Cooking by a campfire is a romantic experience, with the sounds of crackling flames and chirping crickets, as you enjoy a refreshing cold beverage while preparing your meal.
Without the appropriate equipment, this idyllic scene can turn into a disaster—the last thing anyone wants is for their breakfast to exacerbate the fire instead of fueling themselves. Whether you enjoy cooking by the lake or by your tent, we have carefully selected top-rated gear from our reviews to ensure that your outdoor experience is enjoyable and filled with delicious food.
There are various ways to enjoy cooking outdoors, but here we are specifically discussing cookware and tools that are convenient to carry during car camping or when staying at a beach cottage. It is important to note that backpacking gear is not included in this discussion, as it requires different equipment. It is understandable that you wouldn’t carry a heavy cast iron skillet into the woods during backpacking trips.
A Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron
Including a cast iron skillet in every collection of camping cooking gear is essential. This versatile cooking tool not only retains heat and is perfect for cooking crispy potato hash or sizzling bacon, but it is also durable enough to withstand the intense flames of a campfire. Grace Kelly, our associate commerce editor, personally vouches for the effectiveness of cast iron skillets in searing steaks over an open flame. She finds it deeply satisfying to cook meat this way and praises the Lodge cast iron skillet for its superb heat retention. Additionally, after a day of hiking, cooking with a cast iron skillet becomes a special treat. Out of the 22 cast iron skillets we reviewed, the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet stood out for its long-lasting durability and excellent performance. It is worth mentioning that this skillet is also affordable, priced at $21 and guaranteed to last a lifetime, if not longer. However, if you are looking to minimize weight on your camping adventure, it is advisable to consider the Lodge Blacklock as a lighter alternative to traditional cast iron skillets.
A Portable Charcoal Grill (For Cooking Some Burgers)
PK Grills PKGo Camp & Tailgate Grilling System
…Or A Portable Gas Grill
Weber Q1200 Gas Grill
If you want to use gas for cooking burgers, the Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill was an exceptional choice in our test of portable gas grills. It performed just as well as standard-size grills for high-heat cooking and was also relatively lightweight, making it ideal for car camping. Additionally, it was easy to clean. For those who are new to grilling or have limited space in their cars, we suggest the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas Grill. Despite its small size, it offers excellent grilling efficiency and has a charming appearance. The cast iron grate provides a nice sear, and the wooden lid can be used as a cutting board. Everything, including a small propane tank, can be packed up inside the grill when finished.
A Car Camping Stove
Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove
Perhaps you would rather avoid the inconvenience of beginning, taking care of, and cooking on an open flame (or maybe you don’t want to carry a heavy portable grill). That’s when the car camping stove comes in handy – a compact, portable gas stovetop designed specifically for camping purposes. Coleman has created a convenient option that is simple to assemble and clean, and features two burners, making it ideal for larger groups (like a group of scouts, for example). Additionally, it weighs just about 12 pounds, which is significantly lighter than any of the portable grills we have selected.
Grill Gloves to Keep Your Hands Safe
Grill Armor Gloves Extreme Heat-Resistant Oven Gloves
A Small (but Mighty) Whisk
Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk
If you prefer scrambled eggs for your outdoor adventure, you will require a reliable whisk that is both compact and robust enough for quick egg whisking. The ideal option for a smaller-sized whisk that can still effectively mix and blend is the Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk.
A Flexible Fish Spatula
Wusthof Fish Spatula
If you want to make pancakes or burgers while camping, you’ll need a tool that is both strong and agile enough to flip them perfectly. This tool can easily slide under pancakes, fish, and burgers without any trouble. It is also versatile enough to be used for feeding yourself instead of feeding the fire. The blade of this tool is made of stainless steel, which makes it easy and quick to clean by hand. Although it is quite expensive, we suggest considering the cost-effective Winco Fish Spatula, which performs well and is only $8. Additionally, if you are left-handed, the Lamson Flexible Slotted Spatula (Fish Turner) for Lefties is a great option.
Grill Tongs for Hot Dogs
OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs
In our review of nine sets of grill tongs, the OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs emerged as the winner. Whether you’re grilling a few hot dogs or a fancy flank steak, these tongs can handle the job while also keeping your hands safe. With rubber grips on the sides, they provide a secure hold, and their stainless steel, scalloped, tapered ends make it easy to grab different types of food, such as kabobs, flank steak, and even roly-poly hot dogs.
A Hard Cooler for Longer Camping Trips
Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 40-Quart Cooler
Having a dependable and strong cooler is extremely important for carrying and storing food during camping trips. Nobody wants their food to spoil in the middle of a camping adventure, which would be a terrifying experience. Additionally, having your drinks stay refreshing and cold ensures a great time. We conducted tests on 12 coolers to assess their ability to retain cold temperatures and their durability. After thorough evaluation, we determined that the Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 40-Quart Cooler was the clear leader. This cooler surpassed the competition in multiple temperature checks, with ice lasting for almost 13 days! Furthermore, it managed to withstand a drop test, only suffering a few minor scrapes and scratches. However, it is important to note that we did not test it against bears, so it is advisable to store it in your car during the night.
