By Jen Kohl: RoadPro Pro Driver Council Member
The least expensive way to get started preparing meals in your truck is to save fuel points at travel centers and use them to buy a 12-volt device that you can start cooking with. The most popular cooking appliance is the RoadPro 12-volt Lunchbox Stove. It heats up to a surface temperature of 300 degrees and is limitless with what you can make in it.
Another useful 12-volt device is a thermo-electric cooler that you can use as a fridge. Just remember that it only cools down about 40 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature. If you like it warm in your cab, it may not keep things as cold as a compressor-based fridge would.
RoadPro also makes a 12-volt frying pan and a 12- volt soup pot, both useful for cooking in the truck. There are many other household devices that are used too. Choosing a 12-volt appliance can be dependent on your inverter size if you have one installed in your truck. Make sure to check your inverter and what you can run off it.
For everyone that cooks on their truck, there is a method of dishwashing. There are some who save their dirty dishes and take them into the shower with them. Others will heat up water with a large watertight container to clean the dishes. Some drivers will use a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water to wipe everything clean after wiping all remnants of food away. Many will try to reduce dirty dishes by using plastic utensils, paper plates, and bowls. It is up to you to find the method you prefer.
With the grocery delivery option and scheduled supermarket pickups, restocking your pantry is pretty simple. If you do find yourself with time to go into the supermarket, be sure to call ahead to verify there is a place you will be able to park your truck while you shop. Once you have your groceries, it’s time to put them away in your truck. Some things will be easier to store if you repackage them into vacuum-sealed bags or Ziplock bags. Cutting the veggies up into the size you want will also save space in your fridge and will save you time.
An easy meal to make in your lunchbox is lasagna. To make it, you will need a couple of lasagna sheets, small pasta sauce, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese, and precooked ground beef. The easiest way to prevent a messy stove is to use a disposable aluminum pan.
Directions for Lasagna:
1. Line the 12-Volt device
2. Add a little sauce on the bottom and layer pasta, meat, and cheese.
3. Close the lid and plug in the 12-Volt appliance.
4. When you smell the lasagna, the food will be done.
5. Unplug the 12-Volt appliance and let sit until you are ready to eat.
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