insert and steamer basket I use a lot. I have one cast iron dutch oven, 5 quart whose lid pairs with my 10" skillets. I am supposed to watch the overall weight on the stovetop and find that both the stockpot and the dutch oven are just right. I have an electric griddle that gets used almost daily; it's getting scratched from so much use and will get replaced soon. I have 2 pyrex baking dishes, one small round corningware casserole and one heavy foil pan that can be used both in the oven and in the convection/microwave. I have one sheet for cooking biscuits and cookies. A stand mixer I'd never be without since I make my own bread, and the pyrex loaf pans that accompany it. One cooling rack.

Things I have and almost never use: My blender; I've used it 2 or 3 times this past year. My crockpot; I know a lot of people swear by them, but I never used it at the house and I don't use it in the rig. I don't care for the texture of the resulting food. My small fry baby; I have one chinese dish that calls for deep frying, and I don't make the dish that often. My electric can opener. My corningware electric skillet I've had for 40 years and never use.

I kept my good stainless utensils and silverware. I'm looking for a good silicon spatula that is not a spoonula to use with my mixer. I have a four piece place setting of Corelle and eight drinking glasses. Several medium sized rubbermaid bowls for mixing/storage.

For refrigerator storage, I'm glad I kept my 2 and 4 cp canning jars; these can go easily into the door. I use square shaped 2 cp storage containers otherwise. I have a diet challenged dog and have one large container in the fridge for her food that I cook.

For things like sugar for drinks(I know you said you don't drink coffee but we do), I buy in small quantity and store on the counter in a small canning jar. Store salt on the counter in the same way. Use a small pepper grinder stored on the counter. For draining meats for the dog, I have a large supply of true paper plates with no coating. These are great for draining breakfast meats as well.

Good luck to you as you start full-timing.
Lorraine

[Glassalley52]

Lorraine gives great advice. Go through and analyze what you use the most and stick with that. I am reconsidering my original thought of giving up my enamel cook wear. I will keep my dutch oven and the skillets and the grill/griddle - all well loved cast iron. I'll leave the 20" skillet behind because that is used for outside fish fries. I am fortunate that we have a permanent campsite with a shed for the summer months when we go full time.

[okmunky]

Thanks! I bought some collapsible containers and started a list of essentials. My biggest challenge may be not buying the large economy size. Sam's Club will see a decline in their profits for sure, but I've had to face the fact that there won't be room for a case of papertowels and a 6 month supply of canned fruit.

[Wanabee FTer]

DW read a tip here on this forum that has been very useful to us. We put left overs in freezer bags. Makes for lots of room in the fridge and freezer, and less storage space for empty food containers.
You are absolutely right about buying large eco size food and supplies. Not a lot of room for keeping the RV stocked up. When we went full time we simplified our lives and cut out the high prep and specially prepared meals. Going back to the basics is working for us.

[Downsizer]

Take your time deciding what you will need...I got rid of the mixer because it was heavy and big then bought another 6 months later. Another thought is we often are in the boonies and have a hard time finding propane so I added an electric kettle (pre boil water) and rice cooker/slow cooker (makes soup and one dish meals). We do have a toaster oven so I can bake little things and not have to run the generator (probably not monkey proof)...good luck

[fansill]

Do you have any good ideas as to storage of spices/spice bottles? I don't want to hang anything from a wall and I want something that will keep them all together and air-tight.

Faith

[okmunky]

Since spices are usually lightweight, I am planning to try heavy-duty velcro on the spice cans and on the inside of the cabinet door. Salt will have to sit on a shelf.