How to Pack Your RV Refrigerator to Prevent Spills and Keep Food Fresh

RV refrigerator organization is an art; learn how to pack your RV refrigerator the right way and you’ll enjoy fresher food for longer periods of time. Pack your RV refrigerator the wrong way and you’ll lose money each time you toss out rotten food. These six easy steps will teach you the best way to stock an RV refrigerator for maximum savings.

Step 1: Watch the weather

The interior temperature of a RV refrigerator can fluctuate depending on outside weather conditions. On hot, sunny days, you’ll need to keep your refrigerator at its coldest setting and warm it up if the weather turns chilly.

Step 2: Power up ahead of time

Prepare your RV refrigerator by turning it on at least one day ahead of departure. The interior temperature should be at least 34 degrees. You can use a simple refrigerator thermometer to make sure the temperature remains within a few degrees of this level.

Always go straight home from the grocery store to pack your RV refrigerator with chilled food, which avoids placing extra demands on the unit.

Step 3: Don’t cram

One of the main causes of food spoilage inside of a RV refrigerator is poor air circulation. To keep the air flowing, don’t cram too many items inside of the unit and never block the cooling fins on the top shelf. Many RVers use a battery-powered RV refrigerator cooling fan to improve air flow.

Step 4: Use tension bars

RV refrigerator tension bars were created for a reason; to avoid accidental spills caused by refrigerator doors that fly open on bumpy roads. Use these bars to keep your food in place and you’ll avoid RV kitchen disasters on the open road.

Step 5: Go light on top, heavy on bottom

Stock your RV refrigerator with the lightest items on top shelves and the heaviest on bottom. Start with placing egg cartons on the top shelf and finish by storing heavy liquid or glass items on the last shelf. Condiments and small items placed inside interior door shelves should be light and kept to a minimum to decrease the risk of your door flying open on bumpy roads.

Step 6: Treat produce with care

Tender produce and vegetables will stay well-preserved if you wrap them in paper towels and place inside a perforated plastic food storage bag. You can buy reusable produce bags or make your own by punching small holes on a reclosable plastic bag.

These RV refrigerator food packing tips usually work for most RVers, but if you still experience food spoilage, it’s probably time to take your rig to a RV repair shop for a refrigerator maintenance check-up.