cooking in the truck

I use a simple 110 volt electric skillet $20 wal mart. I also have a 700 watt microwave and i rarely eat at any truckstop. Really you rarely have a chance to park and eat, your routes usually don't work out that way, I can't and won't pay truckstop prices. I have enough groceries to last a week. Usually cost me about $40 bucks a week.

 

The Coleman Cooler works great. I've made mine for 2 years.

I've never used a propane stove. Though as with any open flame, use with caution.

My advise:

Buy a Rival Griddle & Rival 2 Tier Steamer. Each is about $20 @ "Wally World." You need a inverter with minimum of 1800 watts continuous power to run griddle; the steamer only requires 300 watts.

With the two of them, you can cook almost anything !!!

My weekly menu is steak,pork chops,chicken,sausage,bacon,eggs,broccoli,asparagus,and carrots. All cooked with those two items.

I store my food with sealable bowls, in my Coleman Cooler. The food lasts more than a week.

*helpful hint - buy your food for the week at one time & cook it all in one session; store it in sealable bowls in a fridge or powered cooler. I reheat in microwave. This saves me money & time.

Good luck,times, and health.

 

I had never considered cooking all at once. It would be a good time saver especially after one of those long days and all you want to do is sleep. But, I don't think steaks taste too good out of microwave. That's why I keep a few items I can nuke like hotdogs for days like that. One side side note the ThermoKing Tripack APU comes with a 1800watt inverter . It is at times a little small but is durable. You can watch for sales at Loves and Pilot. I got the 2000 watt inverter at Pilot with card for about $130. It worked great for about 8mo. before starting to die. May be a simple fix. I don't know.Also those folding TV tables at Walmart run about $9 fold up and slide behind the dummy seat and I use mine almost every day and a little cramped to cook off of but better than floor or the top bunk.

 

Also something to consider for those that don't want to cook. Always keep water and some sort of food on your truck for emergencies. You never know what might happen. Working for a reefer company we get sent to thw meat plants in the middle of no where and they somtimes take days to get you loaded. Heck somtimes you sit all day at a shipper waiting on load. Always have some supplies.

 

WTF????DAYS??? Why don't they just let you leave and call you when they are ready. I can't stand some of these customers. Just today I'm on site at a customer on a load that was a critical delivery at 6am. They are now starting to unload me.

 

I always carry about 5 gal's of water, other then making coffee/cooking. it's there just in case I have to stay over in a old lot and want to wash this pretty face -- lol

 

I'm driving a company truck. I can't use anything over 150 watts unless I connect it straight to the battery. Good idea though.

 

You could hook an inverter to the batteries and run an extension cord from battery compartment and through door. Use an ice chest and you are good to go.

 

I've found an alternative for steak/beef lovers that doesn't require a microwave or griddle: jerky. I find jerky that is only beef and salt, no sugars or other flavors. In the morning I get a thermos of hot water or make hot water in my 12V water heater to pour into a tupperware bowl with:

Some flakes of jerky, cous cous, olive oil, garlic salt or other spices, and maybe some sun dried tomatoes. I seal the tupperware bowl and wrap it in a towel to retain heat. Drive until my 30 minute break and I have a great stew. The jerky becomes soft and tender.

If I can get any I try to find unflavored buffalo, elk, or venison jerky. The flavor of these meats are great by themselves.

 

Lol most of the time i can but i avoid truck stops like the pleague. I prefer cow crap smell (grew up on a farm) to the human pee and rancid garbage smell of a TS. Also if you are having to wait might as well take advantage of a 34hr reset.