I know that the first thing you think about when you hear the phrase “camp kitchen” is a fire pit, some marshmallows, and maybe a hot dog or two. But what happens when it comes time for dinner? You don’t want to be stuck with only canned soup and crackers. That’s why it’s important to have the right cookware on hand at all times. Here are some of the most essential pieces that every camp kitchen should have:
1x Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, used for slow cooking stews, soups, and casseroles. It can also be used to bake bread and cakes in an oven or over an open fire. A Dutch oven can boil water and cook rice; it can fry meat or vegetables and make coffee or tea.
1x Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet is a heavy, durable piece of cookware that can be used on a stovetop or in the oven. It’s slow to heat up and retain heat, but it’s also very efficient at retaining moisture. This means that if you’re making something like fried chicken or steak frites (French fries), you’ll want to use your cast iron pan instead of another type of pan because they will come out browner more evenly than they would have otherwise.
Cast iron skillets are good for frying, sautéing and baking foods as well as braising them in liquid such as soups or stews–which is why many people think of them first when thinking about camp cooking.
1x Large Pot with Lid
The large pot is the most important piece of cookware for your camp kitchen. It’s used to boil water for pasta, soups and stews, or anything else you need to heat up quickly and efficiently. A good-sized pot will also allow you to make a big batch of chili or stew that will feed everyone at one sitting (and then some).
The lid keeps heat in so your food doesn’t cool down too much while it simmers on the stovetop or in the fire pit. You’ll want this if you’re making something like chicken noodle soup or chili — it’ll keep all those delicious flavors locked inside until they’re ready to be enjoyed.
1x Small Pot with Lid
If you’re looking to cook small amounts of food in your camp kitchen, a small pot with a lid is the way to go. You can use this type of cookware for boiling water for coffee or tea, making rice and other grains, steaming vegetables or pasta. A small pot will also come in handy when heating up leftovers from dinner the night before (or even breakfast).
1x Frying Pan with Lid
Next up is a frying pan with lid. This is a must-have for any camp kitchen, as it can be used for everything from frying food to boiling water and simmering soups and stews.
A good quality steel or cast iron pan should be large enough to cook for a group of people at one time, but not so big that it takes up too much storage space in your pack or vehicle when you’re on the go. A lid is also helpful if you want to keep food warm while cooking continues in other parts of the meal prep process (think: finishing sauce).
1x Cutting Board and Knife Set
The first thing you’ll need is a cutting board and knife set. This is because it’s important to have the right tools for the job, especially when it comes to cutting up food. A good cutting board will keep your knives sharp, and make them last longer than if you were using them on anything else.
You may also consider purchasing a few camping-specific items like a metal roasting stick for marshmallows and meat missiles, durable coffee mugs, tea kettle and a coffee press.
Water Bottles and Containers
It may seem obvious, but you need to have a water bottle for each person in your group. You can’t just grab any old bottle from home–you’ll want something that’s sturdy enough to keep up with whatever rugged terrain you’re headed into, but also light enough not to weigh you down. Plastic bottles are great for this because they’re cheap and lightweight; however, they can get brittle over time (especially if exposed to sunlight) and might crack when dropped on hard surfaces like rocks or pavement. Stainless steel is another option: these bottles are more durable than plastic ones, but don’t retain temperature very well — they’ll cool down quickly after being filled with hot coffee or tea.
How many water bottles do you need? This depends largely on how long your trip will last — if it’s only going be one night then two, two-liter bottles should suffice. But if there’s no chance of running out during an extended stay then it might make sense instead just bring along one large container instead which could hold 12+ liters worth at once (and thus reduce trips back indoors).
1x Wash Basin and Soap
After you’ve cooked, it’s time to clean up. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do this without spending a ton of money or taking up too much space in your kitchen. A washbasin is one of those things that everyone should have around because it’s so versatile — you can use it for washing dishes, hands and even clothing (if you’re brave enough). You can also use soap made from animal fat or tallow as well as olive oil soap if you want something more natural that doesn’t require any extra ingredients beyond what you already have in your kitchen.
Conclusion
I hope that this list has given you some ideas on what to buy for your next camping trip. Remember, don’t go overboard with the number of pots and pans. You can always use your old home-kitchen stuff as you retire it. Just remember that it’s convenient to have dedicated plastic, metal or silicone dishes and cutlery when possible. And the easier it is to go camping, the more you’ll do it!
