Why a Slide Out Kitchen Changes Everything at Camp
Slide Out Kitchen: The Smart Way To Cook This Summer
A slide out kitchen is the quickest path from park to plate. Instead of juggling a folding table, a loose burner, bottles and tubs, you pull one drawer, light up and start cooking in the shade of your awning. It’s faster, tidier and perfect for hot afternoons when everyone’s hungry now.
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Why a slide out kitchen makes summer easier
Speed at every stop
Summer travel is lots of short stops: swims, lookouts, quick lunches. A slide out kitchen keeps the burner, prep space, sink area and utensils together so food appears faster and you’re back on the road sooner.
Real bench space outside
Chopping on a solid, continuous worktop beats balancing boards on folding tables. With everything level and close, there’s less spillage, less waste and less back-and-forth into the van.
Tidy storage between stops
Loose tubs become one neat drawer. Your most-used bits live in the same spots, which means fewer missing tongs and fewer last-minute scrambles when the kids want seconds.
Cooler, cleaner cooking zone
Cooking outside keeps heat and smells out of the van. Under an awning you shield flames from gusts and keep glare off the bench—prep is calmer and safer on hot days.
What’s inside a slide out kitchen
Most designs combine a stable worktop, a dedicated burner platform, sink space for a collapsible tub and drawers or trays for cutlery, spices and day-to-day staples. The magic is integration: everything you touch in a cook cycle lives within reach, so setup and pack-down shrink to a couple of motions.
Slide out kitchen vs camp-table setup
Setup, pack-down, gas and water tips
Fast setup, faster reset
Keep a “summer kit” in the top drawer—oil, salt, wraps, tea towels, board, knife and a collapsible tub. Burner and lighter live in the same tray every time. After lunch, wipe, stow, slide and lock. The less shuffling you do, the more you enjoy the day.
Gas and water basics
Use a caravan-rated hose and regulator, keep bottles upright and check seals before trips. For water, carry a food-grade hose, keep wash tubs shallow to save water and finish with a microfibre dry. A small spray bottle of soapy water handles greasy pans without filling a sink.
Fitment and compatibility
Portable slide out kitchens are built to bolt onto existing drawers or cargo bays, so retrofits are straightforward. Check slide load rating, confirm height clearance for pans and a kettle, and make sure the drawer extends fully without fouling doors or wheel arches. If you rotate between vehicles, portability is the win—your kitchen can move with you.
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Quick FAQs
What is a slide out kitchen?
A compact outdoor kitchen that slides from a drawer or bay with bench, burner platform and sink space in one unit.
Why is it better for summer?
It keeps heat and smells outside, shortens setup and makes shade cooking under the awning simple—even on hot, gusty days.
Can I retrofit one?
Yes. Most portable slide out kitchens bolt to existing drawers with minimal cutting and basic tools.
Where can I buy and learn more?
Shop the CAN Portable Slide Out Kitchen and read our slide out kitchen guide for deeper specs.
