RV Food Storage may be one of the last things you may think about in preparing for RV life. But it’s an important consideration to prepare for because it can be a huge headache, mess, and loss if overlooked. Not only does proper RV food storage keep you organized, but it also keeps your food fresh, tasting good, and protected from rodents and insects. You only need to have mice in your RV one time before you’ll do anything to keep them out. Proper food storage also can save you money and reduce unnecessary waste. Our number one reason we use them is to be able to increase fresh produce capacity in our tiny fridge.
RV Food Storage Considerations
RV life is small and mobile. Here are some important considerations when choosing RV food storage containers to optimize organization.
- Size & Shape – choose sizes and shapes that work together, preferably square or rectangle over round, to maximize the use of space.
- Stackable & Nestable – choose brands that stack (and preferably lock together) when in use, and that nest well when in storage.
- Air Tight – a good air-tight seal will protect your food from weather, both dryness, and humidity. It will also keep you from attracting rodents and insects.
- Leak-Proof – choose food storage containers with lids that are labeled leak-proof for less worry, especially on move days.
- Clear – choose clear containers with transparent lids so you can see the contents without having to open the container (or move three other containers just to get it out to open it)
- Plastic over glass – while some glass food storage will stand up to a bumpy move day, it’s not worth the worry. Broken glass in your fridge or pantry can cause a loss of lots of food, in addition to what was in the container. Plus, the mess to clean up.
- Mice-Proof – something you may not worry about in your sticks and bricks home, but always must consider in an RV. Look for mice-proof food storage to be labeled as mice-proof containers but when in doubt, choose heavy-duty, hard plastic containers with a tight-fitting lid. Mice can chew through soft plastics.
RV Food Storage for Optimizing Nutrition
If you’re trying to eat healthily and cook at home, the right storage containers will really help make it easier. One key aspect of healthy RV eating is RV meal planning and prep. Choose the best RV storage containers with the guidelines above, and you can extend the life of your produce, extend the life of your pantry items, and have the ability to purchase in bulk while on the road. Being prepared with the right RV cooking essentials and storage containers is one of our favorite RV cooking hacks. Healthy RV meals begin with having the best ingredients, so investing in proper storage containers is the first step to storing and keeping good food protected and fresh in your RV.
You Can’t OutRun a Bad Diet
Maintaining fitness on the road and having a healthy RV lifestyle starts with proper nutrition. Nutrition is critical for reaching and maintaining your fitness and physique goals. And proper fueling for an active lifestyle is important. Start with having the right ingredients on board in your RV, and storing them properly to stay fresh.
Having healthy options in your refrigerator is key. Prepping food makes such a huge difference in adhering to diets. Don’t let preventable challenges become your excuse!
Top RV Food Storage Choices from Full-Time RVers
Make the investment in good quality food storage containers that are the right size and shape for the storage space available in your RV. It will save you from spills, spoils, and pests. It’s a tool that will help optimize your health and save you money. Here are a few of our top picks:
These are our #1 pick for in the refrigerator. Use on fresh produce with a dry paper towel, or to store prepped food/leftovers (such as our Cucumber Tomato Salad or Shawarma Chicken).
If you are looking for pantry storage to use on bulk items like oats, nuts, quinoa, or rice, these are perfect. This is where the rodent protection comes in!
This mice and moisture-proof dog food container will leave your Fido happy. Keep Fido’s food clean and spill-free! A great option for inside the RV and doubling up extra in your exterior pass-thru.
Great points. We’ve been using ziplock baggies in all sizes-definitely not leak proof. Also not easy to deal with in the fridge.
Hey, Carol! We use a lot of Ziplocs too, for certain things like small amounts of leftover meat, or if there is a small amount of something in a container I will transfer it into a Ziploc to free up the space in the fridge! We mostly use Ziplocs for portioning bulk meat after our Costco or Sams club run. I always put the bag into an open Tupperware to unthaw in the fridge in case it leaks then it’s in the Tupperware.