Even The Simple Things - Better Storage Containers

Typical RV Fridge - This One Is Mine!

    Let's face it, RV refrigerators are small. Yes, I have seen full size home-style refrigerators mounted in an RV, but that's not all that common. Since space inside is always at a premium, being efficient becomes second nature. I used to use lots of plastic storage with pop-on lids. These worked great for some items, but were complete failures at others. Then I discovered screw-on style containers. A while back they were only available in two sizes... too small and too large. OK, not really. I did use the smaller ones for items like fresh-made salsa and leftover soups and stews. They also had a problem with being in the freezer. They became brittle and the lips would break and crack.

Now they can be had in various sizes! AND they fare much better in the freezer. I'm thinking of pre-preparing soups and stews and the like and having them ready to go in the freezer! As a bonus, I could use the frozen ones to pre-cool the refrigerator before a trip!

Medium Sized Conatiner

On to the stuff... the medium sized one has been the most useful for me. I usually travel alone, and they work well for leftover storage. I use them to store items that could "slosh" around or otherwise leak out. Believe me, I've had to clean the fridge so many times after a trip! Try strapping your house refrigerator to your car and drive around for a few hours. See how many things stay put! The small ones are great for recipe ingredients that require prep like shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, corn, cilantro. You name it. When it's time to cook, simply unscrew the lid and use the contents.

Rubbermaid Makes A Version

The seal is quite good, I haven't had anything go bad or leak yet, but I wouldn't store them lid down. You never know.... The large/tall ones can be used for cooked (or uncooked) pasta. In fact, you are NOT limited to using these in a fridge. The large ones are great for storing dry goods you'd like to keep dry! Like rice, beans, flour, sugar, etc. they are pretty robust, and flexible enough to stay in one piece when banged around.  You could really use your imagination with these things. I've got a Chili recipe that takes 17 hours in a slow cooker. I could portion out the remaining Chili and store and/or freeze them. Not that there's ever any left!


One of the issues with them is that they don't lock together and aren't really "stack-able," but if you use a typical spring loaded refrigerator bar (or a curtain rod!) you can stack them in a corner, put the rod in front vertically and they stay put. You could also put them all in a row at the back of the fridge or freezer and lock the bar horizontally under the lip. Works well, but uses much more space.

The main benefit to these is the screw top lid. I have never seen one come off in regular use. Unlike the messes I have cleaned up using the regular snap-on lids.

I like to find ways to make my traveling more leisurely. Anything I can do to add to the relaxed pace and nature of RV travel is a good thing. Since I really enjoy cooking (and eating!!). Simple things like this can make it all more fun and easier.

Be Seeing You...Down the Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

Even The Simple Things - Organize! Micro Zip Lock Bags

Boxes, Bin, And Miscellaneous.

    You know, when it's Winter and you can't really do any work outside the RV, your mind starts to wander? Well at least mine does. This week, after a bit of staring out the window at my snow draped RV, hibernating under it's cover, I had a few good ideas. Oh, and some very weird, day-dreamy ones that won't work and could probably cause the end of life as we know it. A few weeks ago I talked about using micro boxes to organize my plastic storage boxes that live in the overhead cabinets of my rig. They work quite well, but there is a lot of unused space inside them. There had to be another storage medium that would work on the leftover space. There IS! And I found them!

Evidently, many companies are now making half size zip-lock style storage bags that are perfect for small item storage in the shoe-box (or so) size plastic boxes. These are great. Not only do they fit perfectly in my storage boxes, but they stand up when opened with anything in them. You see, it really doesn't take much to make me happy! Obviously, you shouldn't put razor blades in them, but almost any item is OK. They are see through, and can support a fair amount of weight before the bottom rips out. I've been putting screws, nuts, bolts, small electronic parts, fridge and furnace ignitors and every other small replacement part that won't fit in any of the micro-boxes.

Easy to See!

