Cooking in the great outdoors is truly a unique experience. There’s something satisfying about with whipping up a tasty meal with only limited resources on your disposal. But that doesn’t mean your menu has to consist only of sausages on a stick, roasted marshmallows or the usual campfire meals. With the right outdoor cooking equipment, there’s no limit to the delicious recipes you can try! If you’re heading out on a camping trip, here’s a step by step guide to all the cooking gear you need.

A Portable Stove

Cooking and seating around the campfire are certainly an enjoyable part of camping. However, starting a campfire is prohibited by some national parks and campgrounds, as well on days when a Total Fire Ban is declared. With that being said, if you plan to cook on your trip, it’s best to consider investing in a portable camp stove. Such a stove can be found at any specialized camping store selling outdoor cooking equipment. Usually, the choice comes down to either a gas or an electric stove, depending on your needs and the conditions in which you’ll be camping.

Cooking Tools

You don’t have to bring anything fancy on your camping trip. Only a few simple tools such as knives, tongs, and even aluminium foil can be game-changers when cooking outdoors. Whether you’re slicing a steak, chopping salad, or filleting a fish – a good knife can speed things up. Just like at home, choosing a good knife is important both for functionality as well as for your safety. When it comes to tongs, the longer the better. That way you won’t get burned when turning the things you cook. Ultimately, it all comes down to your unique needs and cooking skills when choosing which tools you need. However, it’s always a good idea to keep a set of dedicated cooking tools for camping instead of frantically searching around your kitchen drawers before heading off. This way there’s less chance you forget to bring along a critical tool.

Cookware

Whatever you’re planning to cook, you have to place it in some sort of fire-proof container before it goes over the stove. Cast iron and non-stick pans and pots are usually the most suitable cookware for outdoor cooking. Both materials are easy to clean up which is a big plus considering your access to water and detergent will probably be scarce.

Tableware and Drinkware

When it comes to keeping your food warm for longer, you can rely on insulated food containers. Additionally, insulated cups may be a great way to ensure your drinks stay refreshingly cool when you go for a hike. A big bonus of insulated drinkware and tableware is that they are reusable and made of stainless steel which is an eco-friendly material. Stainless steel drinkware and tableware are also more durable as opposed to plastic and ceramic.