There’s nothing we love more than a big camp cook-up! After putting in the hard work to find the perfect campsite, you deserve to kick back and enjoy the sunset. Put on your favorite playlist, crack open a chilled beer, and light the fire!
Wondering if advancing beyond 2-minute noodles and canned soup means dropping serious cash? Not at all! We’re here to guide you through the camp kitchen essentials you’ll need to get started. We’ll cover budget-friendly options as well as premium products.
Having your cooking gear and pantry organised is a game-changer for camping. To ensure you’re set for success, we’ll also finish up with tips on camp kitchen storage and organisation. Let’s get into it!
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Why The Right Cooking Gear Is Essential
Meal options and variety:
Having the right cooking gear when camping is a game-changer. It opens up a wider variety of meal options, allowing you to prepare tastier and more nutritious dishes, even if it’s just a one-pot dinner. With the proper equipment, your culinary creativity isn’t limited by your location.
Embrace Self-sufficiency:
Self-sufficiency is one of the freedoms we seek when road-tripping and camping. Having the right gear means you won’t need to rely on cafes, restaurants, or even supermarkets if you’ve planned well. This allows you to spend more time relaxing and enjoying the outdoor experience without constant trips to town for supplies.
Save Money:
Moreover, cooking your own meals saves money. While dining out can be a nice treat, it becomes expensive if you’re doing it every day of your trip. Dehydrated meals, although convenient, can be pricey and monotonous after a while. By prepping fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and snacks before your trip, you eliminate the expense and stress of finding every meal on the road. This preparation lets you enjoy a variety of delicious, homemade meals without breaking the bank.
How Much Should Camp Cooking Gear Cost?
Essentials
Stove
Frypan
Pot
All-in-one
Cooler
Dinnerware
Utensils
Cutlery
Knife
Water Storage
Basic
$50 – $85
$30 – $50
$20 – $50
$60 – $100
$80 – $100
$20 – $50
$25 – $50
$10 – $20
$10 – $20
$20 – $50
Premium
$300 – $500
$50 – $120
$80 – $150
$100 – $300
$250 – $500
$50 – $100
$50 – $100
$20 – $50
$20 – $50
N/A
1. Camp Cooker and Cookware
When it comes to camp cooking, you only need a few essential items. A single pot and a frying pan are often enough for most meals. Think about how you cook at home and the types of meals you’ll be making on your trip. This will help you determine what’s truly essential.
Avoid taking items from your home kitchen, as camp cookware needs to be more heavy-duty to withstand the knocks and bumps of outdoor use. Instead, set up a camp cooking kit based on your cooking and adventure style.
Investing in an all-in-one cooking set is another option. Before purchasing, ensure that all the items in the set are things you’ll actually use and are of good quality. Sometimes it’s more cost effective to buy cookware and dinnerware individually, especially if you are 1 or 2 people.
Classic 2 Burner Propane Stove
Let’s start with the camp stove, the most fundamental item in your camp kitchen. There are numerous options available, with brands like Jetboil offering specialised packages. We frequently use a Jetboil to make coffee or dehydrate food when hiking. When it comes to camping and van life, the classic two-burner stove remains unbeatable. These stoves run on propane canisters, which are easily found at any outdoor store. They are compact, packable, and don’t take up much space.
We recommend choosing a stove with wind guards to ensure efficient cooking in any weather. While single burners are available, a two-burner stove is much more useful. It fits perfectly in our roll-out campervan kitchen, and having both a pot and a frypan going at once is ideal for preparing a variety of meals.
Budget Friendly
Coleman Classic EvenTemp Stove
Coleman is a well-established and respected brand in the camping world. This Coleman Classic 3 burner is a great stove to get started with. It’s reliable, durable and affordable, under $150.
Check Price on AmazonPremium Option
Camp Chef Everest 2X
If your looking for a more powerful stove, the Camp Chef Everest 2X is a favourite amongst many camp cooks. It has a larger cooking surface making it easier to fit a pot and pan side by side.
Keep in mind, more powerful burners will burn through gas a little faster.
Check Price on AmazonSkillet or Frypan
A cast iron skillet is excellent for campfire cooking and a great all-rounder due to its durability. Once seasoned, they’ll last forever. The only downside is their weight, making them suitable for campervans and car camping only.
Some camp stoves, like the Dometic Cadac, come with a pan and lid, or grill plate that perfectly fits the specific stove.
If you want a lighter option, a stainless steel frypan is a good alternative to the cast iron skillet. Some people prefer non-stick however, they aren’t as durable for camping, you’ll need to be more careful when cooking and cleaning to avoid scratching the base. Outdoor stores often stock frypans with foldable handles, which I highly recommend for easier storage.
