Keeping food properly in the motorhome is key to eating well, not getting ill and not throwing money in the bin. The camper fridge is small and, depending on the type, has its quirks. Here we explain how to get the most out of it, what the difference is between the types of fridge, and tricks for keeping food even when cold is in short supply.
The types of fridge
- Compressor: like the one at home. It cools very well regardless of the outside temperature, but it runs on electricity (drawing on the battery continuously). The most effective option today, above all with a good lithium and solar installation feeding it.
- Absorption (three-way): runs on gas, 12 V or 220 V. It barely touches the battery in gas mode, but it cools less well in high outside temperatures and is less efficient.
Knowing which one you have helps you manage it better (see camper fridges).
The compressor's challenge: energy
If you have a compressor fridge (the most common today), its consumption is among the highest in the camper, and it runs day and night. That's why it depends directly on your battery: a properly sized installation (with lithium, which gives more usable energy) is what lets you keep the fridge cold without any nasty surprises, including in the small hours when there's no sun. Sizing the battery with the fridge in mind is key (use the calculator).
Tricks for keeping food better
- Chill before you set off: start the fridge a few hours ahead and put food in already cold.
- Open it as little as possible: every opening loses cold and forces it to work harder.
- Organise it by cold zones and don't overload it (air has to circulate).
- Ice packs help hold the temperature.
Keeping food with little or no cold
- Favour food that keeps without a fridge: hardy fruit and vegetables, tinned food, cooked pulses, pasta, eggs (with care), cured meats.
- Shop fresh and often rather than stockpiling.
- A cool, ventilated spot for anything that doesn't strictly need cold.
In short
Keeping food well depends on the type of fridge (compressor, very effective but it eats battery; absorption, more self-sufficient but poorer in the heat) and on good habits. The step you can take today: work out which fridge you have and, if it's a compressor, make sure you have enough battery to feed it day and night; and chill food before you set off and open it as little as possible. Combine it with the runtime calculator.