Alternative cooking methods

[Joneses2420]

Hi guys, were looking at buying a camper and will be using it to go abroad etc. I dont like the idea of gas cooking in the van at all to be honest, I know there are alternatives for electric out there. But assuming they are more expensive for one and know they are far less common to find in already converted vans.

Brings me to my question...Air fryers - are they possible or too energy consuming? Same question for something like a slow cooker. Feel like that could meet our needs and the cost would make it so we could buy the van earlier and look in to getting electric hobs further down the line?

Thanks as always guys, you're all legends!

 

[Dellmassive]

Gas is most efficient for cooking.

But if you want to go electric....

Look at microwave, induction hob, slow cooker, air fryer, sandwich maker.

Anything is possible with the budget.

As for the air fryer it's possible, but you will be looking at a 230ah battery, 2kw inverter and a 50A dc-dc charger.... The main issue with going down the 12v electric route.... Is recharging the next day..... Even with a 50A charger it would take 5hrs of driving to the charge that 230ah battery.

Example. 800w air fryer. Could be run for 3hrs. That battery.... Then needs a 5hr drive to recharge. ( Quick maths, not scientifically worked out)

 

[JoshB_]

All depends on how many watts it is. If you on an electric hook up then no problem, most of the modern hook up points are at least 6 amp these days so you’re good for 1200W there.

Slow cookers are usually pretty low draw, in the low hundreds of watts, so no problem.
Air Fryers are more like 1500W at least so you might be struggling there…

If you’re trying to cook off a leisure battery, probably best you stick to gas, unless you have a monster battery.
As aforementioned, if you’ve got a 1500W air fryer, that’s 125 amps at 12V, so that’s 50 mins to completely flatten a 105Ah battery (ittl cut out before that).

Most people use a portable gas cooker and stick it outside/in the awning. The internal one is handy for boiling the kettle!

 

[doncarlyon]

We've taken an airfryer a few times when camping in a tent. EHU has never been an issue, always been able to use it without tripping the breaker.

 

[Bav]

We have an air fryer and have used it both on and off-grid. When off-grid, for anything more than infrequent use, we need long sunny days and/or plenty of touring.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Do not like gas, consider Diesel! Wallas make all manor of diesel appliances including diesel Hobs, Hob Heaters Ovens, ovens with Hobs Ovens with hobs and heating. 12Volt little current economical on diesel. Those hobs with hating just use a lid with thermostatic switched fans to push hot air from the hob around the vehicle. Easily enough thermals to heat a Transporter. Safer than gas no fumes they are vented outside. No condensation unlike gas. Cheap to run use either a supplied fuel container or plumb it into the diesel supply. Mostly modern design appearance some models are free standing types others flush mounted. Used one for many years brilliant.

Products - Heating and Cooking Solutions - Wallas

Focusing on environmentally friendly smart products, Wallas heaters, cookers, and ovens are most suitable for recreational boats, camper vans, trailers, tiny houses, and cottages in remote off-grid environments.

wallas.fi

 

[Ayjay]

….No condensation unlike gas…..

Apart from all the condensation caused by the actual cooking!

 

[JumpShip]

We have a microwave in the van (only used on EHU) a freestanding induction hob (only used on EHU) and a portable aerosol type gas hob.
Does everything we need while abroad.
Obviously when on EHU you cook on lecky and when not you use the gas.
No big set up cost , easily transported , and cooking mostly done outside.

 

[Dellmassive]

@Joneses2420 was you referring to an off grid or on grid situation?

Id assumed you were referring to being off grid?.... So using the 12v system to power said air fryer.

 

[Joneses2420]

@Joneses2420 was you referring to an off grid or on grid situation?

Id assumed you were referring to being off grid?.... So using the 12v system to power said air fryer.

Bit of both really mate just trying to gauge everyone’s thoughts when at a campsite and when not.

Obviously through Europe we’d mostly be staying at campsites etc but hopefully/would imagine some nights without hook ups too.

 

[T6 Syd]

If you don't want to carry a gas cylinder inside the van get an underslung tank. For cooking, as others have said, gas cooker/griddle/bbq for off grid, but electric if on hook-up or just away for a night/touring. There are portable induction hobs, they don't have to be fixed. Microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers are portable anyway.

