Still can't recommend the Hot Logic Mini enough. I am in a condo now and still use mine several times a week. Once you get a groove going you can time it out as needed. All meats usually take about 2-3 hours to fully cook. As long as what you're cooking has a flat bottom, you can throw it in there and come back in a few hours for a hot meal. And a nutritious one.

You can cook and heat...it doesn't overcook. It's got 2 options - one you can plug into an outlet and one you can plug into your car, or you can get the outlet version with the adaptor so you can use it inside and out as needed.

You'll find the unofficial spokesperson, Rick and his wife on there pretty quickly. He's got dozens of videos trying out all sorts of things. Made me so damn hungry I went and bought it just to do some of those dishes.

It won't cook rice because it doesn't boil liquids but there are easy solutions to boil water that plug right into the cig lighter or volt port.

I bought one of these (not affiliate link) and use it every single day. I HATE nasty coffee pots and not being able to really clean down inside the wells so I got this stainless steel elec heater and it boils water in about a minute, lightning quick. A cup or two at a time.

There are other options but I know I can use this with the car adaptor if need be.

​

NOW.....let's talk about nutritious meals.

No more raman noodles. They're soooo bad for you, nothing but bad starch.

You can buy single pack meats, cheap - but still good - shoulder steaks for like 3 or 4 bucks each, sausage, packaged rices, macaroni, canned veggies, fresh veggies, frozen foods, tv dinners, pretty much everything...put it all in there together (or get the family size and split it up), plug it in, and come back in a few hours. You can cook in the box, in the plastic, in the can, in whatever packaging as long as the bottom is flat. That alone saves on having to wash extra dishes. Many times I didn't even plate what I cooked, just used the pyrex dish. One cleanup. Easy peasy.

It doesn't put any drain on your car battery. You could leave it plugged in for 5 or 6 hours while you're at work or in school, and your car will still start. ETA I think it draws like 45 watts, in that department.

I think if you invest in one of these, even a little rice cooker or electric pot, your car life will be surprisingly more convenient, less expensive, and comfortable. If you're traveling, figure out what you want for lunch/dinner, throw it in there, plug it in and hit the road. When you get where you're going or after a few hours, you can stop and eat...and that'll keep you from blowing more money on fast food.

My first use was a nice cut steak and a foil bowl of black eyed peas. I let it cook 3-4 hours for well done but it was "done" after 2 hours anyway. Great first impression!

I've cooked raw chicken strips, a couple chicken breasts, the packaged rice, White Castle mini burgers inside the plastic - those turn out soooo good. Just flip them over after a little while. I did it to see if it'd work at all. Obviously you can throw them in a microwave. But if it comes up, they cook just fine. I've made chili & hot dogs, hominy & sausage with onions, and assorted salisbury steak tv dinners to try out - unopened, still in the box, cooked through. I just bought 5 packages of Jennifer's Garden spring rolls - soooo friggin good - from the dollar tree. I'm going to sacrifice a couple to see if those cook in there too. They're surprisingly nutritious for dollar tree food. I love these things. They're 10 to a pack so two meals/snacks for a buck. Can't beat that.

Like I said, IMO EVERY car and van lifer needs a hot logic mini. Even as a backup.