All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
I don’t think the best part of camping is supposed to be the food, but to me, it always is. Yes: the great outdoors! Yes: fresh air, a breeze in the pines, potentially a lake! All wonderful and absolutely worth slathering yourself in bug repellent to experience. But I don’t think there’s a single aspect to the whole sleeping-in-a-tent thing that’s better than making all your meals outside.
Camping cuisine doesn’t have to be all hot dogs and s’mores—in fact, it shouldn’t be. By bringing along just a few choice kitchen tools, you can create meals that hold their own against the scenery and hiking excursions as potential trip highlights. Foil-packed cod and chorizo dinners, cheesy enchilada skillets, and even a fruit-and-oat crumble for dessert can be yours if you designate some room in your pack for a cast-iron pan (worth the weight, we promise) and a wide camping kettle. Read on for our picks of the best camping cooking gear.
Cast-iron skillet
If you take only one piece of cooking equipment with you on a camping trip, it should be a cast-iron skillet. This super-durable, inexpensive kitchen staple is heavy, yes, but it makes up for its weight by being so versatile that you’ll use it for every meal. Whether you’re cooking a breakfast frittata over an open fire or making smash burgers on a camping stove, it’s the tool that will carry you through.
.jpg)
Grill tongs
Long-handled tongs (at least 16 inches) are built for cooking outdoors. You’ll reach for yours to move food around on the surface of a grill, transfer charcoal or wood from zone to zone, and move cooked food to platters and plates. The length prevents you from having to get too close to the fire and potentially burning your arms.
Durable dishware + cutlery sets
While you’re out enjoying nature, one goal should be to create as little waste as possible; as such, paper plates and plastic silverware should not get a place on your packing list. Instead, opt for lightweight but durable alternatives that you can rinse and reuse. Enamelware is a classic because it won’t weigh you down and can handle being dropped on rocky terrain a time or two. Cutlery sets corral all three pieces neatly (and safely!); shove them into any bag or backpack pouch.
Camping kettle
An easy and efficient way to heat water while camping is with a kettle specifically designed to work over an open fire or on a camping stove. This aluminum model is wider than it is tall, which makes for quick heating, and is super lightweight; with it’s own mesh bag, it can be attached to the outside of your pack for easy toting. Also, it holds 10 cups of water, which is enough for alllll the coffee you’ll require after a night spent stargazing.
Aeropress
No list of the best camping cooking gear would be complete without a few tips for how to make coffee, and Epi’s associate director of social media Urmila Ramakrishnan says an AeroPress can’t be beat. “It’s pretty compact for a coffee setup,” she says. “Maximizing space has always been our number one challenge when camping, and I like that you can just pop in the apparatus and it fits on top of most mugs or canisters. Also, it’s fairly difficult to break, which is a big plus if you’re also stashing hiking poles, headlamps, and bulky items in your backpack.”
Wine tumblers
These tumblers are the perfect do-it-all beverage vessel for a weekend outdoors—with insulated walls to keep your morning coffee hot and evening wine cold. The stainless-steel body is great for durability, but the lid is the real winning asset: You’ll keep your beverage contained down to the last drop.
Folding table
If you want to level up from collapsible beach chairs and eating on your lap, stow this folding picnic table and chairs set in the trunk of your car for your next outdoors excursion. Everything breaks down into a surprisingly compact 23-by-23-inch carrying case, but at its full height and width comfortably seats four—whenever your travels may take you.
