Microwave vs. Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven

If I may add my input. Air fryers only reach high temperatures in the basket, the exhaust air is usually no hotter than a hair dryer on low. I have been using an airfryer the entire time in my freightliner with no issues. I have the smaller vloume PowerXL from walmart. It fits with perfect clearance, and the basket doesnt rattle out even on the ####iest roads.

also an electric kettle beats the hell out of any coffee maker, my family got me a silver cuisinart one with lots of preset options and it fits in the mixrowave cubby snugly next to my air fryer. Then for coffee just get a camping coffee maker like the aeropress

i bought a butane camping stove aswell and a camping mess kit recently aswell.

i would have preferred an induction portable hotplate but no one has then instore so i settled for a butane byrner that i can take outside (i have a cat so things that can stay hot are a no go.

other niceties I have, a mainstays fridge with the two doors, since having actual freezer space is fantastic (ice cream!) i like to drink flavored soda waters so i got a soda stream aswell, i just lay that on my bed while im driving (if i had a shorter fridge i could just strap it on top) . I invested in a 5 gallon water dispenser ($12), which all come with coupons for a free 5 gallon water jug ($15) once you have a jug refills are cheap as hell and easy to find. That jug just sits right behind my seat

i have a ninja creami for making frozen desserts, generally they are “light protein icecream” recipes or just fruit bowls.

at the end of the day though I cook a lot less than i want to or should.

youll come to find ita pretty hard to take the time to cook in addition to a full days driving, so youll really need to be dedicated.

Dont drink your calories, dont order big combo meals, honestly a daily workout routine and just watching your calories would go a lot farther than worrying avout what specifically you eat. Im pretty sure most truckers end up eating from boredom and not hunger, so finding something that can keep you entertained is a must imo.

 

Amazon.com: RoadPro RPBH-012 12-Volt Beverage Heater, Black : Appliances

12V Stinger, ceramic mug, and instant coffee.

 

I use a 5cup Mr Coffee.

 

It used to be, when I started - the daily food cost was about $30/day between a decent breakfast and dinner, lunch if you had time.

Now that’s closer to $70/day - at mainly sit down places.

I do the same as you - coffee and a meal replacement shake in the morning,

Ham/lettuce/tomato/cheese/mayo sandwiches for lunch,

Light dinner from leftovers frozen at the house.

Maybe $150 outlay including water/coffee and ingredients - vs $400 plus on eating out every day.

It’s not that I can’t afford it, I just can’t justify low quality food/service for such a high price, when I can put in a little effort for a better quality result.

 

I will say coffee from truck stops is quite good and cheap enough. Most chain truck stops have good enough coffee you can easily not make your own coffee in the truck. It is nice being able to make it in the truck for those times when the truck stop is particularly foul or you've parked at a customer or empty lot and coffee isn't available.

 

I got rid of my microwave. Bought an air fryer. The food tastes better and allows me to cook some actual meals. If I’m reheating something, and it’s less than 3 minutes I do it in my truck. If I’m cooking something from raw it’s on the cat walk. I do use a new parchment paper that fits my air fryer every time.

As far as coffee goes I use a ninja electric kettle from Walmart, and a Lavazza blue mini espresso machine. It’s on Amazon for $86. They have their own proprietary “capsules.” They were $44 for a hundred, it’s now more like $64 for a hundred.

I’m kinda a coffee snob. This machine pulls shots like an actual coffee shop. So I make Americanos. I haven’t bought coffee from pilot, Starbucks, Dutch brothers, or whatever in years. My coffee is better, much better.

@Espressolane recently has been trying to get me off adding stuff to the coffee, but cream in my coffee is a hill I’ll die on. LOL



My set up.

 

I have a microwave and it works for me. I got one of those lunch box heaters or whatever they are called and realized they take between three to four weeks to heat anything up.

 

lTrue but you can smell your dinner cooking for a couple of hours before you eat it. Kind of like being at home for a minute, but of course kinda not.

I had one of those but the cord gave up and I still haven't fixed it years later. They are great for certain things though.