When camping, cooking is a delightful aspect that enhances the flavor of food. However, if you fail to properly organize your camp kitchen, it can become a troublesome task. To ensure a hassle-free cooking experience during camping, follow these steps to set up a functional yet uncomplicated camp kitchen and acquire the necessary essential items.
Camp Kitchen List
1. Camping Stove, Fuel and Lighters
If you plan on going camping, you will need a portable gas stove, which typically utilizes gas canisters. However, if your camping trip will be extended or involve a large number of people, you might consider obtaining a stove that can be connected to larger propane tanks.
Campfire cooking is not practical for most things, even if you plan on cooking over a campfire while camping. For instance, it is not efficient to start a fire every time you need hot water for coffee. Furthermore, cooking over campfires is time-consuming and challenging in rainy conditions.
2. Table or Kitchen Station
It is important to have a table in your kitchen. One of the main reasons is for safety, especially when there are children, dogs, or intoxicated individuals present in the camp. Additionally, having a table allows for easier food preparation without the need to stoop down on the ground.
If your campsite has picnic tables, you won’t need to bring your own table. Nevertheless, it is beneficial to have a separate table for the stove in order to save the picnic area for dining and relaxing. Certain camping kitchen tables come with built-in shelves and hooks to accommodate your cooking equipment.
3. Food Storage
- Cooler: If you want to bring any items which require refrigeration, you’ll need a cooler. There are some electric ones which you may be able to charge at camp or even with solar.
- Large Storage Bins: I’ve made the mistake of keeping non-refrigerated food in plastic shopping bags while camping. It’s annoying and messy to have to search through 10+ bags each time you want a snack. Bins also help keep insects out of your food.
- Storage Baggies and Plastic Containers: You’ll need some storage baggies and containers for uneaten food. These are also useful for repackaging snacks or sandwiches to take with you on day hikes.
- Bear Canister: Depending on where you go camping, you may be required to put food in a bear canister.
4. Storage Bins for Cookware
To ensure better organization, it is recommended to have a dedicated bin for storing camp cookware, utensils, and other non-food supplies. This will simplify things as you can conveniently grab the entire bin instead of carrying each item separately to the stove.
5. Tarp Shelter or Kitchen Tent
Having this is not necessary but highly beneficial, particularly when cooking in unfavorable weather conditions such as rain or extreme heat. The most cost-effective option entails purchasing a tarp and rope to create a shelter over the kitchen space. Alternatively, if there are no trees available for securing the tarp, acquiring a kitchen tent is a simpler alternative.
6. Dishwashing Items
- Sink
- Drying rack or bin
- Biodegradable dish soap
- Dish sponge
- Scrubber brush
- Dish towels
7. Water Jugs with Spigots
Bringing along large water jugs with a spigot on the bottom is a convenient alternative to repeatedly walking to the camp spigot for tasks such as filling a pot or water bottle.
8. Lantern
You will likely have to do some cooking or cleanup in the evening, so ensure that you have a lantern to hang close to your camp kitchen for improved visibility.
9. Trash Can
One option is to bring plastic bags and hang them from a tree to serve as your trash can, which may be the easiest solution. However, it should be noted that this makeshift trash can may attract bees and flies, so it might be wise to consider bringing a dedicated trash can with a lid that closes.
10. Eating Supplies
- Utensils
- Cups and/or mugs
- Bowls
- Plates
- Large serving bowls
- Serving spoons
- Water bottles
11. Cooking and Food Prep Supplies
Apart from the camp kitchen items mentioned above, necessary items for food preparation are required.
- Pots and pans
- Stirring spoons
- Spatula
- Chopping knives
- Cutting board
- Colander
- Pot holder or lifter
- Grill rack
- Skewers
- Bottle opener, corkscrew, can opener
- Coffee maker
- Tinfoil
- Cheese grater
- Tongs
12. Food Essentials
The items you need to bring while camping may vary depending on what you plan to eat, but most likely you will want to bring:
- Cooking oil
- Salt
- Herbs, spices, and seasoning mixes
- Coffee, tea, hot chocolate
- Sweeteners
- Creamer
- Snacks
- Energy bars
- Cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix
- Instant meals
- Pasta, instant rice, couscous…
- Canned foods
13. Other Kitchen Items
- Paper towels, napkins
- Tablecloth
- Fire pit (check campground fire regulations)
- Charcoal
- Firestarters
- Hatchet
Must-Have Camp Cooking Essentials
Camp Stove
Finding the perfect stove can be a challenge due to the numerous models available, but a camp stove is as fundamental as it gets!
Camp Chef Everest
The Camp Chef Everest 2x is considered the top camping stove due to its two powerful burners that provide excellent flame control, enabling you to prepare a wide variety of dishes similar to those in your home kitchen. Additionally, its sturdy construction and quality materials ensure the stove’s longevity, accompanying you on countless camping adventures.
