A chef living in a van shares the clever storage hacks she uses to maximize her tiny kitchen

Joey HaddenOct 10, 2021, 17:03 IST

Chef Nat Rodriguez went from working in commercial kitchens to cooking up elaborate meals in a van.Lets Play Ride and Seek

Chef Nat Rodriguez lives in a converted sprinter van with her wife, Abi, and their two dogs.
Rodriguez cooks elaborate meals on the road, using storage hacks to maximize her tiny kitchen.
From foldout tables to pullout pantries, here's how Rodriguez organizes her tight kitchen space.

Chef Nat Rodriguez lives in a van where she makes elaborate meals in her tiny kitchen, she told Insider.

Chef Rodriguez prepares a meal in her van. Lets Play Ride and Seek

After working in commercial kitchens, Rodriguez said she knew cooking in a space "no bigger than most people's bedroom closets" would be a challenge, but three years into van life, she's come up with some clever storage hacks.

Rodriguez uses the oven to cook inside. Let's Play Ride and Seek

After working in commercial kitchens, Rodriguez said she knew cooking in a space "no bigger than most people's bedroom closets" would be a challenge, but three years into van life, she's come up with some clever storage hacks.

Rodriguez said she and her wife, Abi, maximize their kitchen even when it's not in use. For example, Rodriguez said she uses the curtain rod above the kitchen sink to dry herbs.

A close-up of herbs on the curtain rod that doubles as a drying rack. Lets Play Ride and Seek

Rodriguez said she and her wife, Abi, maximize their kitchen even when it's not in use. For example, Rodriguez said she uses the curtain rod above the kitchen sink to dry herbs.

Above the cabinets, extra shelving stores other items like alcohol and salt-and-pepper shakers.

Rodriguez reaches for goods stored in the shelves above the sink. Lets Play Ride and Seek

Between the pantry and upper sink cabinets, there's a small nook holding reference books.

A close-up of Rodriguez's book nook. Lets Play Ride and Seek

Below the stove, a drawer pulls out that stores Rodriguez's pots and pans.

Pots and pans stored under the oven. Lets Play Ride and Seek

When she's not using the sink, Rodriguez said she puts a cover over it so she can store things inside while driving. And it doubles as an art piece, she added.

Rodriguez's sink cover is an etched piece of wood. Lets Play Ride and Seek

When she is using the kitchen, Rodriguez maximizes the space with foldout tables for extra room to prep food.

There are two foldout tables in the kitchen. Lets Play Ride and Seek

To the left of the sink area, a pantry slides out to reveal Rodriguez's spices, vinegar, dry goods, and small appliances.

Rodriguez looks for ingredients in the slide-out pantry. Lets Play Ride and Seek

On the wall next to it, a magnetic strip vertically stores Rodriguez's knives for easy access while saving drawer space.

Rodriguez's knife collection. Lets Play Ride and Seek

There's also a drawer designed around the sink with two narrow compartments, leaving no space left unused.

The sink drawer stores small items. Lets Play Ride and Seek

Rodriguez said some tools make tiny kitchens more livable. Collapsible dishes and a tiny coffee kit take up hardly any storage space.

Rodriguez's tiny living-friendly dishware. Lets Play Ride and Seek

Their Instant Pot stores food as it cooks it, so a meal is ready by the time they get to camp, Rodriguez said, adding that her other go-to pots and pans have collapsible handles.

Rodriguez's essential cooking tools on the road. Lets Play Ride and Seek

Their Instant Pot stores food as it cooks it, so a meal is ready by the time they get to camp, Rodriguez said, adding that her other go-to pots and pans have collapsible handles.

To maximize the kitchen the most, Rodriguez takes it outside. Visit Let's Play Ride and Seek on Patreon for more van-life cooking tips and tricks.

Rodriguez cooks a meal outside. Lets Play Ride and Seek

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A chef living in a van shares the clever storage hacks she uses to maximize her tiny kitchen

Chef Nat Rodriguez lives in a van where she makes elaborate meals in her tiny kitchen, she told Insider.

After working in commercial kitchens, Rodriguez said she knew cooking in a space "no bigger than most people's bedroom closets" would be a challenge, but three years into van life, she's come up with some clever storage hacks.

Rodriguez said she and her wife, Abi, maximize their kitchen even when it's not in use. For example, Rodriguez said she uses the curtain rod above the kitchen sink to dry herbs.

Above the cabinets, extra shelving stores other items like alcohol and salt-and-pepper shakers.

Between the pantry and upper sink cabinets, there's a small nook holding reference books.

Below the stove, a drawer pulls out that stores Rodriguez's pots and pans.

When she's not using the sink, Rodriguez said she puts a cover over it so she can store things inside while driving. And it doubles as an art piece, she added.

When she is using the kitchen, Rodriguez maximizes the space with foldout tables for extra room to prep food.

To the left of the sink area, a pantry slides out to reveal Rodriguez's spices, vinegar, dry goods, and small appliances.

On the wall next to it, a magnetic strip vertically stores Rodriguez's knives for easy access while saving drawer space.

There's also a drawer designed around the sink with two narrow compartments, leaving no space left unused.

Rodriguez said some tools make tiny kitchens more livable. Collapsible dishes and a tiny coffee kit take up hardly any storage space.

Their Instant Pot stores food as it cooks it, so a meal is ready by the time they get to camp, Rodriguez said, adding that her other go-to pots and pans have collapsible handles.

To maximize the kitchen the most, Rodriguez takes it outside. Visit Let's Play Ride and Seek on Patreon for more van-life cooking tips and tricks.