…Or a Soft Cooler for Weekend Adventures
Yeti Hopper Flip 18 Insulated Personal Cooler
If you are going to live off the grid for just one night, a soft cooler is the ideal choice for carrying your drinks and dinner. Our preferred soft cooler from Yeti weighs only four pounds, nine ounces, which is much lighter compared to hard coolers that can weigh up to 24 pounds. However, despite its lightweight design, don’t underestimate its ability to keep things cold. According to our review, the interior temperature remained below 40°F for 40 hours.
A Truly Portable Thermometer
Thermoworks ThermoPop 2
When talking about food safety during camping, it is crucial to know the precise cooking time of your dinner. This particular tool is compact, inexpensive, and highly precise, providing almost immediate results. It is ideal for ensuring that your campfire hotdogs are truly done.
Camp Chef 22-Inch Lid Lifter
While not the most compact, this lid lifter compensates for its lack of size with its user-friendly design and excellent functionality. The handle design enables effortless gripping and offers complete control when handling pot lids and ovens.
Dutch Oven Accessories
The ease of use is enhanced by the appropriate accompaniments as they contribute to simpler clean-up, transportation, and storage, as well as prolonging the lifespan of your gadgets.
Disposable Liners
Next-to-no clean-up can be achieved by using disposable liners, which are excellent for making highly liquid foods such as soups and stews. Moreover, they are ideal for baking and easily lifting out desserts like cakes and pies for cooling.
Make sure the liner will fit as liners come in various sizes. Attempting to fit a 12-inch liner into a 10-inch oven can be quite challenging! LOL
Dutch Oven Tote Bag
Transporting the top-quality camping Dutch oven becomes effortless with the use of a tote bag! This bag is equipped with a cushioned bottom, a durable zipper, and robust straps.
Ensure that you choose the correct size that aligns with the dimensions of your oven while keeping in mind that they are exceptional. They are available in sizes suitable for 8, 10, 12, and 14-inch ovens.
Camp Chef Griddle Bag
During transportation and storage, a carry bag will safeguard your griddle against dirt, dust, and moisture.
This one is equipped with a zipper and has a liner that is resistant to weather. Additionally, it is available in different sizes.
Tall Boy Tripod
Sometimes, it can be challenging to locate an appropriate spot to position a compact tripod above a substantial fire ring. However, this device is highly suitable for extensive pits as its legs are sufficiently elongated to accommodate them.
This design has legs that measure 60 inches in length and is equipped with a chain that measures 36 inches.
Using a tripod for cooking can be a bit challenging as the oven tends to swing and move in windy weather and while you stir your food. However, the advantage of utilizing it is the capability to adjust the length of the chain to raise or lower the oven, thus controlling the cooking heat.
4-in-1 Cast Iron Folding Finish Camp Dutch Oven Lid Stand
After you remove the cover while cooking, it is necessary to have a designated place to put it. Placing the lid on the ground may result in dirt accumulating on it, which can then fall into the food when you place it back to resume cooking.
Placing the top on a stand is an excellent choice for ensuring cleanliness and preventing the hot cast iron from being placed on a surface that might not be capable of withstanding the high temperature.
Cast Iron 8 Inch Trivet
When cooking in a camp oven, scorching food can be avoided by simply ensuring that there is no direct contact between the food and the bottom of the pan.
When cooking pies in pie plates and large pieces of meat, such as roasts, that are not in a simmering sauce, this gadget will prove to be extremely useful. All you have to do is place the trivet in the bottom of your oven and then put the food on top of it. It will quickly become your go-to tool in the kitchen.
Portable Outdoor Utensil Kitchen Set-9 Piece Cookware Kit
The portable organizer bag neatly stores stainless steel cutlery in this outdoor cookware kit.
The items included are a spatula, serving spoon, serving fork, 2 knives (a chef knife with sheath and a combination of paring knife and peeler), scissors with a bottle opener, tongs, and a cutting board. Additionally, the utensils can be safely washed in a dishwasher.
Camp Fire Cooking Equipment On Sticks
To be truthful, the enjoyment of camping is partly derived from playing with your food when cooking on skewers.
Coghlan’s Non-Stick Popcorn Popper
Using this gadget, you can enjoy the fun and tastiness of popping corn or roasting nuts over an outdoor fire or indoor fireplace.
The lid can be effortlessly opened to pour out your treat. What is truly convenient about this design is how the handle can be dismantled and stored inside the popper.
Fishing Pole Campfire Roaster
This fishing pole roaster is likely the most distinctive gadget we have discovered, which makes these poles an incredibly enjoyable camping gift!
To flip the marshmallows and hot dogs, you “jig” it.
Telescoping Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
Both of these camp fire tools serve different purposes.
Compared to shorter sticks, these telescoping marshmallow sticks enable you to maintain a further distance from the fire’s heat.
