Cruising along in your boat is an excellent way to relax and unwind as you enjoy an afternoon on the water. Oftentimes, people end up spending several hours on their vessel. At some point, you’ll need to eat! Fortunately, there are many ways to go about cooking on your boat even if you don’t have the facilities to do so. Norfolk Marine is here with another helpful guide to get you started. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying delicious meals on your boat.
If you’re still shopping around for the perfect boat, be sure to visit our dealership. We’re located near Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Hampton, VA. We also proudly serve Williamsburg and Cape Charles.
Grilling On Deck
No matter what type of craft you have, you can find a way to cook a meal. After all, where there’s a will, there’s a way. If you’re not blessed with a galley and high-end cooking appliances, don’t worry. There are actually many options for boat grills that you can purchase, including styles with square clips that’ll mount right onto the side of the boat for stability and convenience. Other styles can be fitted to a pedestal seat or used on a heat-safe surface.
There’s a device called a VertiGrille that comes with skewers that transfer heat up through vegetables or cuts of meat. This saves horizontal space on your grill for more food. Grilling is a quick and easy way to cook fresh-caught fish right away. Plus, it doesn’t generate too much heat.
Make Use Of Storage
It’s important to make use of the storage space that you have, especially when it comes to cooking food on your boat. For example, canned food can be a great way to whip up a quick meal when the fish aren’t biting. Try to buy goods in small packages and don’t forget to use single-serve items whenever you can. Unless you have access to a mini fridge or a cooler, you’re probably not going to have a way to store leftover food, so you don’t want to end up letting things go to waste or risk a bug infestation on your boat.
Another option is to prepare food in advance. This is particularly helpful if you do have a small fridge on your boat where you can store cold dishes. There are plenty of meals you can prepare ahead of time, then store them until you’re ready to chow down. Some examples include pasta salad, tuna salad, cold sandwiches, fruit salad, and so on. If you do have a galley and it’s equipped with a microwave, you can also bring other foods and heat them up.
Safety Considerations
If you’re going the grill route, it’s imperative that you make sure your grill is properly anchored down when you’re cooking. Rough waves can easily send your grill and its hot contents flying. Additionally, if you’ll be using propane to fuel your stove, be careful not to store it too close to anything flammable. Propane can be explosive, so you’ll want to keep it somewhere cool. The tank should be turned off when it’s not in use. It’s still wise to have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher within reach so you can handle any minor fires or injuries.
It’s a good idea to serve food in bite-sized pieces since using a knife on a moving boat can be dangerous. This means you’ll need to take the time to pre-cut up your food on shore or at the dock while you’re not in motion. Another way to ensure safety is to use spoons instead of forks. You shouldn’t serve food that’s extremely hot because there’s a risk that it will spill and burn someone.
We hope that this guide comes in handy. For more information or to check out our boats for sale, visit us at Norfolk Marine near Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Hampton, VA. We also serve our friends in Williamsburg and Cape Charles.