Cast Iron
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet 10.25″
Lodge make one of the top rated cast iron skillets on the market. It’s high quality at an affordable price. You can pick one up for under $60 and you’ll be cooking on it for years. The 10″ is good for 2 people and the 12″ for 4 or more.
Check Price on AmazonCompact
Sea to Summit Detour Stainless Steel Frypan
If you prefer a lighter and more packable option stainless steel is perfect. Sea to Summit does a stainless steel frypan with a detachable handle for easy packing.
If you don’t plan on campfire cooking this is an excellent option for gas burners, under $100. It’s worth the investment as it’s built to last and can endure your adventurous cooking.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Wild EarthPot
A good-sized pot is another must-have for camp cooking, whether you’re boiling water for coffee or cooking rice and pasta. There are plenty of options available, including stainless steel, aluminium, and collapsible silicone pots. Choose the one that best suits your cooking style, type of camping, and budget. We recommend pots with foldable or removable handles for easier storage.
Basic
Campfire Stainless Steel Mess Pot 1.5L
The Campfire stainless steel pot is good for 2 people camping. It has a foldable handle and is an affordable choice for under $25.
Check Price on AmazonPremium
Sea to Summit Alpha Pots
If you’re willing to spend more, the Sea to Summit range is excellent. The durability of stainless steel with design detail extras such as silicone grips, a foldable handle for easy storage and slotted strainer in the lid.
They come in a range of sizes or you can buy a set of two.
Check Price on AmazonAll-in-one Sets
All-in-one cookware sets can be fantastic, especially if you’re setting up a camp kitchen for the first time. Some sets include a frypan and two sized pots, while others even come with cooking utensils and plates. However, before diving into purchasing one of these sets, it’s important to be realistic about what you’ll actually use, or you’ll end up with a heap of excess that you don’t need.
One great feature of cook sets is that they pack away into each other for tidy storage, maximizing space efficiency.
All-in-One
Stanley Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cookset
Stanley offer an 11 piece stainless steel cook set which includes a pot, saucepan and frypan along with cooking utensils.
They also have a 21 piece set including plates, bowls, utensils and cutlery if you want to purchase all your basic camp kitchen needs at once.
What I love most about this Stanley set, is the nesting system for tidy and organised storage. You wouldn’t believe how small this packs away! For families or group cooking this is an excellent option.
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2. Campfire Cooking Gear (optional)
Campfire cooking opens up a whole new world of outdoor culinary delights. If you’re ready to get down and dirty in the great outdoors for some truly tasty meals, it all starts with the fire. (Just make sure to check for fire bans in the area first!)
For campfire cooking, you’ll need specific cookware, typically made of stainless steel or cast iron. To get started, the basic equipment includes an over-fire grill, a skillet, and a Dutch oven.
Over Fire Grill
Top Pick
Adventure Kings Over Fire Grill and Griddle Combo
This half grill, half griddle from Kings is an affordable piece of equipment for your campfire cooking kit. Made from heavy-duty steel, it’s portable and features foldable legs for easy setup over a fire and quick packing when you’re done.
Check Price on AmazonCast Iron / Dutch Oven
Top Pick
Campfire Cast Iron Camp Oven
A cast iron Dutch Oven can be placed directly onto the campfire or in hot coals. This Campfire oven is pre-seasoned cast iron with a flanged lid to keep coals on top. You can cook everything from braised brisket to cinnamon scrolls.
Some stores well this as a pack including protective gloves, steamer rack and storage bag.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Wild EarthHeat resistant gloves
Top Pick
Campfire Protective Leather Gloves
Heat resistant gloves are highly recommended for campfire cooking. You’ll need to move hot logs and charcoal as well as picking up cast iron cookware. They are a very affordable piece of safety equipment.
Check Price at Amazon3. Coolers
Hard Sided Cooler
Another crucial piece of camping gear is the cooler box. Having proper storage for meat, vegetables, drinks, and snacks can significantly enhance your camp cooking experience. I highly recommend opting for a hard cooler. Not only is it more packable in the car, but it’s also tougher and sturdier at camp. Plus, it can double as a great seat!
Before purchasing a cooler box, be sure to measure the available space in your car or campervan. Prices will vary depending on the size. A budget-friendly cooler will cost around $100 for a 26L capacity and over $200 for a 58L capacity. To maximize storage capacity, consider using stackable food storage containers.
Budget Friendly
Coleman Chest Hard Cooler
Again a reliable campsite favourite, Coleman do a great hard cooler. Lightweight with good ice retention. It’s affordable and high quality.
Check Price on AmazonPremium
Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler
There’s an extreme price jump here as the Yeti Tundra is a more robust design. It’s built for more adventurous camping. It’s not necessary to spend this amount of money on a cooler if you only camp occasionally. For those of you on who spend more time outdoors and want a heavy duty cooler, Yeti won’t let you down.