It also depends on the style and layout of the van you want. Do you actually need fixed units, typically compromising bed space? Slide out pods/drawers can be used to house a gas cooker and you'll be cooking 'outside'. For inclement weather a simple tailgate/barn door awning can provide cover. Or use a side awning, doesn't have to be a fancy one if just for cover for cooking.

Whether or not you have fixed cooking facilities can have a bearing on how your van is classified (for speed limits) but if you choose your base van carefully it can already be classified as a 'car'.

We are trying to squeeze a camping lifestyle and personal choices into a smallish van, there are going to be compromises. Energy supply is an issue no matter what type of vehicle really, unless you can carry and run a generator or Dellmassive's whole collection of batteries and power banks . That may change a bit with EVs, you may have 50+ kW electric to tap into, but you'd then have to plan the re-charging carefully, or be on hook up in which case you wouldn't need to tap into he vehicle battery.

 

[doncarlyon]

Do not like gas, consider Diesel! Wallas make all manor of diesel appliances including diesel Hobs, Hob Heaters Ovens, ovens with Hobs Ovens with hobs and heating. 12Volt little current economical on diesel. Those hobs with hating just use a lid with thermostatic switched fans to push hot air from the hob around the vehicle. Easily enough thermals to heat a Transporter. Safer than gas no fumes they are vented outside. No condensation unlike gas. Cheap to run use either a supplied fuel container or plumb it into the diesel supply. Mostly modern design appearance some models are free standing types others flush mounted. Used one for many years brilliant.

Products - Heating and Cooking Solutions - Wallas

Focusing on environmentally friendly smart products, Wallas heaters, cookers, and ovens are most suitable for recreational boats, camper vans, trailers, tiny houses, and cottages in remote off-grid environments.

wallas.fi

Great idea, quite expensive.

 

[Joneses2420]

Great idea, quite expensive.

Yeah I agree, hence the original question. Getting this done would delay the purchase of the van for us I think so was just trying to look in to alternatives.

 

[Joneses2420]

If you don't want to carry a gas cylinder inside the van get an underslung tank. For cooking, as others have said, gas cooker/griddle/bbq for off grid, but electric if on hook-up or just away for a night/touring. There are portable induction hobs, they don't have to be fixed. Microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers are portable anyway.

It also depends on the style and layout of the van you want. Do you actually need fixed units, typically compromising bed space? Slide out pods/drawers can be used to house a gas cooker and you'll be cooking 'outside'. For inclement weather a simple tailgate/barn door awning can provide cover. Or use a side awning, doesn't have to be a fancy one if just for cover for cooking.

Whether or not you have fixed cooking facilities can have a bearing on how your van is classified (for speed limits) but if you choose your base van carefully it can already be classified as a 'car'.

We are trying to squeeze a camping lifestyle and personal choices into a smallish van, there are going to be compromises. Energy supply is an issue no matter what type of vehicle really, unless you can carry and run a generator or Dellmassive's whole collection of batteries and power banks . That may change a bit with EVs, you may have 50+ kW electric to tap into, but you'd then have to plan the re-charging carefully, or be on hook up in which case you wouldn't need to tap into he vehicle battery.

Seems by the replies that the portable induction hobs are the most popular choice for people? For reference the reason I don’t like the thought of the gas hobs is for safety, should I be worried about that?

 

[TallPaul_S]

I've got a twin portable gas hob which works off the smaller canisters, and also a single 800w induction hob which I use the most as it's just quicker and easier to use.

But, as above - anything 230v running through an inverter over a few hundred watts rinses the battery.

800w + about 10% efficiency losses, so 900w. 900w is about 70a. So with a 100Ah battery that's 35Ah or 35% of the battery used in just 30 minutes!

 

[JumpShip]

Always have a smoke/Co detector anyway for peace of mind if nothing else.
If you keep everything portable you can please yourself what you get, when you get it and where you use it.
We've just done 2 months in france/spain and not used the gas once (carried 12 aerosol cans around with us cuz previous years we've needed them) .
Depends on where you go .

 

[Kind of Blue]

Great idea, quite expensive.

