23 Must-Have RV Kitchen Accessories for Your Camper in 2024

LOOKING FOR THE BEST RV KITCHEN ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR RV?

You are in the right place because the 23 must have kitchen accessories for your RV are all featured here. How do we know they are the best?  We have traveled in our RV since 2010 and bring you the best information, guides and products for your RV.

A big part of planning a road trip and RVing is figuring out what RV kitchen accessories you need and how to efficiently cook in an RV. We love being able to have all our food and normal cooking gear stored in our RV so we can take it with us as we travel around. It also makes preparing food on travel days so much easier.

Table of Contents

The Most Useful RV Kitchen Accessories
Best Knife Set for RV
The Best Appliances for Outfitting an RV Kitchen
Best RV Blender
Best RV Dinnerware
Campervan Kitchen Utensils
Outfitting an RV Kitchen Essentials List
How Do You Set Up a Kitchen in an RV?
What Should I Put in My RV Kitchen?
RV Fridge Organization
How to Keep Items from Moving in RV Cupboards
Conclusion: RV Kitchen Accessories

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The Most Useful RV Kitchen Accessories

1. RV Paper Towel Holder

I am a big fan of keeping my RV countertops as clean as I can. This gives me more room for food prep, and it is less I have to put away when it is time to drive somewhere. I like to either mount this RV paper towel holder to the underside of a cabinet, to the wall, or in a cupboard.

This RV paper towel holder mounts with just three screws and has something to prevent the paper towel from un-rolling which is very useful when you’re driving down the road. Plus, it will keep your countertop space free making it one of the best RV kitchen accessories.

You will want to keep your paper towels in a convenient location. We use paper towels a lot more than we do at home because we have limited space for linens, and we do laundry a lot less frequently. It is very convenient to use paper towels when RVing.

Check Prices for RV Paper Towel Holder on Amazon Here!

2. Collapsible Strainer

There are so many different collapsible motorhome kitchen accessories that make storing things so much easier. We use collapsible colanders in our RV, and it makes it so easy to drain noodles and wash fresh produce. The side handles make it easy to set on the sides of the sink.

If you are getting the collapsible dish rack, you might not need this strainer. You want to multi-purpose as much as you can to take up as little space as you can.

Check Prices for Collapsible Strainer on Amazon Here!

3. Collapsible Measuring Cups

Although I don’t do a lot of baking in our RV, I still do use our measuring cups quite often. Whether we are mixing up some macaroni and cheese or making a recipe from scratch, measuring cups do come in handy. These collapsible measuring cups nestle inside each other, saving you lots of room in your kitchen drawers making them an essential part of outfitting an RV kitchen.

Check Prices for Collapsible Measuring Cups on Amazon Here!

3. Best Knife Set for RV

We avoid using a block of knives in our motorhome just in case we did get in a wreck, we would avoid having knives flying around the RV. I’ve also seen the magnetic strips for the knives and this worries me for the same reason.

We like this best knife set for RVs because we can safely store them in the kitchen drawers and don’t have to worry about getting cut as we are rummaging around in the drawer for something. They are really sharp and easy to clean. We have found this to be the best knife set for RVs and one of most used RV kitchen accessories.

Check Prices for Knife Set on Amazon Here!

4. RV Trash Can  

One of our favorite accessories for outfitting an RV kitchen is an outside RV trash can. We spend a lot of time outside when we are RVing so it is convenient to have a garbage can outside. It also makes it so our tiny garbage can inside doesn’t fill up as fast.

The RV trash can is collapsible so it doesn’t take up a lot of room when we aren’t using it. It is pretty lightweight though so before putting a garbage bag in, it is a good idea to put something heavy like some rocks in the bottom so it doesn’t blow away.

Check Prices for Outdoor Garbage Can on Amazon Here!

5. Roasting Sticks

No RV kitchen supplies list is complete without adding roasting sticks. After a day of exploring, it is so fun to sit around the campfire and enjoy a delicious s’more. The extendable roasting sticks make them small to store and make it so my kids don’t have to get too close to the fire.  

Just be sure to clean off the roasting sticks before putting them in the storage bag. This will keep your storage bag from getting sticky.  

Check Prices for Roasting Sticks on Amazon Here!

6. Stackable Mixing Bowls

Having mixing bowls that stack inside of each other is a great addition to your travel trailer kitchen supplies. Having good sturdy mixing bowls is essential for any kitchen and having them stack will save you a lot of space in your RV.

