Proper food storage is one of the most essential items on your checklist when renting an RV. Taking the time to purchase appropriate food for camping and storing it in the proper containers solves issues like food poisoning, unpleasant odors, and food spoilage—all of which can ruin an otherwise stellar motorhome rental trip!

Fractional Toys offers RV rentals for adventurers who want to hit the open road for a weekend excursion or a jaunt throughout the Minnesota area—and have a great time doing it. We want to make sure your trip is an awesome one, so below are some of our suggestions for adequately storing, prepping, and enjoying meals in an RV.

Keep Your Menus Simple

Rather than proving your cooking skills in the RV rental, opt for dishes that you can prepare and clean up in minutes. You want to spend most of your time having fun with your camper rental, after all, not wasting water washing plates or pulling your hair out over extravagant meals. Plus, space is limited with even the largest camper rental, and the more you spend on food, the less you’ll have for other fun extras, so aim for compact dishes.

Here are some suggestions for easy-to-cook, easy-to-store foods that are sure to be crowd-pleasers:

●        Camping breakfast sandwiches

●        Pancakes and bacon

●        Hamburgers and hotdogs

●        Campfire nachos

●        Walking tacos

●        Camping mac and cheese

●        Camp cooker pizza

Consider Dehydrated and Dry Foods

In addition to easy-to-make meals, you may also want to pack dehydrated and dry foods on your trip. These items are lightweight and space-efficient, and they will not spoil in extreme temperatures—such as when you park your RV rental for an extended period of time in the summer.

Some examples include:

●        Dry soup mixes

●        Instant oatmeal

●        Instant potatoes

●        Tea bags

●        Instant coffee

●        Powdered hot chocolate

●        Nonfat dry milk

Store Food in Sealable, Stackable Plastic Containers

Once you open a package, the food inside has a short shelf-life. You should avoid putting the food back in its original packaging. Instead, reach for a sealable plastic container.

A plastic container can protect food from humidity, bugs, mildew, moisture, and animals—all of which you could encounter on the average camping trip. It also will help the food retain its freshness and texture. If you purchase clear plastic containers, you can identify your food before opening the lid.

Another benefit of sealed plastic containers is that they eliminate odors. Plus, they are easy to stack and store in your rented RV.

Bonus Tip: Before you put food in your plastic container, line the bottom with a paper towel. This simple hack will keep fruits or vegetables from creating moisture inside the container and spoiling themselves or the food around them.

Use Your Refrigerator Sparingly

Since beverages and foods like meats, dairy products, and vegetables require cool, dry areas, the refrigerator will usually fill up quickly.

You need to plan accordingly and limit what items go into the refrigerator. First, don’t stock up the fridge before you hit the road. A better option is to purchase refrigerated food and drinks as you go. Stocking on the go will keep you from overloading your refrigerator and reduce the number of leftovers that are taking up space.

Understand That Items in an RV Move

According to AboutRVing.com—a collection of tips, tricks, and knowledge gleaned from years of RVing— “everything in [your] RV is moving to some degree” when the machine or towable is in motion. This is because the engine creates vibrations which are distributed throughout the vehicle. Therefore, food storage in your camper rental is not the same as food storage in your at-home kitchen, as you’ll need to take caution to ensure things don’t fall and crack open!

Kitchn, a website full of food-storage and cooking tips, recommends lots of bungee cords, stating that everything not tethered or weighted down will slide around. Not only does this set up the potential for a mess, but it also can distract the driver—which can be downright dangerous.

Consider Plastic Dishes

We’ve already talked about the importance of plastic containers in ensuring food freshness, but plastic dishes can also save you a whole lot of headaches. Circling back to the fact that everything in an RV vibrates and is prone to moving about, porcelain or glassware is a dangerous mess just waiting to shatter, leaving you without something to eat the food you so carefully packed on.

Consider bringing along plastic plates and glasses instead of your traditional fare. Not only will they be lighter and often stack more efficiently, but they’ll also be better at bouncing if they do accidentally hit the floor.

Refrain From Bulking Up

Yes, we know, it’s nice not to have to make stops to refuel as far as food is concerned; you already do that enough as far as literal fuel goes. But suppose you try to buy everything you need at the beginning of your trip. In that case, you risk overspending and having a bunch of stuff left over—not the worst thing to happen, of course, but not the best either, especially if you’re trying to keep your recreational rental trip under a certain budget threshold.

For more on how to pick exactly what you need for such a trip that extends beyond the subject of food, check out our recreational rental blog on the topic.

Enjoy Your RV Rental This Summer With Fractional Toys

Fractional Toys is your go-to rental source for Motorhomes, campers, boats, ATVs, and more. If you live in the Twin Cities or surrounding areas, then contact us today to reserve your RV rental. To schedule a reservation, call our Oakdale office at 651-340-0937, our Coon Rapids location at 763-406-2488, or fill out our online recreational rental form.