Over 25 million Americans take a vacation in an RV every year. And the Holiday season is one of the busiest times for road trips and RV travel.
Want to join the RV ranks? Before you take off, you’ll want to make sure you have enough food for the trip.
We’ve put together this guide to help you learn some of the best tips & techniques to pack your RV fridge.
So let’s get started!
Plan Your Meals Ahead
Spend some time planning your meals in advance. This might take a little time, but it will let you know exactly what you need. You won’t waste space by packing things you won’t use.
It can also be a good idea to plan to buy some food once you arrive at your destination. This can make it easier to travel, can help maximize your storage space, and will allow you to take advantage of local, or seasonal, produce along the way.
Take the Food out of Its Original Packaging
The original packaging often takes up a lot more space than the food product itself. You’ll be able to fit a lot more in your RV fridge if you take everything out of the packaging.
You should also condense things like condiments into travel-sized bottles. If you know you won’t finish everything in a container, put what you will use into a smaller container. Some people even save their delivery condiments just for this purpose because they come in single-use packaging that can be thrown away as it’s used & therefore freeing up space as meals are eaten on the road.
Taking smaller condiment containers, or single use condiments will help free up space for other items.
Use Square Containers
You’ll be able to fit more square containers in your RV fridge than round containers. They’re also easier to stack. There are many options to choose from, whether you prefer plastic or glass. we also recommend using the square storage containers in your pantry and cupboards. You can label them if you like- although most are see-through to allow easy identification of what’s inside.
Of course you will want air-tight lids in case the stack get’s a little off-balance and takes a topple. And if you have little hands getting in and out of your fridge & pantry you may want to consider the size and whether or not handles would be helpful.
Make More Space with Storage Baskets
Struggling to pack everything in your RV fridge?
You can use storage baskets to create more space. Try stacking these baskets on top of each other and next to each other like makeshift shelves. some even work on slides to create extra drawers inside the fridge. This will allow you to use much more of the space than you would have been able to otherwise.
Put Heavy Items on the Bottom
This might sound obvious, but it’s even more important for RV fridges. As you drive, the contents in your fridge might shift or move around.
Think of the inside of your fridge like a mini-trailer with it’s own internal cargo. Always stack heavier and solid items on the bottom to provide a solid base for the lighter items up top.
Make Sure the Door Closes All the Way
Once you get all your food in the fridge, make sure it closes all the way. Many RVs have safety-latches that will lock the door during travel. Be sure to make sure your safety-latch will engage properly if your fridge has one.
Also, If the door doesn’t make an airtight seal, the cold air will leak out into the rest of your RV. This little leak can decrease the coldness of the interior of the fridge and possibly impact how long the food will last. If your fridge doesn’t have a safety-latch, or if your RV has a residential fridge installed, you can always create your own locking system with a few simple items.
Learning How to Pack Your RV fridge the Right Way
Packing your RV fridge takes a bit more planning than a traditional fridge. But it’s really easy once your understand a few simple techniques. If you plan your meals in advance and separate everything into travel-size portions, you should be well on your way to making the most of your RV fridge and meals on the road.
Want some more tips for your first RV trip? Make sure you check out this helpful planning guide!