The airtight lids make the bowl double as a storage container for leftovers or meal prepping. You won’t need to have as much Tupperware with these mixing bowls.

Check Prices for Mixing Bowls on Amazon Here!

7. Reusable Ice Cubes

With limited space in your RV fridge and freezer, reusable ice cubes are a great way to quickly make a beverage cold without having drinks take up precious space in your fridge. They are reusable and only take up a small space in your freezer compared to bagged ice.

They are also really nice to pack in your cooler or BougeRV fridge during your adventures.

Check Prices for Reusable Ice Cubes on Amazon Here!

8. Water Filter

When taking water out of your tanks, a water filter is a must.

We use two different water filters. The first water filter filters the water before it goes into our tank. This ensures all of the water going into our tanks is clean and filtered water. This is nice because it filters the water coming out of all of the faucets without having an individual filter under each sink.

This is the water filter we use in between our water source and our tank.

Check Prices for RV Water Filter on Amazon Here!

The second filter is under our kitchen sink. Most of our drinking and cooking water comes from this faucet and I wanted an extra filter just to make sure the water we were drinking was safe. It also protects you in the case that something contaminates your tanks.

This is the in-line water filter we use in our RV under the kitchen sink.

Having properly filtered water saves us a ton of money on buying bottled water and reduces our waste.

Check Prices for In-Line Water Filter on Amazon Here!

You can look at all of our recommendations for RV water filters here!

9. Collapsible Food Storage Containers

These collapsible storage containers are great for storing food inside and outside of the fridge. The rectangular shape helps to maximize storage in the fridge and freezer. It also helps lock out humidity to keep crackers and similar foods from going stale.

They collapse and store really easily in the cupboards when they aren’t being used.

Check Prices for Collapsible Containers on Amazon Here!

The Best RV Kitchen Accessories – Appliances

I am very selective in the appliances that I bring in our RV because they are so big and bulky. Their extra size makes it hard to find places to store them. I only bring appliances that I use either daily or at least three times a week.

Along with the items I have on this list, think of what appliances you use all of the time at home and carefully consider if it is worth the space to bring them along. Appliances are an important part of outfitting an RV kitchen but only bring the essentials because they can be bulky.

10. Rice Cooker

A rice cooker isn’t included in most people’s RV kitchen supplies list, but our family eats rice a lot so I added it. We use a small one so it doesn’t take up as much room in our RV and it is really easy to wash.

If your family eats rice a lot, then it’s probably worth it to bring one. If you don’t, you can always cook it in a pot if you eat it occasionally.

Check Prices for Rice Cooker on Amazon Here!

11. Toaster

A toaster is another appliance that my family uses almost daily. We cook frozen waffles, bread, and bagels. It makes a quick and easy breakfast or an easy snack. Be sure to use a two-piece toaster rather than a four-piece toaster to save on space.

A small compact toaster should easily fit in the cupboards. We store ours in the cupboards above our dining room table. We use this Amazon Basic toaster and we are happy with the size and quality.

Check Prices for Toaster on Amazon Here!

12. Instant Pot

An Instant Pot is another great small RV kitchen appliance. We like the Instant Pot better than a crockpot because it can cook food so much faster. This is especially important if you are running your generator to power the Instant Pot. If you are hooked up to electricity this isn’t as big of a deal.

The Instant Pot or slow cooker makes cooking camping crockpot meals so easy and the recipes always turn out so great. It is hard to beat some delicious butter Indian curry on a rainy day.

We take our 6-quart Instant Pot in the motorhome and it fits fine under the benches at our table. Unless you are feeding a lot of people, I think an 8-quart one would be a little excessive.  

Another great thing about the Instant Pot is you can use it instead of your oven. Using the oven will heat up your RV so fast. Plus if your RV propane tanks are running low, you can use the electricity to power the Instant Pot.

Check Prices for Instapot on Amazon Here!

13. Best RV Blender – NutriBullet Pro 900

If you use a blender frequently but don’t want to bring a big, bulky blender, consider taking a NutriBullet Pro 900. It is a lot smaller but still gets the job done. It is perfect for smoothies, milkshakes, and blending up food for a recipe.

Having the best RV blender like the Nutribullet makes it a lot easier to eat healthy in an RV.

Check Prices for NutriBullet on Amazon Here!

14. Portable Propane Grill

Anytime you use your stove or oven in your RV, it will heat up your kitchen. Nothing is worse on a hot day of RVing than having to use the stove or oven and making your RV even warmer, especially if you aren’t using your air conditioner.