Coleman Classic
If you are on a budget and in need of a stove, consider the Coleman Classic Propane Stove. Its design has remained unchanged for years, and although it may not have all the fancy features of newer models such as a self-ignitor, it is still a reliable stove at an incredibly affordable price.
Camp Cooler
When it comes to car camping, investing in a cooler is a step that will greatly enhance the quality and freshness of your meals, not to mention the enjoyment of having chilled beer. Although there have been significant advancements in the cooler market, it is important to note that you don’t have to spend a fortune to obtain a high-quality product.
Best Value: RTIC 65
RTIC’s range of rotomolded coolers offer similar performance to other brands, but at a comparatively more affordable price.
Budget Pick: Coleman Xtreme
If you have sufficient ice (double the amount of food) for your weekend car camping outings, you can do without an expensive cooler. This Coleman cooler is capable of fulfilling your needs for a few days and comes at a price of less than $100.
Best Wheeled Cooler: Igloo Trailmate Journey
Did you reserve a campsite without a specific location? Do you want to take the cooler to the beach? A cooler equipped with durable roller wheels, such as the Igloo Trailmate, can be extremely useful. Now, you can easily bring the cooler with you to remote areas without straining your back!
Water Storage
It is absolutely necessary to have a sufficient amount of water stored near your campsite. This is important not just for drinking purposes, but also for cooking and dishwashing. A high-quality container for water storage can greatly simplify your camping experience.
Igloo Water Cooler
If you need a reliable option that has been trusted by construction crews and little league coaches for many years, consider using an Igloo water cooler. These coolers are durable, leak-proof, insulated, available in different sizes, and most importantly, very affordable. If you have enough space, this would be an excellent choice.
Sea To Summit Watercell X
The Sea To Summit Watercell X is an effective water storage solution that is both durable and flexible. If you’re planning to go car camping, it would be wise to consider the largest model (20 liters) as it can be easily collapsed when not in use. This model comes with a wide mouth cap for easy filling, integrated straps for hanging it up, and the option to release water pressure through either a flow-controlled spigot or a shower heat attachment, thanks to its reliance on gravity power.
Camp Cookware
By acquiring a few pieces of specialized camp cookware, not only will you avoid unintentional damage to your valuable household cookware, but also enhance your camping cooking experience.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money here. We believe that you don’t have to purchase an expensive all-in-one camping cook set, which may include unnecessary items. Instead, you can create your own cook set based on how you actually cook during camping trips. All you need are a few necessary pots and pans to begin with.
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron cookware is capable of being used on both a camp stove or over a campfire, possesses a naturally non-stick surface, provides exceptional heat retention, and is almost impossible to destroy.
The Lodge cast iron skillets are of good quality and come at a reasonable price. The 10-inch skillet is perfect for a duo, whereas the 12-inch skillet is more suitable for a group of four.
GSI Bugaboo Series
The debate over whether this is an “essential” item for camp cooking remains. It is possible to manage without it. However, when preparing delicate foods such as scrambled eggs, pancakes, salmon, or similar dishes, a reliable non-stick skillet is indispensable.
To maintain the finish, make sure to only use silicone or wood utensils when using non-stick.
GSI Escape Pot
The GSI Escape Pot is a convenient piece of cookware that can save space in your gear box by collapsing when not in use. Its vented lid can also be used as a strainer and the metal base is designed to conduct heat for more efficient cooking. Although it cannot be used over a campfire, we find it to be a reliable cookware option and always bring it along on our camping and van trips.
Lodge Dutch Oven
If you are new to camping, you can probably manage without a Dutch oven, but owning one is highly recommended as it is an incredibly versatile piece of camp cooking equipment. With a Dutch oven, you can sauté, steam, boil, fry, and bake a wide range of dishes. It is the perfect tool to bring your camping cooking to the next level and enjoy creating delicious meals.
You can purchase a Lodge Camping Dutch Oven, which comes in two sizes. The 10” (4 quarts) is suitable for 2-3 people, while the 12” (6 quarts) is suitable for 4-6 people. These Dutch ovens are reasonably priced and perform exceptionally well.
Cooking Utensils, Knives, And Accessories
It is crucial to purchase dedicated camping kitchen utensils which are stored separately because there are numerous camp kitchen accessories that only become essential once you realize the consequence of forgetting them. Forgetting the vital can opener or spatula happens precisely when you search through your kitchen drawers just before a trip.
Knife Set With Covers
When camping, it is crucial to have full-sized knives. While small folding knives suffice for cheese plates, if you intend to safely and effectively prepare food while camping, it is advisable to acquire high-quality knives for your camp kitchen.
Instant Read Thermometer
If you are not experienced in outdoor cooking, it can be highly beneficial to have knowledge of the precise temperature of meat or the inside of a Dutch oven. It is advisable to be aware of this information until you are able to rely on your senses and gauge the temperature through touch accurately.
