The secrets of storing Kitchen ware in a caravan.

iana · Guru

The secrets of storing Kitchen ware in a caravan.

msg · Guru

Yep saucepans and lids. rattle,rattle I have a motor home so mine are stored in the lutan top. Don't have cupboards or drawers where they could fit. I Just pack towels around them. Bit of a pain though and untidy looking.

darjak · Senior Member

We use a medium triple stacker saucepan set doesn't take up much space, frypans and wok just place nonslip between them.
All cupboards and drawers are lined with good quality nonslip matting, no problems in 10+yrs fulltime travelling mostly off the
blacktop.

Honey09 · Member

We use the non slip stuff for the bottom of the drawer and cut smaller pieces to fit between lid and pot. All the shelves and drawers are lined with the non slip and nothing moves

Explorer · Guru

iana wrote:
I am after anyones ideas on how to store kitchen ware in the van, the saucepans are driving us nuts. What tricks do you all have. We have a Jayco Silverline, so anyone with experience, I would appreciate some ideas.

Saucepans, I have a plastic basket (approx 350x 300x 250H ) that I stack them into alongside the same that has the toaster. Have a cheapo dish drying rack attached that I stand plates etc. (corelle) in with thin cardboard between, the space between side rail & plates holds the paper towel rail nicely.

Many Many thousands of rough gravel roads have not broken anything. The tighter things are packed the better.

Mike.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I wrap anything that can move or break with non slip matting cut to size. Works for me anyway.

I get it by the metre at Clark Rubber.

Desert Dweller · Guru

We have a full saucepan/frying pan set in a deep pull out drawer. Each pot fits in the size larger pot & is separated from its neighbors by the soft thin pliable plastic sheet.

The lids are kept separate standing on edge using the same size regime & plastic sheet. 80,000kms & they're all still in perfect nick. Cups & wine glasses are packed in their original boxes (sets of 4), no breakages.

Pretty simple aye'.

iana · Guru

WE are doing pretty much as what you have all suggested, the cupboards are not all that storage friendly, the saucepans don't stack well, handles everywhere. But I shall keep on reading and thinking, an idea will pop up sooner or later. Thank you for the input.

PeterD · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
We have a full saucepan/frying pan set in a deep pull out drawer. Each pot fits in the size larger pot & is separated from its neighbors by the soft thin pliable plastic sheet.

Ditto. You just learn to pack your pot drawer (don't all good vans have them?) Wrap the pyrex dishes in bubble wrap. You may have to change the style of cookware so as to fill the space.

Kebbin · Guru

Just buy the table mat from coles or wollies it comes in rolls just cut to size and put between every metal surface.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yep either that non slip rubber or silicone matt or wrap in tea towels .. Store our cerial between again to hold things in place .

madaboutled · Guru

iana wrote:
WE are doing pretty much as what you have all suggested, the cupboards are not all that storage friendly, the saucepans don't stack well, handles everywhere. But I shall keep on reading and thinking, an idea will pop up sooner or later. Thank you for the input.

We use 2 Corningware Pyrex casserole dishes for pots that all use the same size clip on handle. The handle stores in the cutlery draw and the casserole dishes stack inside each other using some anti slip mat between each and same for the lids. Also have a large square fry pan which stands on its side in the cupboard, again anti slip mat is used to prevent it moving around.

Tony Bev · Guru

We try to pack tight as the boss can hear every rattle in the motorhome

She has some pans which fit on top of each other when cooking

I do remember years ago, you could buy pans with a removable handle

Gaylehere · Guru

We only carry 2/3 saucepans (2 Stonewell and a small Corningware pot all with glass lids) and the largest one doubles as a frypan. We also have a Flavorchef for when we are on electricity. You can fry, roast, toast, bake etc in a Flavorcef so find it very versatile. The flavorchef just goes in a drawstring bag in a cupboard that has a bit of foam in it and the three other pots go in a draw after wrapping the lids in some bubble wrap and putting them with the pots in draw string bags. I push our spare bathmat and light towel in around them. Makes it a snug fit in the draw. I find having them in a drawstring bag is good for carrying them to a camp kitchen or BBQ area if not cooking in the van. We also have a couple of those plastic pots for use in the microwave but we don't use the microwave all that often. They're not stored anywhere special. Just in a cupboard the way they are. We do have some of that non slip matting in most cupboards with a bit of foam to push between some things if needed. Doesn't look much good but does the job. We have wooden inserts in the cup and glass draw and plate draw. The cup one is raised and flat topped with holes cut into it where the cups etc fit into the holes and the plates stand individually on their sides with a divider between each one. The microwave plate also goes in this set up as it used to rattle when left inside the microwave. Husband hates anything rattling. We travel in a motorhome.

Daryl620 · Veteran Member

Obtain a roll of bubble wrap (cheap) cut into sheets, place between (or wrap) items that might rattle

Cupie · Guru

An advantage of caravans over motor homes. Can't hear them rattle. LOL

We just use hand me down saucepans from our house kitchen. If they rattle or dent/scratch, too bad. A set of three fits nicely into a drawer. All drawers & shelves are covered with non slip plastic .

All corelle ware crockery is held vertically in plate racks & the glasses and cups are in plastic covered wire frames that all camping places sell. We have not broken a glass or plate in 20 years.

Toaster & jug sit on non slip mats on the benches & never move. We don't do off road though.

A small rubbish bin is taken off the bench & put into the sink when travelling. I haven't been able to find a convenient cupboard to store it in.

A set of silicon spatulas, egg slice etc hang on hooks in the slide out spice cupboard.

Kitchen knives are held on a magnetic wall mounted knife holder.

Kitchen paper, Alfoil & cling wrap are kept in a wall mounted dispenser.

