The answer to that question is yes, an air fryer can be a useful appliance to take camping.  Could it become your favorite appliance to use in a small space?  That all depends on your cooking style and preferences for meals.

Cooking over an open fire is not an option if you are camping in a high-fire area where fires are restricted.

 

Advantages of taking an air fryer camping

There are plenty of reasons that an air fryer going camping with you is a good idea.

Versatility –  When you use an air fryer, you can make all kinds of great food.  Fried snacks with little or no oil, vegetables, or meats, and you can even make desserts in the air fryer.

Efficient cooking –  Using an air fryer can be helpful to you while you are camping because it can save you some time.  If you are out all day having wonderful adventures, the last thing you want to do is try to make a really elaborate meal. This would require plenty of pots and pans.  With the air fryer, you can prepare your food and put it into the fryer, and it’s all cooked in the same appliance.

Compact and portable – There are so many different air fryers to choose from it can be overwhelming.  When you are camping, it’s nice to be able to take a nice compact appliance that will pretty much be able to handle anything you want to cook.  They are usually lightweight and easy to carry around.  It’s great to take the air fryer outside to cook and keep the RV or van from heating up.

Healthy benefit –  When you are preparing something that requires oil to be fried in, you can now feel comfortable knowing that an air fryer can eliminate almost all of that calorie-dense oil.  I like to use some spray oil to limit how much I use to cook my meal.

 

 

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Power of my air fryer

Most air fryers don’t require very much electricity.  We power ours with a portable generator, car adapter, or solar panels.

The power requirements of air fryers differ according to the one that you want.

Typically, an air fryer is looking for around 800 to 1800 watts or even higher for larger and more powerful models.

The power consumption for each individual air fryer can be found on the bottom or the back of the appliance on a factory label.

Make sure you have enough power to compensate for the air fryer.  You don’t want to overload your circuits or drain your power source unexpectedly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How does an air fryer make cooking easier while camping

There are many advantages and disadvantages to using an air fryer while camping. Here are some of the ways it can make your cooking experience easier.

 

 

 

 

Cooks faster –  An air fryer can cook your meal in often half the time it would typically take to roast or bake an item in an oven.

One appliance –  When we are out camping, I don’t want or have the water to wash a bunch of pots and pans.  I like to use the air fryer as much as possible so that I only have one item to wash up at the end of our meal.

Great for leftovers –  I don’t know about you, but I love leftovers.  Paul does not share this opinion.  If you don’t have a microwave in your small kitchen, RV or van, then an air fryer is the next best thing for reheating.  It brings the food back to the way it was originally.  

A small version of a convection oven – If you have a convection microwave or convection oven in your RV or camper van, then you know how much room is in those appliances.  An air fryer is just a small convection oven which is great for small spaces.

Efficiency –  Because the air fryer has a heating coil and a fan that work together, the heated air circulates around the food.  It crisps up the outside of your food and maintains the perfect cooking temperature inside.

Foil packets –  If you are a big fan of cooking over an open fire while camping, keep in mind that the foil packets cook faster in the air fryer.  When time is important, sometimes cooking faster can be helpful.

Ramekins –  When you want to cook something that is more of a batter or liquid, you have to put it into a small Ramekin to contain the food and help with the cooking process.

Be careful – Always remember that it is dangerous to use a sheet of foil or parchment paper to cover your food.  The fan could lift them up to the heating element causing a fire hazard.

 

 

 

 

What can you cook in an air fryer?

Pretty much anything that you can make in an oven can be made in an air fryer.  Here are a couple of examples that you can try on your next camping trip with your air fryer.

Chicken wings –  Air frying your chicken wings is easier than you think, and they come out nice and crispy.  Here is a quick and easy recipe from airfryingfoodie.com

Vegetables –  I love to air fry my vegetables.  I either do it for the meal we are having or to cook and keep in the fridge for a healthy snack.  feelgoodfoodie.net has a great way to prepare them for maximum flavor.

