In your tent camping days you threw your old pots and pans in the grub box and figured they were good enough for roughing it. Now, that you're RV camping with a real kitchen, you're more apt to have a microwave, oven, double sink, refrigeration, and at least a small freezer.
While you want all the comforts of home, it's better for your wallet, and the environment, when you travel lean and green. To do so, outfit your RV galley to minimize disposables and reduce weight.More: RV Checklist: What to Pack for Your Trip
2. Nesting pots and bowls save space but the largest and smallest sizes may just be dead weight. Leave extras at home or buy in singles.
3. Choose plastic packaging over glass when you purchase food and beverages for your RV. Plastic weighs less and reduces breakage.
4. Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon. Ask if you can fill fresh water tanks at the campground, save highway fuel by leaving home with only enough for the journey.
5. Stock your RV pantry with powders and concentrates, instead of buying heavy beverages. RVers love the new soda "systems" that make fizzy, carbonated pop in every flavor.
6. Make your own mixes—for biscuits, pancakes, quick breads and spice blends—at home to save money and reduce packaging. When you cut down on salt and sugar, use whole grains, and eliminate allergens such as gluten or peanuts, you eat healthier, too.
More: Barbecue Marinated Steak
7. Use natural cleaners that aren't made with harmful toxins, such as chlorinated phenol and formaldehyde. Natural or DIY cleaners are better for your health, and the health of plumbing in the RV and campground. For example, white vinegar or baking soda can work wonders when cleaning your RV galley.
8. A pressure cooker saves time and fuel. When your food cooks fast, the RV's air conditioning works less.
9. Many canned items, such as tuna, are now sold in pouches, which weigh less and reduce leftover waste.
More: Camping Recipe: Deconstructed Stuffed Shrimp
