Let’s be honest—cooking in a campervan can be a challenge. Space is tight, power’s limited, and somehow an essential always goes missing mid-stir. But after years of full-time vanlife (since 2018!), I’ve tested loads of gear and figured out which gadgets are actually worthy of the cupboard space.
Here’s my guide to my absolute favourite campervan kitchen gadgets—the ones I use constantly, from my first cuppa to that cheeky glass of red at night.
Prefer to watch this on YouTube? Click here!
1. The Manual Blender
Brand tested: Piranha (also rate the Zyliss)
This gadget is ridiculously simple—no power, just a pull-string and five blades. It’s cheap, compact, and it works. Want to chop onions without tears or mess flying behind every nook and cranny? Well here we go. It’s brilliant for sofrito bases, coleslaw, pasta sauces, and so so much more.
Why it’s a keeper:
- Doesn’t need electricity
- Quick clean-up
- No knife skills required
➡️ Perfect for saving time, creating less mess and getting the perfect chop!
Grab yourself a Zyliss blender here
2. RidgeMonkey Compact XL Sandwich Toaster
Heard of RidgeMonkey? Of course you have! But this compact, non-stick, flip-it-like-a-pro sandwich toaster is more than just toasties. Frittatas, omelettes, even flipping a pizza-like snack—it’s a pan with storage and usability in mind.
Pro tip: Get the induction version if that suits your setup!
Best bits:
- Double pans: cook two things at once
- Excellent seal (no saucey spill nightmares)
- Detachable handles for easy compact storage
- Even and quick cooking
👉 Checkout the full video review here
3. Magnetic Knife Strip + Proper Knives
No more blindly reaching into drawers and slicing your fingers. A magnetic knife strip keeps things visible and safe. I use it for knives, tongs, peelers—any metal gadget will stick!
As for my knives I use Savanake knives but if you look after your knives you can get away with a cheaper brand. A good sharp knife will give you a safer and more enjoyable experience in the kitchen.
- Savanake knives – Quality British steel, beautiful to use.
- Tesco Go Cook – Cheap (£15-ish) but shockingly good.
- Keep ’em sharp with a honing steel
4. A Multifunction Pan FlavorStone
Having a pan that replaced 5 other pans was a huge space saver for me! After 5 years of using my Flavorstone pan I still rate it as my favourite go to pan!
What it replaces:
| Gadget | Replaced By |
|---|---|
| Frying Pan | ✅ |
| Saucepan | ✅ |
| Wok | ✅ |
| Steamer | ✅ |
| Oven Dish | ✅ |
It’s aluminium (lightweight), comes with a lid, frying basket, and silicone steam mat. Honestly, it’s the pan that replaced all my others.
Get yourself a Flavorstone here
5. Our Place Wonder Oven
This one’s a beaut!. It air fries, grills, bakes, roasts, reheats, and toasts. And yep—it’s low wattage.
Why I rate it:
- Low wattage
- Great for families (chicken nuggets on the go!)
- Compact and efficient
- Cooks almost anything!
➡️ Here is my full review video
Get yourself a Wonder Oven here
6. The Wine Rack (No Judgment Please)
Look, I don’t drink and drive—but I do cook with wine, and occasionally drink it responsibly too. This wall-mounted rack keeps things tidy and stops bottles rolling around. Practical and looks great too!
7. Silwy Magnetic Glasses (Yes, Actual Glass in a Campervan)
Forget those ugly plastic “glasses.” These magnetic crystal wine glasses stick to the ceiling. The actual ceiling. Through potholes and Stonehenge bumps, they don’t budge. Theres something special about drinking wine from a posh glass in a campervan.
The Silwy magnetic magic also includes:
- Salt & pepper grinders
- Travel mugs
- Porcelain plates & bowls
- Herb jars
- Plus so many more products at silwy.de
➡️ Use my link for 20% off if you fancy upgrading from plastic camping gear.
8. USB Whisk
I use it for whisking egg whites, cream—basically anything that needs volume without arm cramps. Mine’s a Salter one from Argos. Simple. Cheap. Effective. Forearm saver.
9. Niche 7-in-1 Kitchen Tool
This is an amazing product! Peel, slice, grate, julienne, crinkle cut—it does it all. One tool, barely any storage needed. Great for making fun crinkle chips for the kids (or the kid in you).
What it replaces:
- Peeler
- Mandoline
- Grater
- Julienne slicer
➡️ Grab yourself a Niche here…you are welcome!
10. Omnia Stovetop Oven
Don’t have a built-in oven in your campervan? This is the gadget you need to put favourites such as roast potatoes and pizza back on the menu. Works on a gas stove and makes:
- Bread (focaccia!)
- Roast potatoes
- Pies
- Cakes
- Pizza
I’ve used mine since 2019 and it’s never failed. Again, a full how-to blog coming soon.
Get yourself an Omnia oven here
11. The Cobb BBQ/Oven (The Best Outdoor Cooking Grill)
This one is for cooking outside. The Cobb is compact, versitile and lets me roast chickens, grill burgers, stir-fry veggies—you name it. The heat stays inside, so even windy days aren’t an issue. Wind proof outdoor coooking…. I’m serious!
Why I love it:
- Move it mid-cook
- Great oven-style heat distribution
- Doesn’t take up much boot space
- Oven, grill, BBQ, pan fry, smoke, infuse
➡️ Checkout my video review here
Get yourself a discount on a Cobb here: www.cobb-bbq.co.uk Discount code: VanlifeEats15
12. Wonder Bag (Slow Cooker Without Power)
It’s basically a thermal oven. Bring your stew or curry up to temp on the stove, pop it in the bag, and walk away. Come back hours later to a hot, slow-cooked meal. No extra power used. We love this product so much!
Bonus: When not in use, it doubles as protective storage for bowls and pans.
The Vanlife Eats van is a treasure cove of gadgets!
I’ve also got:
- Pasta rollers
- Dough scrapers
- Folding colanders
- Squeezy bottles
- Peel catching peelers
- + many many other fun gadgets
But those are for another day. Today was all about my faves — the ones that make vanlife cooking doable, and genuinely enjoyable.
Got a Favourite Gadget?
Let me know what you swear by in your camper kitchen. Drop a comment, send a pic, or tag me on socials. I’ll be doing deeper dives into gadgets like the RidgeMonkey, Omnia oven, and Cobb BBQ, so make sure you subscribe or follow if you’re into that kinda thing.
And remember—just because you’re cooking in a van doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Especially when you’ve got wine glasses stuck to the ceiling.
🆓 Our full product list:
Cobb BBQ
Our Silwy magnetic plates and glasses
Air Fryer / Oven – The Wonder Oven
Google Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
👉 If you love food, travel, and discovering hidden foodie gems, make sure to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more delicious adventures!
🔗 Join me on my Vanlife Eats adventure:
🌍 Website
📖 Grab my Vanlife Cookbook – ‘Recipes Inspired by Travel and Adventure’: Vanlife Cookbook
Design your dream van with Vanspace: Design Your Van
👉 Want inspiration on foodie travel vlogs? Click here
Videos to Watch Next:
- I live and travel in a self-converted van. Checkout our van build series Van Build Series
➡️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for our vanlife culinary adventures!
Checkout Vanlife Eats for recipes and culinary adventures
Disclaimer: You’ll see the van’s a little rough around the edges. We are amateur van builders and learning along the way. Cooking’s our thing! :D
“Recipes inspired by travel and adventure”
Inquiries: hello@vanlifeeats.com
