Best Camping Cooking Gear – Equipment List

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camping cooking gear

Many camping experts will tell you that every successful camping expedition is down to good planning. That goes for your cooking equipment too – can you imagine how difficult it would be to manage without a basic mess tin or cooking stove? From kettles to coolers, there is a good range of camping cooking gear out there and very reasonably priced too.

Cooking Equipment for Camping

Camping Kitchens

Having a camping kitchen when you are on your next camping holiday makes it much more convenient to cook your meals. Especially when you are camping with your family and need more than a single fire pit to cook over.

Camping kitchen equipment includes much more than just a portable stovetop. There are also a wide variety of things such as sinks and portable shelving and the top three brands for camping kitchen equipment would be Campingaz, Trekmates and Sunncamp.

Campingaz is probably the most popular choice of gear for campers. They have a huge selection to choose from and excellent camping kitchens. The Campingaz Camp kitchen stove is a big seller and is very compact, can be placed on top of your picnic table to cook on and fairly priced.

Trekmates is a huge supplier of all outdoor sport and camping gear. They have great 5L portable camping kitchen sink and the Trekmates’ line of outdoor gear includes everything from steel plates to lightweight stoves for your camping kitchen. The Trekmates fireball stove is the perfect compact companion for your camping kitchen and in addition, Trekmates has a wide variety of sport clothing and shoes to choose from.

Whatever you are looking to get out of your camping kitchen you are sure to find it with Campingaz, Trekmates or Sunncamp’s superb selection of camping gear and equipment. Their versatile line of camping gear offers campers quality and affordability. You can find all you need to complete your camping kitchen with everything from spatulas to mini tables and more. Try their camping gear out on your next trek into the great outdoors!

Camping Kettles

When packing for a camp holiday, choosing a camp kettle that is durable and easy to use is necessary. Camp kettles have been around for hundreds of years and throughout time they have been perfected for easy and convenient use. Today, most new camp kettles are mad of aluminum, stainless steel or cast iron.

Kelly Kettle has been making kettles for over four generations. They make camp kettles in aluminum and stainless steel and natural fuels are used such as bark, sticks, and paper or pine cones. After making a small fire in the base of the kettle, the water goes into the chimney wall which will boil in 3-5 minutes. Hot water is ready for cooking and bathing and when additional water is needed, simply refill the kettle with water and put it back on the base while the fire continues to burn. There is also a good selection of camping kettles to choose from online with many different size kettles to suit every camper:

Gelert Kettles are well-known for their dependability, quality and valur for money. The Gelert 0.8 Litre kettle is constructed from graphite and anodized aluminum which makes it really resilient, it is also tremendously easy to clean which is crucial for camping holidays. The handle is heat resistant and folds down when not in use. For larger families the company also makes a 2 litre stainless steel whistling kettle-one of the finest out door kettles. It’s tough, durable construction is of stainless steel and the folding handle, removable lid and open close spout lever makes it convenient and easy to use.

Outwell Travel kettles are always an essential item for camping at a festival or camp-site holiday is made of stainless steel. It has a concealed heating element which is cleans easily and includes 2 cups and spoons. Other features are a water level indicator, safety cut off at dry boil and auto shut off.

Camping holidays are excellent ways to enjoy time with family and friends. Camp kettles are essential for cooking, heating water and bathing. There are many different styles and brands to choose from and Whether camping for two or more, camp kettles are made to accommodate your needs and prove to be a must have cooking accessory.

Camping Mess Tins

An important item to take on your camping trip are the mess tins and there are several kinds of camping mess tins to choose from. The camping mess tins can also be purchased in the UK with 2 or 3 to a set. This is considered a mess kit, and are usually made of aluminum.

There are the army style tins that you can cook in and also eat in, and they have a folding wire handle for cooking. This is convenient because the one mess tin accomplishes two different tasks. Most mess tin sets come with two tins.

There are available 2-part mess tins that have a lid to transform it into a frying pan. This is a handy type to have because it can also store the food or cooking equipment if there’s lack of space. It’s also nice again to have a mess tin that you can cook and store in; another multi functional style.

It’s a sturdy mess tin made out of steel. Another type of camping mess tins are made of aluminum and are also multi functional. These tins can be stacked, and they have foldout handles. You can cook with them on a stove or campfire, and they can also be used to store food or cooking equipment. Camping mess tins also come in non-stick aluminum. These have a long-life Debron coating and a heat resistant locking handle and is a good purchase to have while cooking on a camping trip; not having the food stick to the tin.