Having a portable propane grill you can use outside is nice because it gets you outside and won’t heat up your RV. If you’re planning on doing a lot of cooking outside, be sure to add some lights on your awning to make it a little easier to see outside and add some style to your campground.

>>For a list of the best camper grills, you can check out our online review article!

15. Pots and Pans

One thing I have found with pots and pans is it is really easy to have too many. The other important thing to look for is having pots and pans that stack inside of each other. This will save you lots of storage room because pots and pans can be bulky.

I try to stick with having a couple of saucepans, a sauté pan, and a couple of frying pans. This seems to cover most of the recipes and things I cook in the RV pretty well while still conserving space.

Make sure to get pots and pans that are easy to wash. I really like the non-stick pans from Rachael Ray. They have a good balance between cost and value.

If you get the really cheap pans be careful you don’t leave them on the stove too long. We have had the handles on them melt before.

Check Prices for Non-Stick Pans on Amazon Here!

16. Cookie Sheet

A standard-size cookie sheet will not fit in an RV oven, but a half-sheet cookie sheet will fit with no problem. I just store my cookie sheet in the oven to save on space in other places. I just keep it in there until I’m ready to cook with it.

Check Prices for Cookie Sheets on Amazon Here!

17. Cast Iron Skillet

A cast-iron skillet is very versatile making it one of the best small RV kitchen gadgets. Keep in mind that cast iron is quite a bit heavier than normal cookware. You can use it over a campfire, on your outdoor propane stove, or inside your stove. It is small enough, you can also use it in your oven.

>>You can read about our top recommendations for camping skillets here!

Check Prices for Cast Iron Skillet on Amazon Here!

18. Best RV Dinnerware

A lot of questions come up about the best RV dinnerware. We use mostly paper products but do keep some plastic plates and bowls in the RV as well. It is just a balance of how many dishes you want to wash or if you want to pay to use paper products.

Also, if you do not have hookups, you will want to use your water sparingly so paper dishes would be a better option. Also, we have visited some places where they request you use paper to use water more conservatively.

Our RV plastic dishes stack up really easily and they are easy to clean. It does help cut down on your garbage if you use plastic dishes. We love these and would highly recommend them as the best RV dinnerware.

Check Prices for Plastic Dishes on Amazon Here!

Silverware for an RV

When it comes to finding silverware to use in our motorhome, we stick with something that we would use at home. Campervan kitchen utensils are pretty easy to wash but there may be times you want to use disposable as well. We keep both in our motorhome and switch back and forth.

RV Glass Dishes

If you insist on using glass RV dishes, Corelle dinnerware is commonly used by RVers. They seem to be the toughest and least likely to break.

How do you store dishes in an RV?

If you are storing glass dishes in an RV, the best way to prevent them from rattling is to put down the non-slip liner at the bottom of the cupboard. Then cut smaller pieces to put in between the individual plates and bowls.

Another option is to trade-off between glass and plastic. This will also prevent your RV dishes from rattling.

19. Campervan Kitchen Utensils

Finding a good set of campervan kitchen utensils is important. You need to look for a set that will cover all of your needs without taking up precious space in your RV kitchen. We love this wooden camper fan kitchen utensils set because it will cover all of your basic needs without a bunch of extras and is very durable.

We have used cheaper plastic ones and found they were very flimsy and we have even had some melt while using them on our propane stove. Wood campervan kitchen utensils are very durable and you won’t have to worry about them melting.

Check Prices for Campervan Kitchen Utensils on Amazon Here!

Best RV Kitchen Accessories for the Sink

20. Over-the-Sink Cutting Board

You can either purchase or custom make an over-the-sink cutting board. This is huge because it adds more countertop space for preparing food and cooking. It still leaves you with one side of your sink open for running water and adds precious counter space.

Before buying RV sink covers, you will need to measure the dimensions of your sink to find the proper size. You can also just find a nice chunk of oak wood and cut one yourself if you can’t find the right dimensions.

This is one of the most important RV kitchen must-haves.

Check Prices for Cutting Board on Amazon Here

21. Sink Strainer

A sink strainer will make cleaning out your RV sink so much easier and will prevent clogging in your pipes, especially because you will not have a disposal. It prevents larger food items from going down the drain and makes getting the small pieces out of the sink much easier.

Check Prices for Sink Strainer on Amazon Here!

