What's your travel set up?

[TheCountofQ]

So, I spend extensive time away from home, for work. I rarely know where I'm going to be staying until I get there, get familiar with the area, and shop around a bit. Typically, I'll start off in a motel, then either get into a long term airbnb, or rental.

Seeing that I don't have a ton of room in my pickup, I am always interested in what others travel with.

There are a few things I typically travel with...

Hasty Bake Ranger (had to remove the hinge from the lid, so it will fit under the bed cover of my pickup).

3 cup rice cooker.

Crock pot.

Lots of cooking utensils, knives, a couple of cutting boards.

Annova Cooker and a big container made for it (a lot of the utensils and such gets stored inside of this while transporting).

A few plates and bowls.

Hario pour over, kettle, grinder. A few sizes of thermos.

Cast Iron, 4qt stainless pot, 2qt stainless pot.

Inexpensive induction hot plate (single burner).

Various containers for storing foods (rice, spag, cereal, and such).

Ice chest.

I've done the electric skillet/pots, and they can be found cheap enough to be disposable in my opinion, so I would often just buy one and leave it, in the past, but have moved to that induction hot plate instead now.

It's actually quite a bit of stuff, and takes up a lot of room and am interested in a more efficient use of space.

I tried the instant pot. Frankly, I just don't find myself using it much, although I know plenty of people use them and swear by them. I just don't think they are right for me.

I have yet to try an air fryer. They look to take up a lot of space, so I haven't invested and good ones do seem to be relatively high dollar. It would be nice to have some sort of toaster oven, that could do chickens indoors, or frozen pizza.

Although I've been here so long, and have enough room that I brought up the Vacmaster pro, it's way to big to bring that with me. Would love to find a reliable vac sealer small enough to travel.

Anyway,... I just thought I would throw this out there to see what cooking equippment others here prefer to travel with, and tips/ tricks you all might suggest for cooking in motels, airbnbs, and such.

Thoughts...?

[HawkerXP]

I don't get to stay long term often. If I do, I'll stay at a "suite" hotel that supplies a basic kitchen. I will buy a no-stick fry pan though.

[TheCountofQ]

A good portion of the time I am not reimbursed for travel expenses. It just depends on the particular job (construction), so rarely start at the nicer places with kitchenettes. Sometimes I get lucky and find one though, and agree... this is the best way (short of a travel trailer maybe).

[HawkerXP]

I figured that.
Obviously, I travel on someone else’s dime.

Platinum elite for Marriott and Diamond for Hilton.

[barelfly]

[MBMorgan]

If you're considering an air fryer, an air fryer lid is available for some InstantPot models. I don't know personally how well they work, but it might be worth considering in order to avoid adding an entire new appliance into the mix.

[DTro]

Interesting- Going to da googleswebs to investigate!

[klflowers]

I have this air fryer on the RV. Does 8 medium sized wings, a serving of fries, a large pork chop. Works well and it is small.

https://bydash.com/products/digital-tasti-crisp-air-fryer-2-6qt?variant=39723634458678

[TheCountofQ]

This is about the size of a gallon of milk? Maybe a little bigger? Looks interesting.

[klflowers]

TheCountofQ it is maybe a gallon and a half. Works well

[Oak Smoke]

I’m one of the old guys so what I suggest may well be an outdated idea. My sales area ran from Douglas Wyoming to Harlingen Tx. I spent a lot of time living out of an F-150. One of the most versatile cooking tools I ever owned was a George Forman grill. I could do a small steak, chicken breast or thighs, pork chops, hamburger patties, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and toast. With just a little thought you can prop it up level and cook eggs in it or an omelette. Grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, and even fish sticks if you get that craving like I do once in a while. It’ll warm left overs too. When your through just toss a wet paper towel in and shut the lid for a minute, It will steam every thing loose so that you just wipe it out. I know it’s old school but it’s an incredible multitasker.

[HawkerXP]

We still carry them in our aircraft. Flight attendants love them for just the same reason!

[TheCountofQ]

That's a great idea!! Had never even considered one before, and they are not very big either! Thx.

[texastweeter]

John Wayne camp tripod, lodge Dutch oven, Wagner #10 skillet, old school percolator, foldable grill grate, steel nesting mixing bowls, skinning/quartering knife roll, folding fork and spoon set, coffee cups, enabled bean pot, enameled plates, enabled bowls, cooking spoon, spatula.

[smokenoob]

in a game of chess my players aren’t even on your board 🤔

[TripleB]

I assume from your Hasty Bake description of storage that you have a small pickup. It's interesting to me that is called Hasty Bake Ranger. I was a Ranger...long ago and far away. And we could pack a lot and conserve space. Wonder if in some way that is why it is called the Ranger..compact and ready.

From your description, sounds like you're doing a fantastic job on space management. I'm sure you're putting articles inside of articles. I'm sure you are using the Hasty Bake compartments to store things. If I was on the road, I'd use this as a packing list. Impressed. Job well done.

[barelfly]

I don’t have a travel set up, but the lake house has accumulated a few things that makes cooking easier! My first kettle grill, that I call the $40 wonder kettle! Also some nice knives and then two Weber gassers - one is mine, one is my dad’s. Between all that, I can cook it up fairly well. Also have a lodge CI skillet and a lodge griddle for the birria tacos I enjoy to make at the lake too

[Huskee]

I find the PBC is a great travel buddy. All the gear/supplies to use it fits inside it and it should fit under a tonneau in a pickup bed so it travels well. Assuming you have somewhere to use it on location obviously.

[DTro]

If I am going to be cooking I bring onions, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, a chefs knife a bag of briquettes, and a piece or two of cast iron.