Summer changes the rhythm of cooking, especially in an RV. With higher temperatures, longer days, and more mouths to feed, you’re often left preparing larger-than-usual meals in a hot, cramped galley kitchen. Not exactly the relaxing getaway you had in mind.
Rather than suffer through another season of discomfort, check out 6 easy steps you can take to improve your cooking situation right now. Whether you’ve been planning for targeted upgrades or your budget is zero, there’s something on this list to help your space feel noticeably newer, more organized, and more enjoyable to cook in. Here’s where to start.
1. Clean & Purge
Before anything else, reset the space. RV kitchens accumulate grease, odors, and clutter in ways that make even nice accessories look dingy, and you can't assess what you actually need until you’ve cleared out what you don't.
Pull everything out of the cabinets and drawers, wipe down surfaces, and be honest about what earns its place back. If you can’t remember the last time you used that pot, pan, or appliance, it may be a good candidate for the “donate” pile—same rule applies for duplicate items and single-use gadgets. Toss any stained plastic containers or mismatched lids, and sift through your food items with a critical eye. Just-expired or soon-to-be-expired goods are generally fine, but as the saying goes: when in doubt, throw it out.
When cleaning, always work top to bottom as dust and greasy residue naturally fall downward. Consider using a cleaner that also degreases and disinfects, like Spray Nine or Formula 409. For surfaces that come into direct contact with food, like countertops, cutting boards, and the inside of the microwave or refrigerator, a mild dish soap is your best—and safest—option.
2. Streamline Your Setup
Once the space is clear and no longer smelling like a stale french fry, put it to work. Ensure frequently-used items are easy to access and located in spaces that make sense. You shouldn’t have to leave a boiling pot on the stove to grab a spice jar or slotted spoon. If countertop space is limited and cabinets are already full, a magnetic metal strip easily transforms any smooth wall into a mounting surface. Hang knives, utensils, glass jars—even drinkware!
As anyone with a tiny kitchen will tell you, collapsible dishware is your friend. Bowls, colanders, and measuring cups that compress down flat take up half the space of their conventional counterparts and work just as well. If you’re really pressed for space, some brands, like GSI Outdoors, make collapsible pots and pans—many of which serve double-duty as strainers or dinnerware.
Other organizational tools that help make a small kitchen more functional include:
- Over-the-sink cutting boards, strainers, and drying racks that maximize limited counter space.
- Hanging baskets, drawer organizers, and cabinet inserts that keep everything in its place while the rig is in motion.
3. Refresh the Look
If your RV kitchen is simply looking a little outdated, rest assured that you don't need a full remodel to make it feel like a fresh, new space. Simply swapping out faded dish towels and stained oven mitts with colorful replacements can be surprisingly impactful. Consider upgrading curtains and throw rugs, too—brands like Faulkner, Kay Dee Designs, and Camco offer a wide variety of fun prints and patterns at affordable prices, so you can swap out linens with the seasons.
For a bigger visual refresh, peel-and-stick backsplash panels and wall coverings can transform the look of a kitchen in an afternoon. Stick to purpose-rated RV products, like those engineered by Genesis Products, as they hold up better in heat and humidity than generic décor options. While this upgrade requires a greater investment of time and money, the value-add can’t be denied.
4. Elevate Your Cooking Environment
There’s a difference between having a kitchen that functions and having one that performs. Worn tools, dim lighting, and tired appliances force you to work harder, adding friction and time to every task.
A few targeted swaps are all it takes:
- Cookware: Scratched, worn, or Teflon-shedding pans not only cause food to stick to the pan, but can also expose you to microplastics or harmful chemicals. You don’t need a full set of professional cookware, just a few quality pieces that align with how (and what) you like to cook. If stacking pots and pans is the only way to make them fit inside your cabinets, consider upgrading to specially-designed nesting cookware or layering in some cut-to-size pieces of mesh cabinet liner to reduce scratches.
- Appliance Parts: Most appliance manufacturers offer replacements for heavily-used parts that tend to wear out over time. Swapping out handles, knobs, door gaskets, drip pans, and light bulbs for newer versions helps you get more meals out of your kitchen before it’s time to upgrade.
- Utensils: A thoughtfully chosen set of premium tools beats a drawer full of cheap gadgets every time. At the end of the day, you don't need much more than a properly sharpened set of quality knives, a good spatula, and the right ladle.
- Task Lighting: You can’t cook well if you can’t see what you’re doing. Adding in some under-cabinet LED strips or a small battery-powered light over the prep area can make a genuine difference in a small, often dim galley.
- Anti-Fatigue Mat: Standing on a hard floor while cooking is uncomfortable at home—in an RV, where the flooring is often thinner and less forgiving, it’s even worse. A cushioned anti-fatigue mat takes the edge off long cooking sessions and is one of the cheapest upgrades on this list.
5. Create Some Dining Ambiance
The RV kitchen doesn’t have to feel like a sad space you tolerate between camping activities. Whether you’re eating inside or out, the dining experience is worth investing a little thought in.
For inside meals, upgraded seats can have a major impact on comfort. Thomas Payne® Signature by Lippert offers high-quality replacement RV cushions made of soft-but-strong fabrics that can stand up to kitchen messes and everyday use. If you’re looking for lower-budget improvements, consider adding some covered foam to the existing seats and upgrading the tablecloth or placemats. A table centerpiece always makes a space feel more inviting, but since space is at a premium, consider one that doubles as fruit or snack storage or serves as additional lighting. Many camping lanterns feature multiple settings, including a flickering candle mode.
For outside eating, the ambiance largely takes care of itself, as fresh air, open sky, and a campfire do most of the heavy lifting. What you’re really guarding against are the vibe killers: insufficient lighting that makes it hard to see your food after sunset, wobbly furniture that turns every meal into a balancing act, and bugs that nobody invited but always show up anyway. String lights or patio lanterns set the mood and solve the lighting problem in one shot. A quality folding table and chairs eliminate the wobble. And for the bugs, a high-powered electric zapper is worth every penny.
6. Get Some Air
When the galley gets hot, the campsite becomes the kitchen—and summer is the best excuse to take cooking outside:
- A griddle or camp grill handles everything from breakfast eggs to burger night, while a camp stove gives you a reliable burner when the RV range feels like overkill.
- For open-fire cooking, pie irons and grill baskets are the low-tech, high-reward option that never gets old.
- An awning transforms the space outside your door into a functional outdoor room, complete with shade, shelter, and enough room for a folding table and chairs.
When heading outside isn’t an option or you’d simply rather stay indoors, the next best move is getting air moving inside. A vent fan upgrade or a small kitchen fan makes the galley significantly more bearable during summer cooking—and if you want to fry, roast, or crisp something without turning the whole rig into an oven, an air fryer is worth serious consideration. You’ll enjoy the same tasty results at a fraction of the heat.
Get Cookin' With Parts Via
The kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in any RV, and in a compact footprint, small upgrades add up quickly. Whether you’re tackling one section at a time or doing a full refresh before a big summer trip, Parts Via carries everything from organizational accessories and cookware to replacement appliance parts and outdoor cooking gear. Browse the full selection and take advantage of our fast, FREE ship-to-store option at checkout.