Cooking in the HIKE 100 FLX: Kitchen Overview & Simple Helpful Mods

Cooking in the HIKE 100 FLX: Kitchen Overview & Simple Helpful Mods
Is there enough room to cook a large meal in a small towable?

By: Austin & Kirsten Lawrence (@Adv4two)
 
One of our favorite things to do while camping is cooking! We love trying new recipes and cookware meant for on-the-road meals and snacks. In this article, we will talk about how we utilize the space in our Winnebago HIKE 100 FLX for cooking with no complaints. With plenty of storage space and some modifications to our kitchen, we have designed the perfect cooking area that meets all our needs with our supplies right within arm’s reach.

Cooking Inside, Outside, or Both!

One of the best parts about the HIKE 100 FLX setup is that you have the option to cook inside or outside. It’s like having two kitchens in one! 

A modification we have found that has helped combine inside and outside cooking is an adjustment to the refrigerator. By reversing the opening of the refrigerator door, it has made access much easier in both areas. 

This modification only took a few minutes and made a big difference. Sometimes we are cooking both inside and outside at the same time, so no more asking “can you hand me that from the fridge” while cooking.

Indoor Kitchen Setup in the HIKE 100 FLX 

The pull-out drawer right above the refrigerator has multiple uses. With the hard surface, it doubles as a cutting board and prep area for sandwiches and meals. The infrared cooktop can easily be used on the pull-out drawer and packs away when finished cooking. We love that once we are done using the pull-out counter, we simply push it back in which frees up floor space. 

The convection oven that comes standard with the HIKE 100 FLX is perfect for defrosting, heating up, and even some cooking. While we are on the road, we get tired of sandwiches, so with the convection oven we can reheat leftover pizza, bake cookies and casseroles, or make other on-the-go recipes.
 
Our pantry is right above the convection oven which makes it perfect for grabbing spices, cooking oils, pot holders, silverware, plates, and so much more. 

Small Additions Make a Big Difference in Kitchen Space

As we mentioned, it’s the simple modifications that make a small kitchen feel big. In our pantry, we added two spice racks that we placed on the inner wall. This enables us to keep spices out of the way but just right in arms reach while cooking. 
 
Adding a paper towel holder in our sink area was another great way to save space. No more grabbing the roll and tossing it around. Another space saver we added is a wall-mounted soap dispenser. This keeps our sink area free and clear of soap bottles. Plus, with just one push of a button, we have the soap we need. 

With the paper towels and soap out of the way, we have a nice clear area around the sink that we use for meal prep with the in-sink cutting board. The shelf area up above our kitchen sink is used for bread storage. I hate when the bread items end up on the bottom of the bag and get squished. Just by adding these few modifications, we have made the kitchen inside the HIKE 100 FLX super usable and spacious.

Using the HIKE 100 FLX Outdoor Cooking Area

Cooking outside is our favorite option while traveling. This gives us time to enjoy nature and meet new people on all of our adventures. The outdoor area is easily utilized, rain or shine, with coverage available from the awning!

The fold-down fender well box serves as a table and is a great place to use griddles, single-burner cooktops, and more. We have also used the infrared cooktop outside (in dry weather) by plugging it into the plug at the front end of the HIKE 100.

With the propane quick-connect right by this area, it makes it super-fast and easy to plug-in and cook with certain propane items. We also utilize the fender well box as a storage space for our single-burner cooktop, extra butane or propane bottles, and quick connect propane hose. 

Don’t let the size of the HIKE 100 FLX fool you, it is the perfect off-grid “base camp” for all adventurers. (Read more about our travels here.)

Bonus: Oatmeal Power Balls Recipe

Here’s a little treat for your next adventure. This is one of our favorite go-to recipes, with only four ingredients and just a few minutes to make!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups quick oats
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• ½ cup honey

Instructions: 

• Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. (Tip: Coat measuring cup with a small amount of oil before putting honey in, this makes the honey slide right out! No mess with stickiness!) We use our stand mixer while at home making these, otherwise you can use your hand or wooden spoon while on the road.
• Roll into balls. We just use our hands to make them; however, you can also use a small cookie scoop. If the dough is too sticky, refrigerate for 20 minutes then try again.
• Eat right away or you can refrigerate for a couple of hours if you’d like them cold. We love them both ways! You can also store leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered container for several days.

This makes them perfect to grab before hitting the trails for a morning hike or as a delicious travel day snack. Enjoy and see you on the road!