Chuckwagon Waffle Iron
With this cast iron waffle iron, you can savor freshly cooked, mildly crunchy, and steaming waffles in your camping area without relying on electrical power like a regular home appliance.
To cook your batter, simply place it in this iron and heat it over the hot coals of your fire.
Pie Iron Storage Bag
If you are car camping or have a spacious “basement” in a Class A motorhome, storing your pie irons can be difficult. However, this storage bag with handles provides an easy solution for carrying them.
Right now, I have a perfect idea for making pies – let’s make some apple pies with a touch of cinnamon and a glaze of sugar! It sounds delicious! YUM!
Round Pie Iron With Wood Handles
Do we all recall making small round iron pizzas in the shape of pies? That form is irreplaceable when it comes to creating camp memories and toasted bread pizzas.
Let’s continue the tradition by using this beautiful wood handle.
Pie Iron Kickstand
No longer do you have to hold your irons in the air and wait for them to cool down after cooking. This kickstand allows you to safely rest two hot irons as they cool, giving you the opportunity to enjoy your culinary creation.
Once you have finished, simply fold the text for storage until your next cooking experience.
Square Pie Iron Sandwich Cooker
If square toasted cheese sandwiches are your preference, then this square iron is designed specifically for you. It allows you to use a whole slice of bread without requiring the removal of the crust. Have you ever heard of wood fire cooking equipment being able to provide you with curly hair? Perhaps it’s just a myth passed down by older generations.
Heart Shaped Pie Iron – Love
The heart shaped iron, unlike the round and square irons which are commonly used, will elevate your pie iron cooking experience to another level of enjoyment.
Dog ‘n Brat Cooker With Wooden Handles
Hot dogs are a staple for many families during camping trips.
These brat and hot dog roasters make it easy to add flavor to your food by cooking them on a bed of onions.
Deluxe Grill Broiler Basket
Baskets offer a fantastic method for grilling sensitive fish and diced vegetables on a direct flame. The cooking area of this particular basket measures 9×13 inches. Simply place the food in the basket, suspend it over the fire, and turn it over to cook the opposing side.
This basket not only closes securely to prevent food from falling into the fire, but it can also be utilized for toasting English muffins and bread for breakfast, in addition to grilling meats and vegetables.
Campfire Toaster
The main purpose of this particular gadget is to toast bread. What sets this toaster apart is its ability to adjust the depth, with three specific adjustments available for different types of bread.
- Texas toast,
- sliced artisan loaves and
- regular sandwich bread!
Cowboy Campfire Cooking Equipment
Culinary cowboys, who are considered some of the best outdoor cooks in the world, usually regard wrought iron as the suitable equipment for their cooking endeavors.
Cowboys used to transport their equipment in a chuckwagon, a modified horse-drawn wagon containing a box for storing their cooking tools, open fire cooking stands, as well as important items such as flour, sugar, beans, and coffee. Present-day camp cooks have the ability to fashion their own adaptation of a cowboy kitchen.
Bruntmor Grill Swing Campfire Cooking BBQ Stand
The grill swing is a campfire cook stand that can be easily set up. To do this, simply remove it from its carrying case and unfold the collapsible legs. These legs function similar to a tripod, except there are only two legs on each side, forming an A-shaped structure.
Everything, including the camp oven and various length hooks, is hung from the horizontal pole, which also supports the grill swing. The cooking grate, made of strong steel, can be adjusted and measures 11×16 inches, with a 1/2 inch lip around the edges.
This cook set is built with materials that can withstand high temperatures and is intended for grilling with wood and charcoal. After use, simply fold it and put it back into its convenient bag. Even when in use or stored, this set doesn’t occupy much space.
Coleman Pack-Away Deluxe Portable Kitchen
The table of this portable camp kitchen provides enough space for preparing and cooking food, as well as a detachable sink. The flat surfaces are ideal for keeping camp stoves and coolers.
The additional storage areas are provided by the convenient utensil hooks, paper-towel holder, and mesh shelves. After use, it can be folded into a compact case for easy transportation and storage.
To ensure that you can continue your cowboy campfire cooking experience, it is important to prepare a generously-sized pot of coffee that is brewed to be strong.
Cast Iron Cookware Clean Up Equipment
It is common advice to avoid using soap while cleaning cast iron; instead, rely on water, effort, and specialized oil blends designed for cast iron camping cookware.
Chainmail Stainless Steel Cast Iron Cleaner
When faced with food stuck in our cast iron cookware, it is common knowledge that using soap for cleaning should be avoided. Instead, simply incorporate warm water and scrub until the food is released.
Not only does this chainmail cast iron cleaner come with a hook for easy hanging, but it also has the added advantage of being dishwasher safe!
Camp Chef Cast Iron Cleaner
It is a good idea and extremely important to keep your cast iron in top condition in order to prolong its lifespan.
This cleaner, which is a mixture of natural oils and cleaning agents, effectively breaks down sugars and other food particles. It can be used on all seasoned and enamel pieces without any safety concerns.
If proper care is given to your cast iron campfire cooking tools, they have the potential to last for many generations.