Check Price at Wild Earth4. Water storage
Collapsible Water Cube or Jerry Can
Water is not just for drinking—it’s also crucial for cooking and cleaning while camping. Having practical water storage solutions can make all these activities much easier.
These water storage options are super basic and can be easily found at Anaconda, Bunnings, and auto shops for less than $25. If you’re tight on space or know there’s drinking water available at the campsite, consider investing in a collapsible water cube. These cubes pack flat and can be filled up when you arrive.
Before you head out, make sure to check if there’s a freshwater source or taps in the camping area. This will help you determine how much water you need to carry.
Collapsible
GSI Foldable Water Cube
GSI has a range of foldable water cubes, 10L, 15L and 20L. They are durable and very convenient for saving space.
Check Price at Wild Earth
5. Dinnerware
When it comes to camping, opting for non-breakable and durable dinnerware is your best bet. Materials like stainless steel, enamel, or plastic are ideal choices. Fortunately, dinnerware for camping is fairly affordable.
If you’re camping with a family or larger group, consider purchasing dinnerware sets that come with four plates, bowls, and cups. However, if it’s just the two of you, buying individual items based on your preference works well.
We personally use the Sea To Summit range, which is sold individually. They are sturdy, durable, and have a nice high edge on the plates for added convenience.
Dinnerware Set
12 Piece Enamel Dinner Set
A basic enamel set like this one by Campfire caters to 4 people and will cost around $60.
An affordable option for families or groups.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Wild EarthSold Separately
Sea to Summit Passage Dinnerware
Sold individually or as 1 or 2 person sets; plate, bowl, cup, cutlery.
Sea to Summit is our go-to for outdoor dinnerware, they make high-quality products excellent for camping and hiking and are also affordable.
Check Price at Wildearth6. Cooking Utensils & Cutlery
Cutlery
While the trusty spork may suffice for hiking, when it comes to camp cooking and longer stays, investing in a proper cutlery set is worth it. Personally, I find eating meals with stainless steel cutlery much more enjoyable than using plastic utensils.
You don’t need to break the bank on this purchase—remember, you’re camping, and things will inevitably get a bit roughed up. For affordable options, consider checking out IKEA, department stores or second-hand shops. Since we’re just a duo in the van, we don’t have a full set; instead, we use some old pieces from home that have been upgraded over time.
Utensils
You’ll need four essential utensils for camp cooking; tongs, a spatula, a stirring spoon and a chopping knife. You can spend as little or as much as you like on utensils. Your choice of utensils will vary depending on your choice of cookware. Consider opting for silicone cooking utensils, as they can help extend the lifespan of your cookware, particularly if you’re using non-stick frypans.
Luckily, there’s a wide range of options available, from camping sets with folding handles to individual items found at IKEA and other department stores.
While one good quality knife is often sufficient for camping, for those camping chefs looking to elevate their cooking experience, there are some excellent sets available from brands like GSI and Gerber.
Top Pick
GSI Outdoors Santoku Knife Set
GSI have a great set of stainless steel knives. They come in their own protective sheaths. This set also comes with an outercase that includes a microfibre cloth, soap and foldable chopping board
Check Price at Wild EarthOther Accessories to Consider
- Salt/pepper grinder
- Can opener
- Bottle opener / corkscrew
- Grater
- Cutting board
7. Coffee
A portable coffee maker is a must-have in our camp cooking gear. There are plenty of camp coffee makers designed to be durable and compact for outdoor adventures. Popular choices include the Bialetti Moka Pot, French Press, Aeropress, and Wacaco.
READ MORE – Best Portable Coffee Maker – Find Your Perfect Match For Life On The Road
Our Pick
Wacaco Nanopresso
This is our favourite coffee maker by far. We use the Wacaco every day in the van, took it on a 5-day hike in Tasmania, and now travel across the world with it.
If you love a good strong espresso, this is the closest you’ll get outside of a cafe.
Check Price on AmazonKettle
A kettle isn’t absolutely essential since many pots come with a pour spout and can double as a kettle. Instead of setting up the gas stove to make coffee, we use a Jetboil. It’s fast, compact, and versatile, making it a great option for both camping and hiking.
Premium
Jetboil Flash Cooking Pot
The Jetboil is an easy, compact, and fast boiling option, providing you with boiling water in just 2.5 minutes. Although it’s a pricey addition to your camp kitchen, it’s an amazing all-rounder that you’ll also love for hiking.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Wild EarthCollapsible
Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Kettle
For those who love to brew a cup of tea, the Sea to Summit collapsible silicone kettle is a great space-saving option.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Wild Earth8. Clean up and dishwashing
No one enjoys the cleanup after cooking, especially in the wilderness. The key to making this task more manageable is to be organized and well-equipped. With a few affordable items, you can make your outdoor life a whole lot easier!
