When you’re on the road, your kitchen might be small, but your appetite for delicious meals certainly isn’t. Enter two unique RV cooking heroes: the slow cooker and the pressure cooker. These compact kitchen gadgets make it possible to whip up mouthwatering meals with minimal effort and even fewer pots. (Fewer dishes for the win!)
Which one should you choose to equip your RV? Let’s dig into the details.
Slow Cookers: Low and Slow for Lazy and Not-So-Lazy Days
Who doesn’t love the idea of tossing ingredients into a pot before hitting the trail, pool, or hammock, only to return several hours later to the sweet aroma of dinner ready to serve? That’s where the slow cooker comes in. It’s as close as most of us will ever get to having a personal chef on board.
Toss all the ingredients into the pot for delicious chili, set your slow cooker on low, and head out on a long hike or a day of paddleboarding or pickleball. By the time you get back to your RV, all you need to do is shred some cheese or chop some red onion. Dinner served. It’s almost like magic!
What to look for in an RV-friendly slow cooker:
- Compact Size: A 3- to 4-quart model is ideal for most RVers. This size offers enough capacity to fill up your belly without hogging too much precious space.
- Programmable Settings: A timer with an auto shut-off feature ensures your stew doesn’t turn into mush (or lava) while you’re out on your adventure or fall asleep in your hammock. (No judgment here!)
- Lightweight Build: You can only pack so much in your RV—weight is always a consideration. So, opt for a model that’s easy to store and won’t test the limits of your RV’s weight capacity (or make you choose to leave something else behind).
Some top picks to consider include the compact, easy-to-use, and affordable Crock-Pot® 4-Quart Smart Cook & Carry Cooker. It’s a great option for RVers who are looking for simplicity and reliability.
The Hamilton Beach® 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is a fantastic choice for larger families. This model also includes multiple cooking options along with a locking lid for spill-free travel.
Another quality option for individuals or small portions is the Elite Gourmet MST-250XS. However, this 1.5-quart mini slow cooker lacks the automatic settings, so you may want to set an alarm in case you do fall asleep in that hammock.
Pressure Cookers: Speed Plus Versatility
The pressure cooker is like having a sous chef with a jetpack. You can prepare everything from tender pulled pork for your BBQ (in around 40 minutes) to perfectly cooked rice in as little as five. There are so many options for fast meals when it comes to these amazing devices!
What to look for in a pressure cooker:
- Multi-functionality: Forget the old-school stovetop models and go for one that can sauté, steam, slow cook, and even make yogurt. You’ll have fewer gadgets to pack and greatly expand what you can make at camp.
- Portability: Depending on your family’s size (or if you’re going solo), 3 to 6 quarts provide plenty of capacity and a small footprint, so you don’t use up all your counter space.
- User-friendly features: Look for clear displays and preprogrammed settings, especially if you’re new to pressure cooking.
One popular model to consider is the Instant Pot Duo 3-Quart Mini Multi-Use Pressure Cooker (also available in a 6-quart size). This compact and powerful unit is popular with RVers as it does it all. You can quickly prepare anything from soups to chili to meats to sides to decadent desserts. It also has settings to delay the start or keep warm so you can enjoy your meals on your schedule.
While the Instant Pot remains a favorite, the Ninja Foodi 6.5-quart 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker has gained a loyal following. Not only is it slightly larger, but it also has air frying and crisping settings and can be used much like an oven for endless meal options. It’s like your traditional pressure cooker’s overachieving cousin who loves to read and is good at math and football!
If you can’t decide between a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, why not get both in a single device? The Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-cooker might be your all-in-one RV solution with 13-one touch programs from slow cook to sauté to simmer to steam and more.
Enjoy a full-roasted, flavorful chicken that tastes like it’s been in the oven for hours—when it only took 45 minutes! Your RV neighbors may wonder if you’re a gourmet chef. (Go ahead and let them; we won’t tell!)
Which Should You Pick?
In the past, the choice may have been one or the other: hearty hands-off meals with a slow cooker or fast, versatile one-pot meals with a pressure cooker. Today, with so many impressive combo devices available, you don’t have to choose. You can get all the above with just one gadget to become the ultimate RV chef.
Whether you choose a slow cooker, a pressure cooker, or a combo device, you’ll free up your time to explore, connect with nature and friends, or enjoy a lazy day at camp. Go ahead and get lost in time. These cookers are here to make your meal prep a breeze and your dinners as memorable as the journey itself.
Bon appétit!
