This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy.

Why You Need A Thermal Cooker In Your RV

The next item on your RV shopping list might just have to be the portable thermal cooker. This handy pot has been used on boats and in tiny apartments for years and is starting to pick up steam (no pun intended) for the camper crowd.

A thermal cooker is a simple pot that cooks food without power.

thermal cooker
Photo by Saratoga Jacks

A thermal cooker is essentially a large Thermos that has both an inner pot and a vacuum-insulated outer pot. The inner pot holds the food and is placed on top of a camp or propane stove for just a few minutes to boil the contents.

The inner pot is then placed into the outer pot where the food continues to cook until it’s finished. Some thermal cookers have two inner pots: a primary pot for main dishes and a smaller pot for sides like rice.

Sign up for the newsletter today!

Please enter a valid email address.

An error occurred. Please try again later.

× logo

Thank you for subscribing to the Do It Yourself RV newsletter, keep your eye on your inbox for updates.

The inner pot holds the food and the outer insulated pot holds in the heat.

thermal cooker

When the food cooks, there is no need for a plug, fuel, or to stir the pot. Meats cook until tender and vegetables and potatoes will not turn bland or mushy. The temperature will be high enough to cook the food and keep it safe from bacteria.

The thermal cooker works great for stews and slowed cooked meats.

thermal cooker

Some of the best recipes for a thermal cooker include stew, chili, soup, pulled pork, Swiss steak, curries, and oatmeal. Even better for cooks with a small RV kitchena smaller pot with more food in it will retain more heat.

Several brands of thermal cooker include the Tayama, Tiger, Dreampot from Australia, Saratoga Jacks, Thermos, and even a tiny 25-ounce cook pot from Zoie + Chloe.

Thermal cookers can be taken on any kind of camping trip.

thermal cooker
Photo via ThermalCooking.net

In addition, the cooker can also be used as a cooler. Chill the inner pot and then fill it with anything you want to keep cold. Put the inner pot into the insulated pot and lock down the lid. Even ice cream will stay frozen for several hours.

Furthermore, if you want to learn more about thermal cooking, “Let’s Make Sense of Thermal Cooking” by Cindy Miller is available on Amazon in Kindle format and hardcover.


See also: Why Every RVer Should Own An Instant Pot


Support Do It Yourself RV

Do It Yourself RV is run by RVers who share the most up-to-date and valuable content on camping and RVing every week. We couldn’t do it without the support of our readers just like you.

You can help support the efforts of Do It Yourself RV by becoming an RV LIFE Pro subscriber, which gives you access to:

  • RV LIFE App, an RV Safe GPSâ„¢ with voice- and lane guidance, even offline.
  • RV LIFE Trip Wizard, a visual RV trip planner with custom RV-safe routes and a comprehensive directory of RV parks, resorts, and campgrounds.
  • RV LIFE Maintenance, a cloud-based service that tracks your RV maintenance and provides reminders, reports, and related documentation.
  • RV LIFE Masterclass, an online educational platform where RV experts share tips and advice on everything you need to know about RVing.

If you value our site and want to see us continue to grow, please consider supporting us by becoming an RV LIFE Pro subscriber today.