Alfresco cooking is all part of the camping experience, and you need to make sure you have the essential camping cooking equipment items. Our cooking items checklist will make sure the 15 must-have campfire cooking equipment essentials are packed for your trip.
1. Camp stove
One of the most important campfire cooking equipment items is camp stoves. A camp stove is needed for heating food or boiling water on your camping trip. Single or dual burner camp stoves are most commonly used on camping trips. They’re portable, compact and lightweight, perfect if packing space is at a premium.
2. Fuel
Camp stoves need fuel. Depending on the type of stove you have, you will need plenty of fuel to get it firing. Alcohol, butane, gasoline, kerosene and propane-fired stoves are popular. However, a butane or propane fuelled stove is probably the safest and cleanest. These fuels come in pressurised canisters that are portable and can be easily packed.
3. Camping lighters
Pack a couple of camping lighters because one always seems to go missing, so have a spare (or two). Just remember to keep them out of reach of children. There are hundreds of camping lighters on the market that are wind and waterproof. They are a better alternative to matches that don’t do so well in wet and windy conditions.
4. Reusable dinnerware
Instead of wasting paper plates, cups and plastic utensils, or attempting to pack the kitchen crockery, invest in reusable dinnerware and stick to the camping code of ‘leave no trace.’ Plus, in the long run, reusable dinnerware will save you money.
5. Cookware
Cast iron is the cookware of choice among most campers, mainly because of its durability, flexibility, heat retention and dispersion. A cast iron skillet or dutch oven is a worthy investment, which you can use to cook meat, heat soup and more. Alternatively, take a good-sized, stainless steel pot.
6. Collapsible water container
To cook camping meals that include rice, pasta or potatoes, you will need to boil some water. Take a collapsible water container to fill using a tap at your campsite, and keep your supply at your pitch ready for your evening meals.
7. Camping kettle
When camping in the forest, at some point you will need to boil some water. Whether it’s making a brew, washing up or making a pot noodle, a stainless steel camping kettle is a must-have cooking equipment item.
8. Cooking utensils
Here’s a selection of some of the most common utensils used when camping:
- Slotted spoon
- Ladle
- Spatula
- Cheese grater
- Bottle opener
- Colander
- Scissors
- Tin opener
A couple of sharp knives, including protective sheaths, and a cutting board are also recommended.
9. Oven gloves/hot pad
When setting down hot pots and pans, a pair of oven gloves will prevent injury to your hands, while a hot pad will protect your camping table. Safety first, always!
10. Seasonings
To add flavour to your camping food, seasonings are a must-have inclusion on your cooking equipment list. Salt, pepper, soy sauce and more are worth having on hand to spice up your grub.
11. Reusable food containers
Better for the environment than their throwaway alternatives; reusable containers are handy for storing both fresh ingredients and also leftovers.
12. Cool box
A decent-sized cool box, somewhere between 50 and 70 litres, is worth having for storing food (including leftovers) and drink items that need to be chilled.
13. Reusable tablecloth
Useful in several scenarios, a tablecloth can be used to protect your cooking gear when it rains or for quickly covering a wet camping table at meal times.
14. Bin bags
Dispose of food waste and non-reusable accessories responsibly to keep your pitch and the campsite clean.
15. Washing-up kit
To keep your cookware clean and ready to use when camping in the forest, bring a washing-up bowl, liquid, sponges and tea towels.
Unusual camping gadgets
Camping in the Forest is a popular holiday choice in the UK, but many adventurers can’t do without home comforts. Interesting items appearing on the camping kitchen equipment list in recent years include:
- Portable Espresso Machines
- Hand-Cranked Blenders
- Outdoor Ovens
- Kitchen unit
To keep your campfire cooking equipment items to a minimum, only pack the essentials. If you want to discover more food to bring to camping, explore our camping food ideas.
This post was originally published by Camping in the forest (edited).
Leave a Reply