How to Cook Safely Inside Your Campervan

Cooking in Your Campervan: Safe and Enjoyable

One of the greatest pleasures of vanlife is cooking a meal with a view. But cooking in a small, enclosed space requires awareness and the right setup.

Gas Cooking: The Standard Choice

Gas is the most practical cooking fuel for campervans. It's efficient, reliable, and doesn't drain your battery. Both our modular and custom builds include gas cooking as standard.

Essential Safety Rules

1. Always ventilate Open a window or roof vent when cooking with gas. This does two things:

• Provides oxygen for combustion
• Removes carbon monoxide and moisture

2. Install a carbon monoxide detector This is non-negotiable. CO is odorless and deadly. All our builds include a carbon monoxide alarm as standard.

3. Keep a fire extinguisher accessible A dry powder fire extinguisher should be mounted within arm's reach of the cooking area — but not directly behind the stove. All our builds include one.

4. Never leave the stove unattended In a small space, a forgotten pan can become dangerous very quickly.

5. Check gas connections regularly Use soapy water on gas connections to check for leaks. Bubbles indicate a problem.

Cooking Tips for Small Spaces

• One-pot meals are your friend — less cleanup, less mess
• Use a windshield on your burner if cooking near an open door
• Keep a lid handy — it's the fastest way to smother a small fire
• Clean the stove after each use — grease buildup is a fire risk
• Store sharp knives securely — they shouldn't fly around while driving

Gas Storage

• Gas bottles should be stored in a ventilated compartment
• The compartment should have a drain hole at the bottom (gas is heavier than air)
• Turn off the gas at the bottle when not cooking
• Carry a spare gas canister on longer trips

Cooking Outside

When the weather allows, cooking outside is ideal:

• Better ventilation
• Less moisture inside the van
• More space to work with
• Part of the outdoor living experience

The Bottom Line

Cooking in a campervan is safe, enjoyable, and one of the highlights of life on the road. The key ingredients? Proper ventilation, a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and common sense.