Three Ways to Organize Your RV Refrigerator and Avoid Waste
1. Make a Road Trip Meal Menu
Every day in the U.S. more than 40 percent of food gets wasted, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For example, heaps of rotten food added to landfills create more greenhouse gas emissions and hastens climate change. So, if you don’t want to be a part of the problem, start making a trip menu and thinking about food storage solutions for your RV refrigerator.Planning meals and practicing smart RV cooking on the road requires the same common sense as menu planning for a sticks-and-bricks home. Knowing what items to buy and packing ahead of time will prevent food spoilage and save money too. (photo at left courtesy of Mr. Transistor iRV2.com member)
When planning your RVing meals remember:
- One pot meals like soups and casseroles are easiest to make.
- Choose meals with versatile ingredients like eggs, sausage and potatoes. These items can be used for breakfast and dinner.
- Consider longer-lasting ingredients. Cabbage lasts longer than fragile lettuce, so make slaws in place of salads when possible.
2. Don’t Overpack
Overpacking a RV refrigerator is easy to do and has devastating results. Cramming too many groceries into a RV refrigerator and you’ll block the air circulation that keeps food cold. Food spoilage in RV refrigerators is easily avoided when you:- Minimize what you put in the refrigerator as much as possible. Buy non-refrigerated substitutes for certain basic ingredients. Pasteurized milk packaged in single-serve “aseptic” containers is a good example.
- Remove items like produce from their bulky packaging. Eliminating unnecessary containers helps keep cold air circulating.
- Pack smaller items on the top shelf closest to the cooling fans. This enables cool air to freely travel to the lower shelves.
- Buy a set of RV refrigerator tension bars as this gadget prevents food from unexpectedly falling out of your refrigerator.