I am not the most organized person in the world. I do make a valiant attempt to organize everything once in a while, but it rarely stays that way. This may help a great deal. Simply having things separated and easy to find will keep the chaos down quite a bit. You can write on these little baggies with a sharpie or similar marker, so random nuts and parts become organized by size, by use or whatever else you can think of to keep them organized so they can be easily located when you need them. They MAY even be water-tight or air-tight, but I have not put that to the test yet. I'm not sure why you'd want to store liquids IN them, but they will certainly keep items dry!

While the micro-boxes are cool, and very useful, these could be used to fill the extra space left over in almost any small plastic storage container. Since they are flexible, you can fit a few in your other boxes as well. The main issue I see, is sorting through everything I have to put like bits and pieces in order and then re-pack everything. I KNOW it will be a gigantic help. Especially on the road, where finding repair parts quickly and easily goes a long way to maintaining sanity in the face of a crisis. If I can get this all done, I'll likely regain some of the scarce storage space I have. They whole idea of "something for nothing" always intrigues me!

Well, it is Winter, so I DO have quite a bit of free time. My furnace works REALLY well, I could easily begin this process no matter how cold it is outside. The tough part is building up the momentum and the gumption to get it done. The dreary weather really doesn't help at all!

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

Even The Simple Things - Fridge And Freezer Remote Thermometer

    Refrigerator Anxiety. Go ahead admit it, we all have it. Freezer Anxiety too. I am always a bit paranoid that my fridge and freezer aren't at the proper temperature and I am spoiling food and heading toward a dietary disaster. The little bugs that are kept at bay when items are at a low temperature, come out of hiding and start to multiply at higher temps. These critters can simply make your food taste "funny" or you may end up in gastrointestinal distress! I know that's one thing I try and avoid while on the road!! Staying in my RV bathroom for extended periods is most certainly not what I had in mind for ANY trip! What to do? Simple really. Get yourself a device to monitor the temperatures inside. I prefer the remote probe style (wired) but you could just have an accurate regular thermometer inside. Here's how to set your mind at ease and monitor your refrigerator/freezer's performance.

For my own fridge, I looked around for a small, mountable unit that had long battery life, showed both refrigerator and freezer temperatures at the same time, and could be set with an temperature alarm to warn if things were going awry.. Of course, I like to have things that blend in with my decor so I also had to find one that fit in the available space and matched some of the interior colors. It took a while to find, but I ended up with my perfect solution. Your's may be different. Look around, they aren't very expensive and there are lots of choices. Figure you'd spend between $5.00 and $25.00 dollars depending on features and style.

A few caveats. Make sure you find one that has probes that are enclosed. The one I use has a suction cup on both sensors (fridge and freezer) as well, so you can stick it to the wall of the compartment and out of the way. I prefer the wired ones, even though they have to go between the door and the seal. No extra batteries to replace in the sensors and if you route them correctly, you'll never notice the wiring.  Most of the remote thermometers allow you to set a temperature alarm. that means if the temps get too high it will let you know. How's that for some additional peace of mind?

Lot's of folks will tell you that a simple thermometer inside the fridge and freezer is a good way to go, but since I like to check when I walk by several (many!) times a day, I don't want to open the doors and lose so much cold air each time. After all, who doesn't like a cold beverage on a hot day. (Yes, I realize it's currently winter around here, but a fella can dream. Can't I?) According to the US Government (USDA) fresh food should be kept at between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and Frozen items at 0 degrees or below. Both should be plus or minus 3 degrees. They go on to explain the best way to check a fridge temperatures is by placing the thermometer in a glass of water and letting it stand for 5-8 hours and then read. OK. Maybe you could do that to check the accuracy of your digital version. I understand you want to know what the FOOD's temperatures are, NOT the air around them. Seems reasonable to me.

While we're talking about refrigerator temperatures, at the beginning of the season you should always do some basic maintenance on your fridge before departing on your first trip. It's easy and will confirm your refrigerator/freezer is working at it's most efficient. If you are going to be in areas where high temperatures are the norm, you may wish to install a supplemental exhaust fan for your refrigerator. I've been using the digital thermometer for a while now and it works great. Make me less prone to food spoilage anxiety! As an added bonus, my drinks are just like I want them Cold and delicious.

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com