cooking in the truck

Maybe a bit preachy. But correct. Please pass the lettuce!

 

Every coffee warmer is different. Most will get the water up to 175 to 200, but I've never had it boil. Mine was closer to 200 and took about 10 minutes to get a good hard boil. You'll have to experiment to get the timing right.

 

actually dont really need the measurements. the standard loaf pan that can be bought at almost any grocery store will work in the lunchbox. as to stocking up on them, the best time is right after thanksgiving or christmas. usually the stores are overstocked on the pans and will sell them for 3/$1.00. i think walmart is about the lowest price if you dont want to wait til after the holidays.

 

hi ya'll. i havent been in for a bit and i have been catching up. to the person who wondered about sweet potatoes in the lunchbox, yes it works very well. i stab it a couple of times with a knife and wrap it in foil with a little butter on it. wonderful. standard loaf pans are perffect for the lunchbox. see above post for best time to buy and stock up. cleaning everything... i use windex then wipe out the residus with paper towels and water. we always have a gallon jug of water on the truck.i have cooked anything and everything in the lunchbox. tonight we are having roasted potatoes and carrots cooked in it. most of the time, when you can smell it, its done. i have even done scrambled eggs and a turkey tenderloin. basically its just like having a small oven. the crockpot is a treasure. i even found a way to cook a cake in it.
hubby and i do most of our own cooking. the prices for a restaurant meal even if we share it is outrageous. the food can be over/under cooked, sat in a warmer for god knows how long, who knows who might have spat in it or put their unclean fingers in it. when you watch someone come out and pour hot water in the mac and cheese to freshen it, it kinda makes ya wonder just how long the food has been sitting on that buffet line. and when you go to a dennys and ask for a container only to have it dropped on the floor and then given to you makes ya wanna gag. so why go thru all that when you can cook for yourself and enjoy a healthier meal besides?
figure this... $10.95 for a meal not including drink tax and tip, that makes it about $15, minimum 2 times daily. thats $30 to eat dailey, $210 for the week. i can spend $60 a week and feed 2 people healthy nutritious meals. and thats eating well.
now, buying the inverter, lunchbox, crockpot, butane burner, electric skillet, ice chest, refridgerator, etc, can be costly. there is a solution to that, 1) it will all eventually pay for itself, 2) all of these items can be used as a tax deduction. even your new laptop is a tax deduction. the ddl (driver daily log) program is a tax deduction. so always look at it 2 was, will it pay for itself and is it a tax deduction.
enough lesson for now. good luck and be safe

 

Anybody ever use one of these?

http://www.truckfridge.com/models.html

 

$500 seems kinda steep. I bought a 12v Coleman cooler at Walmart for I think about $80 3 years ago. It worked great.

 

They offer something like that at our terminal for installation in Cascadia's/Pete's etc. $450 I believe. Frelghtliner has one that will fit in a Cascadia for more than that. For comparison I checked some RV outlets, and they are even pricier.

Depends on what you're looking for. The Coleman is OK, but if you're really serious about cooking in the truck a fridge is a better option.

 

I've not been on the road in 5trs but am single and have some goals I wanna achieve and OTR seem the way to do. Want to save money by cooking on the rig.

 

a fridge has its good points. we have have them, but find if the truck is not running, the apu is shut off for several days, all that food is gone and the company wont replace it. we tried the plug in coolers but none of them lasted more than 3 months. we just use a regular ice chest type cooler. yes it has to be drained every couple of days and yes we have to buy ice for it. for us it works out. the cooler. like the fridge is a tax deduction and so is the ice.

 

I cook everything in the truck with a microwave and toaster oven. I have made salmon, chicken, steaks, turkey breast for the holidays, you name it. Granted I was a personal chef at one time so my man is spoiled but anyone can do it. Uncle Ben's has great ready rice that pops in the microwave, add a meat and veggie and you have a complete meal! I have even made brownies, cakes, cookies etc... It beats truck stop food and is much better for you. I would be happy to give you some tips!