Plastic bags are in a holder fixed to the inside of an under sink cupboard door.

I have banned pyrex dishes as they are too heavy. But SWMBO always seems to sneak one or two in.

-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 16th of December 2017 03:02:06 PM

Lancelot Link · Senior Member

Tea Towels, weigh nothing and you can't have enough of them, wrap everything in them. On a cold night, second blanket! Bad cut, from experience, good pressure bandage!

toglhot · Senior Member

I don't know what the problem is with rattling, you're in the car and the saucepans in the van??? In my 40 years experience, anything non shiny/slippery between saucepans does the job.

Gaylehere · Guru

Iana had asked about storage of kitchen ware particularly saucepans and there was no mention of rattling there. Us motorhomers put in how we store, adding what we do to stop rattles as that is something extra we need to consider. Cheers.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes FIRST we buy pans that fit inside each other with short type handles . Ours are stored in ovan, on roasting dish ., Using up
all the space we can . Found with short handles easier storage and less of a weapon when Mrs is having rage !! Aha

SouthernComfort · Guru

All those methods are great, we carry minimum amount of pots and pans, use non-slip matting for the cupboard and drawer bases (cut off the roll at Bunnings) plus bubble wrap to separate lids etc. We're lucky to have a deep drawer under the stove for pans. Always find it best to pack the drawer full/tight and pad gaps with extra bubble wrap.

Our BIGGEST watch out is to double check those b***** drawers are locked shut before travelling! Once too often we've stopped to find a beautifully packed drawer has slipped its moorings and contents strewn across the van

JayDee · Guru

All our pots are second hand from our home kitchen. We just place them on a mat in the bottom cupboard. We never hear them rattle whilst we are driving?????Jug Toaster is placed in oven. Kettle for gas goes in a 6 litre icecream container, which doubles as our wash up sink when bush camping. Saves heaps of water.

Now when it comes to our camp fire cooking.....We have another blackened set pots pans, camp oven and utensils etc in a large zip type plastic bag in the van's front boot for our bush camping. 90% of the time never clean the base of same.

We have spent 2 years of the last 5 on the road and no major breakages. Touch wood.

Jay&Dee

-- Edited by JayDee on Sunday 17th of December 2017 08:51:20 AM

-- Edited by JayDee on Sunday 17th of December 2017 08:53:18 AM

iana · Guru

The oven seems to be such a waste of space, if a deep draw was fitted where the oven is, that would solve allot of problems. Seems everyone is using the same methods. Thanks all.

the rocket · Guru

We put the biggest saucepan in the oven when it is not being used. In cupboard on rubber mat we have frypan inside it a saucepan n inside it a saucepan. The lids r another story. I recall once u could buy slipin plastic thingy that stuck to inside the door that took saucepan lids. Am going to investigate that.

Cupie · Guru

iana wrote:
The oven seems to be such a waste of space, if a deep draw was fitted where the oven is, that would solve allot of problems. Seems everyone is using the same methods. Thanks all.

Tend to agree about ovens. We have used ours a handful of times over the two decades or so.

But SWMBO insisted on an oven & we have lots (too much) cupboard space.

Our oven is used to store a frypan & an electric sandwich press that SWMBO insists on taking. If going on a short trip to beach or similar I squeeze in an electric pizza oven. It gets used often.

On an earlier post I forgot to mention the large deep aluminium soup/pasta/crab broiler that goes in the vegetable bin & holds our spuds & onions. I rest them on wadded newspaper to increase air flow around them. They keep longer, perhaps.

Then there is a large bin drawer that holds a range of plastic & corelle, salad & mixing bowls. I separate them with paper napkins. Gradually replaced all the heavy glass/crystal ones. They looked nice but were too heavy.

Hylife · Guru

For less than $20 you can line every cupboard drawer and shelf with that rubber non-slip stuff. Only costs $2 a roll and comes in lots of colours.

Plates, bowls oven dishes etc? Corelle. (corningware glass) Lightweight, easy stack, super thin, virtually unbreakable, microwave and freezer safe and they don't make rub marks on each other.

Pots and pans? Buy lightweight stainless steel pots with glass lids that invert from kmart for $15 http://www.kmart.com.au/product/3-piece-stainless-steel-cookware/1571318 and use a small square of non-slip rubber stuff between the lid and the next pot. Because they are so cheap, buy a nice shiny new set of pots every couple of years.

Geeco · Senior Member

I am with the Chief also - non slip matting does the job.

Lorries · Veteran Member

Like some others I have the Tefal stackable set and I saved the cardboard that came with the set 6 years ago and it is still going as a buffer between the saucepans. I must say one is starting to come apart so I will use it as a template and cut another to size. The cardboard has a round base and the sides are slit to allow it to fit with the round saucepans and frypans

Sarge9 · Senior Member

Iana, you already have your idea.... look.... oven.... drawer.... thinking.... CLICK....

I cant be bothered with bits of rubber stuff, my old trio sit together OK. in a cupboard... I dont have an oven, but the unused griller is where I stick flat pans and toast rack. Just shove yours in the oven, no more handle rage....

(I say I, but really mean Her)

Sarge.

iana · Guru

Thanks all, the wife had a read of all the replies, must admit, this question has had more responses to my thread, than any I have so far posted, hmmmm maybe there's a message there. We are or rather have already cleared out the house ready for sale, and the saucepans are from the house, they are Scan-pan's, and because she uses an induction cooker (good gear by the way), the saucepans must be induction cooker friendly. Stacked inside one another, the handles stick up at an angle, I have had a play and made up 25mm spacers for under each on, and now they stack in the so called Jayco deep draws in pairs. We are now working on all of the other items.