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Cooking on Your Boat

Mar. 18 2021 Lifestyle By Collins Marine

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Eating a meal on a boat can be a very pleasant experience and a great way to entertain friends and family. However, boat cooking does require some preparation and attention to detail in order to be successful and safe.

Collins Marine in Tonawanda has been your Western New York boat dealer for over 30 years and we’re here to help you with all aspects of boat ownership. Read on to learn some tips for cooking on your boat.

Prepare In Advance

It’s very helpful when planning to eat on a boat if you do a lot of your prep work in advance. If you have food items that can be eaten cold like bound or green salads, prepare those at home and store them in a cooler or your boat’s fridge. Pack single-serve use items instead of bulk foods.

Plan on how you’ll serve food and dispose of waste. One-dish meals are ideal because they conserve space and don’t require as many dishes. Make sure to bring trash bags and bag up all waste promptly to dispose of on shore.

It’s Grilling Time

The most common strategy for cooking on a boat, especially one without its own kitchen, is to use a grill. Grills are quick and easy to use and they don’t generate too much heat. There are dozens of different types of boat grills on the market. Some will have clips to mount to the side of a boat, some will be usable on a heat-safe surface and some mount to a pedestal seat. 

Using a device called a Vertigrille allows you to save more horizontal space on your grill by letting you skewer pieces of meat and vegetables on vertical skewers that transfer heat upwards. Other types of foods can be wrapped in foil and grilled, while cuts of meat can easily be prepared directly on the grill’s surface.

Safety Considerations

Here are some additional tips that will help you to keep everyone safe:

  • Thicken hot liquid foods like soups with instant mashed potato flakes, flour or cornstarch so they don’t slosh around and burn someone’s hand.
  • Cut up fruits, vegetables and meat on shore so you don’t have to use knives on the water.
  • Serve food in mugs and use spoons instead of forks and knives to eat.
  • Anchor down your grill securely before use.
  • Keep your propane tank turned off and stored when not in use.
  • Carry a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit with you.

In search of a new boat, maybe one with a galley? Visit our dealership in Tonawanda, NY, to take a look at our full selection of new and used boats for sale. Collins Marine proudly serves Buffalo, NY.