 

 

 

 

Fish –  Whenever I prepare fish while camping, it’s always nice to be able to take your air fryer outside.  Nobody wants an RV or camper van to smell like fish for days after you prepare it.  It’s like deep frying without all the oil.  Myforkinglife.com makes it look so easy with this simple fish fry recipe.

Corn on the cob –  Have you ever tried to cook corn on the cob in an air fryer?  It makes the process so easy. Just rub the ears with some great seasonings like everydayfamilycooking.com and then wrap them in foil.  The air fryer does the rest.

French fries/sweet potato fries –  Of course we all know that frozen fries is the easiest thing to make in an air fryer.  They make them nice and crispy and flavorful without any need for a full oven or oil.

Breakfast of Champions –  Having a nice breakfast made all-in-one appliance is a camper’s dream come true.  Eatingwell.com has more than 10 easy ideas to make for breakfast in an air fryer.

Desserts –  Air frying your desserts while camping is the greatest thing.  You can bake small pastries, donuts, or cookies.   Paul likes to fry up some churros because it makes them puffed and golden.

 

Styles of air fryer

Because you might be in a smaller kitchen area than normal while camping, it is important to be aware of the power source you will be using and how much food you will be needing to make. 

The style of the air fryer is really a more personal choice.  

I have a basket style that works the best for me.  We are only two in the camper van, so a smaller basket works well. It gives me just enough room to be able to put things on the bottom of the basket without having to overlap any food.

This is the most common and traditional type of air fryer.  The inner basket is usually non-stick and dishwasher-safe, which helps with cleanup.  

The toaster oven style is excellent for larger groups of people.  It is more like a convection oven. There are usually two or three basket shelves to put all your food on. 

This style features the style of an air fryer and a toaster oven. In addition to air frying, the toaster oven-style air fryer can toast, bake, and broil.

When you start to think about getting an air fryer, remember that the basket style is more straightforward and efficient for just air frying.  But the toaster oven style offers more cooking functions which could also be helpful.

 

 

 

 

Not suitable for an air fryer

Foods with excessive liquids –  Things like soups, stews, or dishes with a lot of sauce may not work that well in an air fryer.  It can cause splattering and may not cook your food evenly.

Boiling or steaming –  Air fryers are not designed to boil water or steam foods.  Such things like rice, pasta, or dumplings that need to be boiled or steamed would not work in an air fryer.

Batter-dipped foods –  When you prepare wet batter to coat your meat or vegetables, keep in mind that the fan that is circulating the heat may make the items splatter. It’s best to do dry-breaded things.

Foods with a high-fat content –  It’s best not to air fry food items with a lot of fat. The drippings will go to the bottom of the basket and could possibly start to smoke.

 

 

 

Here are some tips and tricks when using an air fryer

If you like to camp in a campground, it’s always best to check their power source to ensure it is suitable for handling your air fryer.

Plan your recipes to accommodate your air fryer.  Pre-cut your ingredients before your camping trip.  This will save time and make cooking in the air fryer more efficient.

Use parchment paper, foil, or silicone inserts to make cleanup a breeze.

Cooking times on air fryers vary by size.  Make sure you keep an eye on your dish to prevent overcooking or burning.

An air fryer is great for making some quick snacks at the end of an action-packed adventure camping day.  Try some crispy chickpeas from indianveggiedelight.com, vegetable chips from forktospoon.com, or even s’mores for some fun at night from mashed.com

 

 

 

 

Finally

When it comes to cooking while you are camping, space is always a factor. 

I have had all different types of RVs with all different size kitchens. 

The best air fryer for you is the one that fits your family size and the kitchen/countertop size.

Bringing my air fryer with us while we are camping has been the easiest way to cook almost everything I need to have a fun trip in the great outdoors.

 

 

 

Related Post

 

 

 

Nibbler Tip 

Use a small spray bottle to apply any oil that you want to use. This helps reduce the amount of oil that you use.  If you get the set linked above you have one for your home and one for your RV or camper.

 

 

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