The traditional camp meal consists of hot dogs and beans cooked over an open fire. However, much of what you make at home can also be cooked at the campground. The only catch is that you must have the proper camping cooking equipment. Every camper who intends to cook should have a few essential items in their camping kitchen arsenal. First and foremost? A campfire or a camping stove. You’ll also need something to cook in, something to serve with, and something to serve your delectable camping fare on… Finally, something to go with that meal. Here are some of the best cooking gear you need to have when you camp.
Going Camping? Here Are Some Of The Best Cooking Gears For You
A camp stove that is portable.
I know, I know, we all prefer to have a natural fire blazing in the center of our camp. However, they are not permitted in all communal campgrounds. If you’re afraid of fire, a portable camp stove is a way to go. Portable stoves, despite their small size, heat up quickly and are simple to pack. Even if you are permitted to make a fire at your campsite, I recommend bringing one of these as a backup for quick access to hot water for tea or coffee first thing in the morning.
Grate for the Fire.
Most campgrounds offer grates for campfires, but this isn’t always the case, especially if you’re boondocking. Over-the-fire grates provide that delicious open-flame flavor that is synonymous with camping cooking.
Spoons made of wood.
Wooden spoons are popular around here for both home-cooked meals and camping cuisine. They’re ideal for sautéing, stirring, spooning, and tasting.
Spatula.
For nonstick egg pans (you don’t want to scrape off the nonstick coating), use plastic, silicon, or nylon spatulas, and for cast iron pans, use a metal spatula. Spatulas are easy to overlook, so keep one specifically for camping in your arsenal.
Holder for eggs.
Okay, a lot of culinary devices are fake, and the same goes for camping cooking gear. But what about egg holders? They are, in fact, quite useful. In campsite breakfast dishes, eggs and camping go hand in hand, but standard cardboard containers can rapidly come apart in the cooler. Upgrade with an egg holder to keep your eggs from smashing in places you don’t want them to—all over your house.
Cooler
Food storage that is secure and functional can help keep your food fresh and safe, but it also accomplishes more. Camping can expose you to some animals, particularly bears, so it’s critical to be able to pack up fast and securely to avoid luring one your way. Good portable food storage is the way to go, and they’re fortunately both affordable and secure.
Tongs.
Tongs may not appear to be a need, but they come in handy for corn on the cob, fire-roasted potatoes, and grill-toasted bread with your morning coffee by the fire. Tongs provide you that extra reach to grab your food without being burned when you’re cooking with fire.
Opener for cans.
Canned foods and camping typically go hand in hand, so leaving the can opener at home may be disastrous. You could MacGyver something, but having an extra can opener in your camping kit is far more convenient.
Containers for spices.
I’m not sure about you, but I despise the flavor of dull, boring meals. I use spices in practically every meal I cook, including camping meals, to add flavor wherever possible.
Using Ziploc bags.
Try to do as much home meal prep as possible to make things as structured and simple as feasible. Prepare any meat and vegetables at home before portioning into Ziploc or freezer bags and storing in your cooler. This helps you avoid bringing superfluous equipment while also saving time on food preparation at camp.
Corkscrew/Bottle Opener.
When it comes to openers, don’t overlook this essential piece! Boxed wine has come a long way, and there are some wonderful beers available in twist-off caps or in cans. But how many times have you been camping and learned the true misery of not having a beer or wine opener? I keep one in my camping bin and it never leaves. Always.
Skewers made of metal.
For grilled vegetables, meats, and fruits. Do we really need to say anything else?
Pots and pans that nest.
This cookset is every bush camper’s fantasy. Whether you’re hiking or boondocking, you’ll have access to high-quality nested cookware that doubles as a washing set and weighs only 1.8 pounds.
A torch and a propane lantern.
One of the most critical things you may bring is easily forgotten. A lantern will serve to illuminate your entire camp, whilst a torch will provide you with simple access to light when on the move.
Water Filtration System for the Backcountry.
Backcountry camping will almost certainly necessitate the use of a water filtering device. There are a few approaches to this; one is to use a tab that dissolves in water, such as aquatabs, which essentially removes all hazardous bacteria and viruses, making the water safe to drink. You can also filter the water with a portable filtration system before drinking it directly from the filter pack or pouring it into a reusable water bottle.
