When it comes to the RV lifestyle, few things are as fundamental as how we prepare our meals while enjoying the freedom of the open road.

Cooking in an RV presents unique challenges and opportunities that traditional home dwellers simply don’t encounter. In our recent newsletter poll, we asked our community about their preferred cooking location – inside their cozy mobile homes or embracing the great outdoors.

If you haven’t yet subscribed to our newsletter, be sure to sign up and participate in our regular polls so your voice can be included in these fascinating glimpses into RV culture and preferences.

The Results

The results were quite definitive:

  • A substantial 79% of RV enthusiasts prefer cooking outside.
  • While only 21% opt to prepare their meals inside their recreational vehicles.

This overwhelming preference for outdoor cooking reveals some interesting insights about the RV lifestyle and priorities of those who embrace it.

The Great Outdoors: Nature’s Kitchen

There’s something primitively satisfying about cooking over an open flame with nothing but sky above you. Perhaps it’s the primal connection to our ancestors who gathered around fires long before kitchens existed. Or maybe it’s just that bacon doesn’t set off your smoke detector when you’re cooking it 20 feet from your RV.

The outdoor cooking enthusiasts often mention the practical benefits – more space to work with, no lingering food smells in their living area, and the ability to socialize with neighboring campers. As one respondent colorfully put it, “My RV is 200 square feet. My campsite is thousands. The math simply works out in favor of cooking where I can actually swing my arms without knocking over everything I own.”

The Indoor Cooking Contingent: Weatherproof Culinary Artists

The dedicated 21% who prefer indoor cooking aren’t without their valid reasons. When mother nature decides to throw a temper tantrum of rain, wind, or snow, these folks are comfortably stirring their chili while watching the elements rage outside their window. There’s also something to be said for having all your ingredients and tools organized in a consistent space.

As one indoor cooking advocate noted, “I didn’t spend all this money on an RV to still cook on a portable table while swatting mosquitoes. My tiny kitchen may be compact, but it’s mighty!”

The Best of Both Worlds

Many RVers commented that they enjoy a hybrid approach, using outdoor cooking methods when weather permits and conditions are ideal, while having the indoor kitchen as a reliable backup. This flexibility represents the adaptability that makes the RV lifestyle so appealing to many.

One respondent summed it up perfectly: “Tuesday I grilled steaks under the stars. Wednesday it rained, so I made pasta inside. Thursday I burned pancakes in both locations. It’s about options!”

Conclusion: Why the Great Outdoors Dominates

After analyzing the results, it’s clear why outdoor cooking maintains such a commanding lead in popularity among RV enthusiasts. The RV lifestyle fundamentally represents freedom, connection with nature, and breaking from conventional constraints. Cooking outdoors embodies these core values – expanding limited space, enhancing the camping experience, and creating opportunities for community connection around shared meals.

Additionally, practical considerations play a major role. RV kitchens, while functional, typically offer limited counter space, ventilation, and elbow room. Moving cooking activities outside alleviates these constraints while preventing cooking odors from permeating living spaces.

The temperature factor can’t be overlooked either – during summer months, cooking indoors can quickly transform an RV into an uncomfortably hot environment.

Ultimately, the strong preference for outdoor cooking reflects why many choose RV travel in the first place: not to replicate home life in a smaller space, but to experience a different way of living that brings them closer to nature, adventure, and the simple pleasures of fresh air with freshly cooked food.