A lightweight mini mess box is also made of aluminum. Called a mess box, it has the same uses as a mess tin, this tin is airtight and has locking roller clasps. There are also camping mess tins made for children in a smaller size, these are also called a mess box.

The variety of camping mess tins that have been mentioned also come in different sizes, depending on how much food you need to cook or eat. There are also tin mess plates that could be eaten off of, instead of right out of the mess tin.

Ration Packs

Ration packs usually come with many different food options, all made to keep you full of energy for your daily hiking excursions. It provides you with all sorts of drink mixes, carbs, yogurts, and other filling, nutritional foods.

While on camping/hiking trips, one of the main problems people run into is food preparation. Making food on a camping trip takes up time, calls for a lot of supplies, and most of all, is just complicated. Even if you are cooking a simple dish like hot dogs or hamburgers, you still need to bring extra supplies, which can be costly, because it will weight down your equipment.
There is a simple fix to this problem and they are called camping ration packs. They are pre-made meals that do not require preparation, sealed in a bag, that makes them easy to pack, and lowers the use of extra equipment on a camping trip. Ration packs provide food for a whole 24 hours, eliminating the complicated preparation of camping food.

Certain ration packs will provide delectable desert items, and some provide home style meals such as chicken noodles, or other home style meals you enjoy. With ration packs, there are always vegetarian options, so every different diet is tended to.
Ration packs will usually provide vitamin-full foods/protein packed energy bars, to keep you moving throughout the day and after a long day of hiking, the last thing somebody wants to do is to come back to a campsite having to prepare a meal. That is why ration packs are perfect, because they provide full nutrition, without any preparation. They are useful on a camping trip because they make getting your meals task free, and provide you with all the nutrition you need in a day.

Camping Stoves

The stove you choose determines what type of fuel you will be carrying with you when tent camping. While cooking over an open fire is a nice experience the convenience and safety of camping stoves makes them well worth considering.

The two main choices are liquid and butane/propane. However, solid fuel is also a consideration. It comes as a gel and claims to be more economical and environmentally safer than petroleum based fuels. There are numerous brands available for all three types. “Coleman” and “Campingaz” are two of the major providers of the liquid and gas type while “Greenheat” is a popular provider of gel fuel and stoves. Price ranges vary depending on the features. They are quite economical for the one-burner units and of course increase in cost as you add more frills.

Coleman seems to have enough products to keep you choosing for days. They have everything from small single burners to double burner units that resemble a small range. They offer models in both liquid and propane fuel styles.

Related: Best Camping Stoves – Review 2023

Campingaz also has a large variety of equipment. Both of these companies offer butane and liquid fuel supplies in different sizes. The fuel is usually not included with the stove and must be purchased separately. The two companies have designed their fuel supplies to be interchangeable. Greenheat is a popular supplier of Gel fueled stoves. They do not come in as large a variety as the liquid and gas based stoves but their selection is adequate.

Unlike the Coleman and Campingaz stoves, which require you to buy the fuel separately, Greenheat provides two resealable tins of fuel weighing two hundred grams each with their stoves. Each tin is large enough to be used as the base for its burners and has about an hour of burn time. The fuel will not flash and is easy to handle and light. As with any item one takes camping it is best to familiarize oneself with it at home. Taking the time to learn how to operate and pack your stove will save both time and embarrassment when afield.

All of the stoves offer some type of windscreen and have numerous ways of attaching the fuel supply. Only the gel type has to be placed directly under the kettle or pan you are cooking in. One of the considerations for choosing your camping stove would of course be the mode by which you are arriving at the campsite. If one were going in on foot you would of course want to travel as unburdened as possible.

The companies have all considered the weight of their stoves as an important factor but it is still up to the individual camper to choose the stove that will provide the maximum amount of cooking ease without overburdening one while hiking on the trail. There are definitely enough varieties to suit just about anyone’s taste and needs.

List of Best Camping Stoves – Cooking Equipment

Sale
Coleman Gas Camping Stove | Classic Propane Stove, 2 Burner, 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 Inches
7,729 Reviews
Coleman Gas Camping Stove | Classic Propane Stove, 2 Burner, 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 Inches
  • Cooking power: Up to 20,000 total BTUs
  • 2 adjustable burners: For precise temperature control
  • Wind-blocking panels: Shield burners from wind
  • Pressure regulator: Pressure-control technology for consistent performance, even in extreme conditions
  • Runtime: Up to 1 hour on high on one 16.4 oz. Propane cylinder (sold separately)
Sale
Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove
3,303 Reviews
Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove
  • 2 Cast Aluminum Burners
  • 60,000 total BTU/hr
  • 32" Cooking Height
  • Detachable Legs
  • 3-Sided Windscreen

Camping Pans

Before spending money on camping pan sets, you should do research to make sure the pan sets meet all of your needs, or make sure that you are not spending money on something you do not need.