Compact Bin
Elemental Collapsible Bin
A collapsible bin is very useful for keeping your campsite clean. Especially when camping in groups. It stands upright, making it much easier to use than the default hanging plastic bag. Made from Nylon which is durable and easy to clean.
The collapsible design is easily packed away.
Check Price on AmazonCollapsible Bucket
Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink
The collapsible bucket is pretty common these days so you won’t have any trouble finding one under $20 from department stores.
The Sea to Summit kitchen sink is another option that is more lightweight and packs down even tighter than the collapsible bucket. It’s available in 5L and 10L. It stands on its own when filled and has a stainless steel ring that helps it hold its shape when full.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Wild EarthDish Rack
Collapsible Dish Drying Rack
This pop up dish drainer isn’t essential but it’s pretty handy for large groups. We have one in the van. It fits snug in the sink when we’re driving and the rubber grip feet mean it doesn’t move around on the bench when packed down.
Check Price on AmazonPot Scrubber and Soap
Sea to Summit Pot Scrubber and Soap
I love Wilderness Wash. It’s a biodegradable soap which is perfect for the outdoors and it has you covered for everything from showers to dishwashing.
This is a great combo. The pot scrubber has nylon bristols and fits your wilderness wash into one compact package.
Check Price at Wild Earth9. Organisation and storage
Now that you have all the essential camp cooking gear, it’s critical you keep it organised. Nothing dampens the adventurer’s spirit more than a disorganised camp setup. I highly recommend sorting your gear by category using durable storage boxes eg. one for cookware and dinnerware and another for cleaning. While there are many affordable storage boxes available, they don’t last long before the lid breaks or the bottom cracks. It’s worth investing more in a box that will stand the test of time.
Storage Container
Front Runner Wolf Pack Pro
The Front Runner wolf pack pro boxes are made from tough, impact resistant plastic. Front Runner is excellent for car and van storage as well as rooftop storage.
They have nesting lids to stack together neatly and securely and have sealing latches that make them water and dust-resistant.
These storage boxes are available in multiple sizes. You’ll only need one or two and they’re worth the money to keep your camp cooking gear safe and organised.
Check Price on AmazonFood Storage
Use stackable food storage containers with sealable lids for pantry items, meal prep and leftovers. They’ll stack nicely in your cooler box as well.
Reusable zip lock bags are great for sandwiches, hiking snacks and storing leftover dry snacks.
Benefits of food storage containers:
- Perfect for keeping leftovers fresh
- Prep and pack fresh ingredients before your camping trip and stack them in the cooler
- Keep the cooler box organised with stackable containers
- Store pantry essentials like pasta, rice, snacks, and spices
Top Choice
Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers with Sealable Lid
Rubbermaid are our top choice for food storage. They have excellent seals making them airtight and leak-proof and are a modular design.
Rubbermaid also have every size container you could possibly need.
Ikea is also great for food storage options. They are affordable and you can mix and match sizes to suit your needs
Check Price on AmazonExtra Gear for Adventurous Foodies
Portable Fire Pit
Coffee Grinder
Spice Missile
Insulated Coffee Mug
Camp Wine Glasses
Hibachi Grill
Jaffle Iron
Folding Steak Knives
Marshmallow Roasting Forks
Where to Shop for camp cooking gear
With so much cool gear out there, how do you know where to shop? It’s easy to get excited about becoming the next MasterChef of the wilderness. But as amazing as all this cooking gear is, I suggest starting with the basics. Once you’ve found your outdoor cooking groove, you’ll know where to splash the extra cash.
Outdoors and Camping Stores
These stores will have everything you need, from budget to high-end products. You’ll also get solid advice from professionals. I recommend this option for camp stoves, cooler boxes, and cookware, as you want these products to be durable and of good quality.
Your Local Department Store
Department stores like Kmart have great camping basics such as cast iron cookware, utensils, plates, and cutlery sets. While I don’t suggest buying all your camp cooking gear from department stores, it can be an affordable way to start.
IKEA is another great option for food storage, utensils, and cutlery.
Second-hand Shops
When it comes to camping, many people try it out and then decide it’s not for them. Or perhaps they love it and are upgrading their equipment. Either way, you can find gear in second-hand shops and online community marketplaces. If you have your heart set on a particular piece of equipment, check out Facebook Marketplace for second-hand gems.
Your Home Kitchen
Recycle old kitchen items into your camp setup. See what you have at home that is older and more suitable for getting knocked around on the campsite.
Whether grilling a steak over a crackling fire or making a pot of hearty bolognese, cooking can be one of the best parts of camping. With the right set up the possibilities are endless!
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