Cooking inside a caravan

Hi Rich,
I know a lot of people that state they would never cook inside of their van because of the smells etc.
Myself I have always cooked inside our van and use the exhaust fan. Sure you get some smells linger around for a little while, open a window or two for a few minutes, but in general not a problem.
I would say 99% of us cook inside a house without to many worries about the cooking smells.
It is like having a toilet in a van and not using it on the off chance it may smell, or maybe they just don't have the stomach to empty it.

Cheers
Blue

We cook mostly inside the van. Always use the exhaust fan. I now have a Webber baby Q so do roasts in that, even at home. Saves cleaning the oven and does a better job.

Neil

Many Thanks for comments. We can't do it currently so have no experience.

The exhaust fan seems to be the critical thing.

Having the ability to cook outside as well for those particularly smelly things is also a bonus

Rich

We have the facilities to cook inside our van with an exhaust fan. As we mostly use caravan parks nowadays 240v power is readily available. We have bought an electric fry pan with a high lid and do most of our cooking with that outside on a table under the awning. If there is a howling wind or whatever we can cook inside.
I guess whether cooking smells bother you is an individual concern. Many say that cooking in a house is no different to cooking in a caravan. I would ask them, do set your barbecue up in your bedroom??

Cheers
Pop

Gooday,
Like others, any grilling etc is always done outside on the Baby Q BB'Q, all other is done on the 4 burner Gas Stove.
We turn on the exhaust fan which sure does help, also we have a large window over the sink which is right beside the cooktop, so have no problem with lingering odours like grilling, they are always pleasant odours anyway, unless something gets forgotten and spoiled.
Cheers,
Boroma604

I always smile when people reckon they won't cook in their van, won't use the toilet, probably don't even use the shower for fear of having to clean it.

Why do you buy huge vans with this stuff in them for?

Save fuel & money, buy a 10' van with a bed in it!

I have seen 1 bedroom flats / units that are smaller than some caravans, people have no qualms about cooking & crapping in them. Go figure.

Cheers Neil

To me it like having Leather Seats and putting seat cover on.

Hi Rich, we are into our second year of our new van, like others I do roast's pizzas potato bakes all in the oven .The 4 burner gas I do most of the steamed veggies . On occasion I have brought out the fry pan but only if weather is bad. (We have a pull out BBQ we use all the time when the weather allows.) Have the overhead fan going and window over sink open . We have no food cooking smells (still has the new van smell). Also I have not covered up the leather seats either! Clean up after and it's the same as being at home.
Hope this helps.
Regards Sue ,Happy Travelling to everyone.

Thanks all for your responses.

Rich

I usually find cooking inside the van by seeing all the smoke coming from the exhaust fan! Anyhow we cook inside and out, outside when the weather permits as I enjoy it much more outside. Smells can be an issue, but cleaning isn't a great burden.

Whatever way you cook, just have fun and enjoy the experience.

We have a very comfortable camper cross over but all the cooking is on the outside. My wife and often find it amusing to see these massive vans with everything in them but people cooking outside on $25 KMart single stove burner because they do not like the smell of cooking in the van. I think most people in the thread have nailed it with cooking the meat outside if possible as that is where the smell is. Personally I love cooking outside regardless of the weather conditions under the awning on my 4 burner stove which is close to the fridge.

Richard,
on our side of the coin we cook inside and out of the van. Baby Weber for barbies and stove for van.

The smell doesn't bother either of us and we have just cooked up 5 days of meals in the van this afternoon for freezing. The smell never lingers in our van so I can't see a problem.

We only have a small house and the cooking smells never worry us there either.

Just enjoy your travels and cook inside all you like, that will tell you if the smell worries you.

I always cook on the caravan stove Richard. We don't carry any bulky or heavy outdoor or electrical cooking equipment.

We do not have a range hood or extractor fan, but no different to the smells when cooking in a house - and they usually have the troops running "What's cooking - that smells so good. When's tea ready?".

Richard,

Back in the '80's we lived in a van on stations in western Qld & NT, for 6 years, and did most if not all the cooking inside the van. We were running a small earthmoving plant, and my wife often cooked for our offsiders as well.

The purchase of a microwave oven helped keep temps down in warmer weather, but cold winter days were always cosy. Can't remember the smells being overpowering, or lingering too long.

As we were often working 24/7, we didn't muck about with outdoor cooking, and Webers weren't invented back then? Had enough to pack up as it was, as we were moving camp every 4-5 days.

Do remember one warm July afternoon, we had some corn meat cooking, and the inside of the van got up to 110 deg F, even with all the windows open. :-)

Bob

After years of tents and campers the best thing about our first van was actually being able to cook inside! We can be safely tucked up behind screens and away from flies and mozzies or protected from rain, wind or dust! Now we enjoy cooking outside on a campfire or BBQ when it suits us and the weather and insect life are pleasant. Otherwise we are happy to use our very efficient gas stove inside. We have no problem with smells -a bit of sensible ventilation and a reasonable amount of cleaning are all that is required - just like at home! Lynne

Hi Rich, you've had some good feedback on this. I have a 4m van and usually cook inside and have an exhaust fan. Never had any problems with smell and often forget to turn the fan on. Go for it, it'll be ok!!

Thanks all for great response

Richard