22. RV Dish Rack

A camper dish rack is a useful small RV kitchen gadget because you are going to be hand washing all of your camping dishes. There are a couple of different options.

The first is just a flat drying mat. This is nice because it takes up a lot less room in your RV when you aren’t using it. There aren’t compartments though for RV silverware, plates, etc.

The second is a collapsible drying dish storage rack. This is a nice option because it has all of the compartments for drying individual dishes and it is collapsible, so it doesn’t take up as much room as a normal drying rack.

Check Prices for Collapsible Dish Rack on Amazon Here!

You can also use the collapsible RV dish rack to wash produce in which you can’t do with the flat plastic drying mat. The flat silicone drying mat can be used as a hot potholder. There are pros and cons to each one. You just have to decide which one you prefer.

23. Folding Table

Having an outdoor table will be especially helpful if you are going to be doing a lot of boondocking or staying in places besides designated campgrounds. Most campgrounds will have a picnic table you can use.

Having a table outside is nice to have a place to cook on your outdoor propane stove, a place for arts and crafts, playing games, and eating outside. This outdoor folding table folds up very small and won’t take up much room in your under RV storage.

Check Prices for Foldable Table on Amazon Here!

RV Kitchen Accessories Essentials List

Here is the master list of our RV kitchen accessories –

  • Plastic and disposable cups, bowls, and plates
  • Water bottles
  • Plastic and disposable utensils
  • Garbage can
  • Pots and pans
  • Skillet
  • Tupperware
  • Mixing bowls
  • Scrubbing brush and dish soap
  • Wooden spoons, spatulas, and whisks
  • Hot pads
  • Hand towels and washcloths
  • Cutting boards
  • Water filters
  • Pizza cutter, potato peeler, and cheese grater
  • Sharp knives with covers
  • Measuring cups and spoons  
  • Strainer
  • Pyrex baking dish
  • Cookie sheet
  • Toaster
  • Rice cooker
  • Instant pot
  • S’more sticks
  • Paper towel holder
  • Portable propane grill
  • Lighter or matches

How do you set up a kitchen in an RV?

Setting up small RV kitchens is a lot like setting up your house kitchen but with fewer cupboards, drawers, and counter space. Most RVs do not have a dishwasher so your dishes will be hand washed. You will want to avoid glass as much as possible because RVs are bouncy when you are driving.

Here is a full list of the travel trailer kitchen supplies we have in our motorhome. You can use this as a guide for stocking your camper kitchen accessories. Finding the RV cooking essentials you need really is not that hard.

What should I put in my RV kitchen?

In RV kitchens, your biggest constraint is space. Most RVs have only a few cupboards in the kitchen area. Depending on how you are organizing your RV, you can use storage under benches and perhaps under a bed for camper kitchen supplies.

When setting up your travel trailer kitchen, you will want to use items that don’t take up a lot of space and things that you use all of the time. You don’t want to bring anything that you will use once or twice a month. It just isn’t worth taking up space if it isn’t used often.

RV Kitchen Organization

Now that you have all of the camper kitchen accessories that you need, it is time to organize them in your kitchen. I sort everything into two piles – things I’m going to use multiple times or daily and then things that aren’t used as often.

I want quick and easy access to the most used items like plates, cups, bowls, silverware, etc. Items that I don’t use as often or are bulky I put in places that are a little harder to get to. For example, I keep my instant pot and rice cooker underneath the bench at my table. I wouldn’t want to store something under there that I need access to multiple times a day.

RV Fridge Organization

It is important to put a high priority on RV fridge organization because odds are you are going to have a lot less freezer and fridge space than at home. If your RV fridge organization is on point, you will have a lot more room.

The more you use your RV fridge, the better you will get at maximizing your space. You will also learn what you have room for and what you don’t. Having a meal plan will help you better know what you need in your fridge and what you don’t.

A great way to save space during RV fridge organization is to get rid of the packaging and use Ziploc bags or stackable containers. For example, as you eat blueberries, the food inside shrinks but the outside container does not. This is a waste of space.

There are also stackable bins that are helpful in storing awkward-shaped food and smaller items. We use a bin in our fridge for our string cheeses and sandwich meat. This helps secure it while we drive and it takes up a lot less room.

Check Prices for Stackable Bins on Amazon Here!

Avoid filling your fridge too full, as tempting as it is. If your fridge is too full, the air inside will not be able to circulate as well. This leads to warmer temperatures and more food spoils.

How do I organize my RV cupboards?

