What’s the Best Simple Cooking Setup for Van Life?
The best simple setup is the one that makes most meals fast without filling your van with steam, grease, or fire risk. Simple means fewer parts, fewer spills, and fewer reasons to cook inside without ventilation.
COOKING
Goal: fast meals, low mess
Main risks: fire + CO + grease
Rule: vent every cook
PRIORITY
Simple means controlled
A “kitchen” is a set of controls: stable stove, wind/steam control, safe fuel handling, and a cleanup routine. Most van cooking problems come from skipping one of those.
Non-negotiables: stable cooking surface, ventilation, and a way to shut down and put everything away fast.
Related:
QUICK ANSWER
A simple setup that covers most meals
- One-burner stove on a stable surface with a heat-safe base.
- One pot + one pan with lids to control steam.
- Basic prep kit: knife, cutting board, stirring tool, lighter.
- Ventilation plan: fan/roof vent on, plus a cracked opening.
- Spill and grease control: splash control, wipes, and a small trash system.
- Cleanup loop: water for wash, towel for dry, place to store dry gear.
Best “simple meal” bias: boil/simmer, one-pan, or pre-cooked reheats. Less fry, less steam, less cleanup.
Best safety bias: cook outside when you can. Cook inside only with active ventilation and clear space.
CORE KIT
The minimal core kit (covers 80% of meals)
COOK
- One-burner stove with stable base.
- One medium pot with lid.
- One pan with lid or cover.
- One kettle or small pot for hot water.
PREP
- One solid knife.
- One cutting board.
- Spatula/spoon/tongs (one or two tools max).
- One lighter plus a backup ignition method.
CLEAN
- Small wash tub or container.
- Soap + scrubber.
- Dry towel and a separate “dirty” towel.
- Trash bag system that seals.
Keep it simple: every extra gadget becomes storage clutter, grease residue, and a reason to avoid cleaning.
COOK ZONES
Inside vs outside cooking zones (the safest default)
OUTSIDE
Best default when possible
- Reduces CO exposure and moisture loading.
- Keeps grease and smells out of fabric and bedding.
- Lower fire risk to your interior build.
- Faster cleanup with less “van contamination.”
INSIDE
Only with control
- Clear space around the stove: no loose paper, rags, or curtains.
- Vent fan on and a cracked opening for makeup air.
- Cook low-steam, low-grease meals when weather forces indoor cooking.
- Have a shutdown-and-stow routine before you start cooking.
MEALS
Meal strategy that reduces steam, grease, and cleanup
LOW STEAM
- Use lids and simmer instead of rolling boils.
- Batch-cook outside when weather is good.
- Reheat in covered containers instead of open pans.
- Prefer meals that don’t require constant boiling.
LOW GREASE
- Limit high-splatter frying inside.
- Use a splash guard and wipe while warm.
- Keep a “grease rag” separate from clean towels.
- Store oils sealed and upright so they don’t coat everything.
Simple food bias: one-pot meals, wraps, rice/pasta with protein, soups with controlled steam, and reheats. You’re optimizing for repeatability, not novelty.
CLEANUP
Cleanup system that stays simple
THE LOOP
- Cook, then immediately wipe stove area.
- Wash in a small tub; don’t splash water everywhere.
- Dry and store dry gear where it can stay dry.
- Seal trash and remove it before it becomes smell and pests.
THE FAIL MODE
- Piling dishes because you don’t have enough water.
- Grease residue on surfaces that attracts grime.
- Wet towels stored in sealed spaces.
- Trash sitting inside overnight in warm conditions.
Rule: If you can’t clean it fast, don’t cook it inside. Cooking decisions are also cleanup decisions.
POWER / FUEL
Power and fuel choices (simple and safe)
FUEL
- Store fuel upright, secured, and away from heat.
- Refuel and handle canisters outside when possible.
- Never cook in a cluttered space where fuel and rags are nearby.
- Shut down fully before moving or stowing the stove.
ELECTRIC
- Electric cooking can be clean but can overload your power plan.
- Only “simple” if your power system supports it reliably.
- Use safe wiring, stable outlets, and avoid cheap adapters under heavy load.
- Choose cooking methods that match your battery reality.
AVOID
What to avoid (because it makes cooking unsafe and miserable)
- Cooking inside with no ventilation because it’s cold or raining.
- Using the stove as heat to “save fuel.”
- Unstable stove placement on soft surfaces or near bedding.
- High-splatter frying inside a small van without grease control.
- Storing wet towels, sponges, and dishes in sealed cabinets.
- Building a kitchen you can’t clean quickly.
Simple target: cook, eat, and reset in under 30 minutes most days. If it takes longer, simplify the meal and the gear.
Safety target: no open flame in a cluttered space, and no cooking without airflow control.