Here is some information on a few different camping brands to help you make your decision on what camping pan sets are right for you.
Coleman has what they call a solo cooking kit which includes two pots and two pans made out of hard-anodized aluminum. All pots and pans have folding handles which fold flat for convenience in packing and storage. The whole set weighs 515 grams and comes with a sack for easy transportation.

Sunnflair has a nesting billy set of pans made out of top quality aluminum and includes 3 pans, a 5 litre pan, a 9 litre pan, and a 13 litre pan all with lids and handles. This set would best suit your needs if you had a large crowd accompanying you on your camping trip and prices at about £40.
Vango has a single person stainless steel cook set for about £14 and includes a 14cm frying pan, a 700ml pot, and a 900ml pot all made of stainless steel with copper bottoms. The set also comes with a plastic cup with measurement labels and a stuff sac for easy storage and mobility.
Vango also has a family size steel set suited for four people. Being made of steel and with non-stick surfaces you can take this set with you for many annual camping trips with very low maintenance, the set includes an 18cm frying pan, 1400ml pot, 1800ml pot, 4 plastic cups with measurement labels, and a stuff sac for easy storage and mobility. This set weighs 1000 grams and prices around £25.

Camping Coolers

Camping coolers are one of the most useful items you can bring along for a tent camping holiday. They keep your entire family’s food from spoiling by reducing the chance bacteria can grow. They can also keep all of your beverages ice cold! Imagine a relaxing trip in the woods with chilled beer or soft drink and fresh food for everyone to enjoy.

There are a number of things you should look for when selecting a camping cooler. To begin with, spend money to get a good 5-6 day insulated camping cooler. These models are designed to leave enough ice after 5 to 7 days with an outside temperature that ranges from 80 to 100 degrees F. You may also elect to buy a cooler with separate containers for beverages and frozen meat to prevent the ice from melting because of opening the container too often. If you camp for more than a day you’ll end up appreciating a more expensive model that isn’t made from cheap metal or even Styrofoam.

By far one of the most popular and useful coolers on the market is made by Coleman. The Coleman 6-Day 50QT Ultimate Xtreme Wheeled Cooler has everything you could want. It will keep ice for up to six days, even in temperatures up to 90 degrees F. It can store up to 72 cans, in addition to ice, and allows you to channel drain the ice.

What’s more, the Coleman has large wheels that can move over rough terrain, a great feature for camping holidays. This model is made of durable plastic and has a convenient lid with built-in drink holders. Coleman coolers have been the number one cooler maker for decades because of their high-quality items.

Another popular choice for camping coolers are those made by Igloo. The Igloo All Terrain Cooler, for example, has a 100QT capacity and can keep ice for up to 5 days. It has a stain and odor resistant liner and features great all-terrain wheels and sturdy handles that will last you a lifetime.

Remember, camping coolers are a must-have accessory for any camping holiday. You may think your trip will be fine without; if so, you probably haven’t experienced the convenience and fun of ice cold drinks and fresh foods far from home.

Camping Cutlery

When you go camping, you do need a few things with you. One of the most important things is your camping cutlery. This is because you need to have something to eat and prepare meals with. Plastic utensils works well for this, but you might want to have something that is permanent. This is where the camping cutlery comes in handy.

These items are usually cooking items as well as forks and spoons and knives that are used for eating purposes. If you are not sure about what one to get, you can check around and find the ones that are the best prices as well as some that will work for what you are planning on using them for.

There are a few places that you can look to find your camping cutlery. The first is at your local department store. They usually have a section in the store that is made for camping and everything that you need to go, including camping cutlery. If you are not sure where this section is, then you can ask the people that work there and they should be able to tell you where to find it.

The next place that you can look is at a camping and outdoor store. These are usually found in major areas and can help you to find the things that you need for your camping trip. They may have a little bit higher prices, but usually will have better camping cutlery as well as supplies than most other places that you may be looking. Finally, the cheapest place to find good camping cutlery is online, with places like eBay having a great selection of camping gear.

There are many people that are looking for the things that they need for their camping trips. If you are expecting to go camping anytime this year, then you may want to be one of them as well. Take the time to find the items that you need at a price that is good for you. If you are not sure, wait and keep looking. If you take this time, then you will ensure that you are going to have a great time with your camping trip and you will have everything that you need for it.