OTR Food Solution?

So all these ideas bring up the question: What's the story on washing dishes? Is there a way to do it at truck stops? I'd try to have as little as possible that needs to be washed, but there are going to be some things.

I carry 4 or 5 gallon jugs of water on the truck that I use for a variety of stuff from morning ablutions to drinking to washing stuff. I pour some on the floor of the truck and have a map I have secured to the back of the sleeper with my broom, hand truck, etc. I mop out the truck periodically too.

I keep lots of tinned meat, small cans of spam, chicken, roast beef and deviled meat, they don't spoil for a long time, loaves of bread are easily obtainable at truck stops. I've found cheese in a squeeze bottle that doesn't need to be refrigerated. Ritz crackers work as a bread substitute also. Boxes of power bars are helpful. I keep a bag of cookies for the sweet tooth times.

I keep several of those cheap semi disposable plastic containers to wash stuff and use for storing everything from change to small items to food in. Ziploc bags of gallon and quart sizes.

My top bunk is my storage area, I have lots of stuff there, having removed the mattress some time back. My cereal boxes, jackets, boxes of stuff, etc are stored there also.

I used to work at a cigar shop, and have a half dozen cigar boxes to store things in also.

Paper towels by the bulk 8 pack, a couple rolls of toilet paper, a whisk broom and dustpan, a collapsible kitchen step stool for in the cab and climbing up to get something down in a load is helpful. I keep my laptop and small electronic gear in a backpack there. A gym bag with a net bag for dirty laundry and shower stuff.

I keep my truck organized, neat and controlled. Life is so much easier...stuff does seem to vanish on the road if you don't. I even have one of those Rubbermaid 4 drawer containers there (about $10 at Walmart) to keep papers and such in.

The small plastic crates work well for organizing too, I keep all my office supplies in a plastic pencil box.

I have my shirts hanging up from wire hangers over my feet in my bunk. I ran a strong rubber bungee cord under the bottom of the top bunk, and bent the top of the hanger so it doesn't come off when on the road.

Probably more info than you wanted...I've a few other tricks too, if you want to hear. Most things you will evolve as needed. Need is usually the mother of invention.

Paul, I love to cook and use a 12 volt slow cooker in my truck all the time. You can cook some really nice rice in it, but you have to use converted rice to make it come out right.

I cook various forms of jambalayas and beef tips (I use venison) and rice fairly often in my truck.

What I have right now is a microwave oven and a slow cooker. I have cans of Campbell's Soup and Hormel Chili. Enough to last me for a long time. If I'm ever in an emergency situation then I have canned foods to help me survive through it. The reason I pack chili is because its loaded with calories, fills you up, has lots of protein, is delicious. Its my idea of a perfect food while im stranded in a blizzard. And who doesn't love a bowl of hot chili on a cold winter day?

I've met other truckers with a slow cooker. One of our drivers prepares a whole meal in one before he rolls in the morning, and swears the movement of the truck stirs it all day long. He has a complete meal when he stops at night ready to go, he says.

How many watts does your slow cooker use Daniel?

Also....any recommendations on a small refrigerator to use? Many I've seen draw a LOT of amps during startup.

I really want to save the cost of ice for my cooler...It can be $4 or $5 a day on hot days.

And I saw a 700 watt microwave in WalMart this morning for $50. It was pretty compact and probably would have worked quite well in my truck.

The slow cooker I use is this one.

RoadPro Slow Cooker

Its found in basically every truck stop and usually goes for 34.99$. It works great. When I use it I usually set my food in there and turn it on and then drive for about 45 minutes. Then I stop and have a hot meal. Its a slow cooker, so you gotta give it some time.

And I really don't see the point in buying a refrigerator versus buying a cooler. My cooler does such a great job. Keeps everything very cold and fresh. Has lots of room in it also. Refrigerators are much more "bulkier" and they cost way more.

This is the cooler I use and I highly recommend it. Every since I bought it I've had no problems and I will never buy a different one. I love it!

Koolatron Cooler 1

Koolatron Cooler 2

Koolatron Cooler on Amazon

So all these ideas bring up the question: What's the story on washing dishes? Is there a way to do it at truck stops? I'd try to have as little as possible that needs to be washed, but there are going to be some things.

You can just go to the restroom at a truck stop and wash it. But thats not how I do it.

I save all my dishes for when I take a shower. I put all my dishes in a plastic bag and bring it with all the other stuff. Firstly I turn on the sink and make sure the waster is as hot as it can get. I pour hot water into dish. I leave hot water in the dish for about 15 minutes. After that 15 minutes I drain the hot water out and rinse. Then I fill it up with hot water again.

When I'm just about done with my shower. I take the dishes and spray them with water with the shower head on the 'Jet' setting. Doing this always takes out the stains and dirt, even if it has already dried.

This is just how I do it.

My wife sells this stuff http://shop.wildtree.com/pages/cfHome.cfm , No GMO's, Generally Low-sodium, no MSG, no unnecessary chemicals etc... really good stuff but a bit over our budget atm.

As a marinade for steaks, Lawrey's Signature Steak is awesome, buy a 2-pack of NY strips well marbled, fill a large ziplock bag with the Lawreys drop in steaks, remove as much of the air as possible,keep cool in fridge for 30-45 minutes, then cook to order. What I used to do also was to get a few Yukon Gold potatoes, clean skins, cook them in microwave 1 cycle, then spritz with olive oil and roll in Coarse Kosher sea salt, wrap in tin foil and put on grill next to steaks. OR if you can back in my hometown of Syracuse NY we had salt potatoes... to die for...alas out of bounds for me nowadays. try it out and see what ya think, I also cook my corn on the cob this way sans the olive oil, add butter and salt to taste.

Wow! All these *proven* ideas are great! Keep 'em coming!