A while back, I took off on a four-month adventure in an R-Pod 196. As happens often, I packed way too many kitchen items to cover every eventuality. But, after a couple of weeks I began to whittle things down to a more manageable level. So I present Camper Cooking 101 – what I learned on that trip!
What a beautiful kitchen!
The first thing you notice in the kitchen of the 196 is the huge pantry…the largest of any camper in its class at the time. There is ample storage to equip a fully functional kitchen. I purchased several canvas storage baskets to hold linens, a small four-cup coffee maker, a tea kettle, and a variety of plastic food storage containers. To relieve any stress on the shelf clips, I placed the heavier items on the bottom shelf I like to cook with cast iron skillets and carry two with me…a generous 10-inch and a smaller 6-inch, perfect for eggs.
Model 196 Redsigned
With the redesign of the 196 model, the rear wall of the camper was flattened allowing for roomy overhead storage for dishes and food items. I love the window over the kitchen counter allowing for air flow and a view of the vista beyond. The oversized sink is a full 8 inches deep…plenty big to set a large cooking pot in. And, it’s stainless steel so there’s no worry about a hot pot melting through like most campers with plastic sinks. The counter surface is high quality and cleans easily.
First Big Camping Trip
My first big camping trip in the 196 was at an annual gathering of Girl Campers at Beaver Creek State Park in Lisbon, Ohio. Saturdays are soup days at “What a Hoot” and I decided to make a large slow cooker of beef and noodles. The cutting board cover over the sink adds extra counter space and is adjacent to the electric outlet. After searing the beef and sautéing mushrooms, onions, celery, and carrots, I placed all the ingredients in an 8-quart slow cooker, turned it on low, and went out to join my friends for an afternoon of fun conversation around the campfire. Eight hours later, I added a bag of frozen noodles, turned the temp to high and cooked for another hour. There’s nothing like comfort food on a crisp fall camping trip!
A convection oven was new to me.
My next cooking adventure in the 196 was conquering the convection microwave. I’ve never used a convection oven and it was against everything I’d ever learned about microwaves to put a metal pan in one. I read the directions carefully and watched a couple of YouTube videos for good measure. Once I was comfortable with the operating procedure, I heated the oven up to 325° and took the famous “r-pod cinnamon roll challenge”. Twenty minutes later, I pulled a pan of yummy pastries from this powerful little appliance and I was sold!
The refrigerator and separate freezer are roomy and hold plenty of food for a full week of camping. The ice cream stayed frozen and the perishables were adequately chilled. The stainless steel exterior gives the kitchen a clean, modern appearance. After cooking and cleaning up, I think one of my favorite features of this little camper is the central vacuum. Just sweep up any dust and crumbs over in front of the unit, lift the door with your toe, and bring the broom to the opening. No more struggling to get bits of dirt and dust over the threshold and out the door!
This kitchen packs a big punch!
As a former competitive baker and experienced camper, I’ve worked in my share of gourmet kitchens as well as those in the typical travel trailer. The R-Pod 196 by Forest River packs a big punch in a small space and allows you to enjoy healthy and hearty meals on the go with everything literally at your fingertips.
We are Girl Campers…we Go Places and Do Things!
By Janine Pettit, Camper in Chief
Connect with us!
Girl Camper Magazine: Subscribe to Girl Camper Magazine here! Girl Camper Magazine
Events: Check out upcoming Girl Camper Events – you can attend events in any chapter!
Main GC Facebook Group – Join over 420,000 like-minded women in our private Facebook group! Girl Camper FB Group
Facebook Page – This is our public Facebook page, where we will share Girl Camper news. Girl Camper