Quite expensive yes if used for only cooking but buy the right one and it will will heat your T6 and you will not require additional heating like an air blower and will use less fuel and require a lower Amp draw. For many years I had a Landrover 101 Forward Control radio Body. That was a long way back. I did not have additional batteries only used the vehicle battery I camped in all weathers some as low as -17C kept it running for extended periods only turning off to refill he fuel tank mine in those days ran on paraffin / kerosene. In all those years I never ran down the battery, it was our only vehicle and we did massive amount of Off Road Driving and just camping up solo mostly any where we fancied providing it was flat enough to camp level ish for sleeping. In all those years it never broke down it never ran the battery down it was 100% reliable. We did not have solar cells either.

We had many friends with similar LR 101 FC vehicles some had eberspasher or similar air heaters similar to what many on this forum use today/ Constantly after a few hours their additional batteries would run down and they had to run engines or start up generators while ours kept on producing heat. Generally in those blizzard conditions all the others would just pile into our LR101FC usually uninvited and shiver until warmed up in our truck. To cook on the same appliance by just lifting the lid we would brew up or often as not make some supper for our companions. They eventually would return reluctantly to there own vehicles for the night. Next winter morning we would hear the familiar starting up of vehicles just for them to warm up and charge up batteries. Life for us warm well fed good sleep, the others cold needing to coax gas bottles and start up gas cookers.

Expensive well its all revelative, one device heating and cooking. Just look at the Amp draw the fuel convenience and compare. No running condensation no internal fumes no CO inside the living space no naked flames. The only downside is as far as I know their is no remote or timer facility but I have never looked.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Apart from all the condensation caused by the actual cooking!

Of course cooking food usually causes condensation but a diesel cooker vents all its own combustion gases including condensation through a small chimney or vent depending on model they even make ovens oven hob combinations with heating. They have been used on boats for decades and as you know boats have real problems and safety risks concerning gas and gas appliances. Gas collect in boat hulls explosion risk and CO carbon monoxide we are very susceptible to that.

 

[roadtripper]

Seems by the replies that the portable induction hobs are the most popular choice for people? For reference the reason I don’t like the thought of the gas hobs is for safety, should I be worried about that?

An induction hob with variable power can be a good no-gas solution, especially if your use is mostly going to be on EHU (where you can go flat out power wise) but occasionally need to have a brew on the road.

Throttle the stove back to 300w it's much more inverter and battery friendly, though clearly will take longer.

If you want full off grid then doing the numbers show just how much energy density you can get in gas and diesel and just how much energy heating anything can take.

Technology has now got to the point where you can go fully electric and off grid, some folks here have done it, but it takes planning, a decent amount of space (though you save on a gas tank!) and money to achieve it. It's not something I'd recommend on what sounds like your first camper, get a full season under your belt one way or another first.

It's not super fancy but one of the briefcase camping stoves and aerosol style butane cans also makes a good "we're not on EHU tonight" back ups and can be used to cook outside too, and they're as cheap as chips and you can get fuel in many places.

 

[T6 Syd]

Seems by the replies that the portable induction hobs are the most popular choice for people? For reference the reason I don’t like the thought of the gas hobs is for safety, should I be worried about that?

It is very difficult to eliminate all risks. Gas in a van carries risks as does gas in your house - unless you have followed your concerns through and don't have gas in your house. Properly designed, installed and maintained, the risk will be minimised. For the residual risk, a CO alarm and, if you want, a gas alarm should be fitted. Better separate alarms as the gas in the van will be lpg and accumulates more at low level. Drop holes, through the van floor in cylinder cupboards and units below the hob, are provided to help vent any leaks that may occur.

Portable gas hobs with aerosol style gas canisters are definitely not without their risks either.

A gas hob should not be used to heat the van - no flueless gas or liquid fuelled heater should be used in a van.

Poorly designed, installed and maintained electrics can cause fires or electrocution risks. Lithium batteries have a high power density, good for power storage but very nasty if they fail and suffer thermal runaway. Again, though, good design and protective measures limit the risks.

In the end, you want to relax and enjoy your time in the van, so you have to be happy with what you have and use in there. All the equipment in the van, not just the engine, brakes etc, should be regularly checked and maintained.