After you have sorted your RV kitchen gadgets, it is time to put things in the cupboards and drawers. As you are out RVing you will adjust things to where you want them and that’s okay. Be sure to save cupboard room for RV kitchen supplies like oil, spices, and food.

Above my kitchen sink, I store plates, cups, bowls, water bottles, and sippy cups. We travel with a baby in an RV so we have a few baby supplies up there. I also store our paper plates and bowls up there. Utili

Under the sink, I store our garbage can, disposable bag holder, Tupperware, pots and pans, and cutting boards. I also keep our dish soap and scrubber brush here as well.

In the first drawer, I store our silverware – both disposable and reusable.

The next two drawers have our measuring cups, wooden spoons, whisk, scissors, and other miscellaneous camper kitchen accessories like an ice cream scoop, potato peeler, pizza cutter, etc.

In the fourth drawer, I store my hand towels, dish rags, and hot pads.

In the oven, I keep the cookie sheets.

Above my table, I keep our toaster, pyrex baking dish, and a container with Ziploc bags, foil, and press-and-seal.

The rest of my storage space in the kitchen is reserved for food.

Organizing Your RV Kitchen Essentials to Maximize Storage

There are ways to maximize the space available in your cupboards. If your cupboard is really tall and you aren’t utilizing the height of the space you have available, you can add in a removable shelf. You can also use RV kitchen cabinet organizers to help maximize space.

Cupboards surrounding the fridge tend to be really deep, making it hard to reach the space in the back. You can add sliding cabinet baskets to make it easier to reach the travel trailer kitchen accessories in the back.

What is the best thing to keep items from moving in cupboards in an RV?

To keep your RV kitchen appliances from moving around in your cupboards during travel, you will want to line your shelves with a non-slip shelf liner. Just measure the depth of your cupboards and find the right size roll. After you get it, cut the right size pieces and lay them down in the bottom of the cupboard before loading it.

This will prevent items from sliding and moving in cupboards in your RV.

Check Prices for Non-Slip Shelf Liner on Amazon Here!

Tips for Outfitting An RV Kitchen

Learning how to best organize your RV kitchen will take a few outings but things will work themselves into easy and convenient places. Here are a few tips for organizing everything you need in your RV kitchen.

Use It Often – Only Bring What You Need

Only bring items in your RV that you use often. If you have an appliance at home that you only use once a month, leave it home. It isn’t worth jamming your cupboards full and having to dig through everything. Only bring what you really need.

After a few trips in your travel trailer, take inventory of what you brought. Did you need everything you brought? Is there something you are missing? Don’t be afraid to take things out so there is a place for everything.

Making sure everything has a place will make your RV seem bigger.

Make Sure Everything Is Secured

When you are driving, the cupboard and drawers can come open. Make sure that your RV kitchen accessories are stored and secured safely in your RV. Make sure to always keep covers on sharp knives.

Avoid Glass Camper Kitchen Accessories

Try at all costs to avoid bringing glass. Glass is fragile and most likely will not fare well in a bumpy RV as you are driving down the road. If you do bring glass, make sure to store it properly when driving to avoid broken glass in your RV.

Prioritize Easy to Clean

Make sure everything you are bringing is easy to clean. You won’t want to take up valuable sink space with soaking dishes or something you cannot get clean. Only bringing items that are easy to clean will make hand-washing your dishes a much more pleasant experience.

Multi-Purpose Whenever Possible

Be creative about kitchen appliances or RV gadgets that can serve multiple purposes. You can use a strainer as a serving bowl. You could use a silicon drying dish as a hot pad on your table.

There are lots of ways to limit the number of things you need in your RV. Increasing the number of things you can do with each of your camper kitchen accessories will make your storage space go a long way.

Be Creative with Your Storage Space

Think about different areas of your RV where you can store some extra items. I store lots of things in my oven because I don’t use them as often. We store the cookie sheets in there as well as my bread, bagels, muffins, and croissants.

Our water and Gatorade as well as the Instant Pot and rice cooker are stored under one of the benches at our table. All of this gives me added space, so I don’t need to cram all of our RV kitchen accessories in a few cupboards.

Conclusion: Best RV Kitchen Accessories

We hope you have found this article helpful in determining the RV kitchen accessories you need in your camper.

Some people find cooking in an RV to be difficult but with a little bit of preparation and practice, we have found it isn’t much different than cooking at home. Except, for the dishwasher! We miss almost every day.

If you’re looking for some other tips for your RV, be sure to check out our favorite clothes hangers for RVs.

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