By Kurt Jacobson

For some of us frequent travelers, a home cooked meal is much appreciated. I believe this is one of the attractions to staying at a vacation rental home. There are those among us that have significant dietary restrictions, or preferences and prefer to cook on a trip when possible. I love eating out at restaurants when traveling, but also want to cook a few of my meals if I have a kitchen.

As a semi-retired professional cook I find it easy and healthier to prepare some meals while on business or leisure trips. One of the most memorable vacation rentals was on Prince Edward Island. My wife and I enjoyed delicious local products prepared in our vacation rental kitchen. But the challenge is to navigate the cooking process in someone elses home. Here are a few things to think about if you want to cook at your next vacation rental.

Cooking Oil Has An Expiration Date

One of the common hazards I find in well-meaning host’s kitchens is rancid oil. The host means well by either purchasing cooking oil or keeping prior guest’s oil in the pantry for use. At least two out of three times I’ve stayed in a rental with a kitchen I find rancid oil. An unsuspecting guest might use this old oil then sit down to eat and wonder why their dinner tastes like crap.

Olive oil has a freshness period of 10-14 months depending on how it was stored. The shelf life of other types of oil varies. The best way to determine if the oil is fresh is a sniff test, or look for the “Best By” date. I tend to scout out the kitchen of the place I’m staying upon arrival, and then add oil to my grocery list if needed.

Dull Knives Are More Dangerous

I appreciate hosts trying to provide decent kitchen knives for food preparation. Most of the places I’ve stayed at have dull blades. A dull knife tends to bounce off the object the cook is cutting and invariably ends up whacking the fingers of the cook. All that’s really needed is an eight-inch chef’s knife/French knife, a serrated knife, and a four-inch paring knife. These are not expensive, costing about $35 for the three blades. A sharpening steel will extend the useful life of blades and lasts for 10-15 years. I pack my own chef knife and paring knife if I know I’ll be cooking. My two knives take up very little space, and if I’m flying, I make sure they end up in checked baggage. TSA has no sense of humor when it comes to explaining why I have an eight-inch cooking knife in my carry on.

Spices And Herbs

Herbs and spices do have a shelf life. If you plan just a little before traveling and pack small amounts of herbs and spices, you’ll have this covered. When I find spices and herbs at a host’s home, I do appreciate them sharing this stash. Things like garlic powder, salt, pepper, and onion powder are most helpful in meal prep. If the host’s kitchen comes with herbs, I sniff-check them to see if there’s any flavor left.

Herbs only last about one year, then lose most of their taste. A good bet for hosts and guests is an herb and spice blend like Mrs. Dash or Spike. Both retain their flavor for over a year, if they last that long, and are valuable components to a fast and healthy recipe. Lawry’s seasoning salt is also a useful seasoning blend with a wide range uses.

Beware Of Sponges

Most cooks agree typical cellulose sponges are carriers of bacteria. On extended stays, I bring my own just in case the one at the rental is old and smelly. A sponge weighs nearly nothing and takes up almost no space in my luggage. If the sponge at the host’s home passes the sniff test, I merely bring my sponge back with me.

Non-Stick Pan Dangers

Teflon coated pans can be perfectly safe according to some reports. Most threats occur when these non-stick pans are overheated. In my travels, I find non-stick pots and pans in quite a few of the vacation rentals. Most hosts use the cheaper versions of non-stick pans which tend to overheat quickly, sending toxic fumes in the air. Beware, and use caution with these types of cookware. See this article for more info, http://thescienceofeating.com/food-combining-how-it-works/tips-tricks/dangers-of-teflon-cookware/

Other Useful Items To Bring

Most kitchens in vacation rentals won’t have sandwich bags. I’ll usually pack a few wax paper sandwich-size bags and zip lock bags. These are valuable for packing a lunch while hiking beaches, mountains, and trails. The zip lock bags are also great for storing leftovers in and take up very little space in baggage.

Rice is useful in a variety of recipes and easy to cook. Instead of buying rice on vacation I’ll often pack one to two cups of dry-uncooked rice. The price of rice in a small country store can be an eye-opener. Since I buy rice in large sized bags, it’s way cheaper to bring my own.

Why buy a whole bag of flour if you only need a little for dredging chicken breast in? If I know I’ll be cooking something like sautéed chicken breast with shallots, I’ll pack about a cup of flour. Great for pork chops in a mushroom sauce as well. A couple of cups of flour is a smart thing to bring along.

What To Cook?

With over 40 years of cooking experience, I have developed a recipe file of 300+ fast and healthy recipes. When you’re traveling, it’s best to keep things simple. Plan on dishes like these below that use standard and fewer ingredients for success.

Buttermilk pancakes are quick and easy to make, even on vacation. Just mix the dry ingredients before leaving home to combine with egg and buttermilk at your destination. Here’s my own recipe for you to try: http://www.fastandfuriouscook.com/buttermilk-pancakes-with-sauteed-apple-slices/

Sautéed chicken breast with shallots is quick and easy. Cook up a pot of peas and carrots on the back burner, and you have a full meal deal in less than 20 minutes. http://www.fastandfuriouscook.com/chicken-wshallots-20-minutes/

If you’re lucky enough to be vacationing where there is good shrimp, try this recipe of mine. Shrimp cooks quick and is delicious at home or at a vacation rental. Serve on rice with a side of succotash for a satisfying meal. http://www.fastandfuriouscook.com/well-hush-mouth-pass-shrimp/

Please share what and why you cook at a vacation rental. In no time at all we can build a useful list for travelers wanting a tastier vacation experience.