The Best Camping Cooking Gear For Outdoor Adventures

Cooking around a campfire is romantic—the crackle of the flames, the chirp of crickets, sipping a nice cold drink while you tend to your dinner. 

But this romantic image can go up in flames without the proper gear— no one wants their skillet scrambled eggs to fuel the fire instead of themselves. Whether you’re a lake house griller or a tent-side roaster, we’ve got the best gear from our reviews to make your outdoor adventure a fun, food-filled one. 

Note: While there are endless amounts of ways to enjoy cooking outdoors, we’re focusing mostly on the cookware and tools that can be easily transported if you’re car camping or setting up shop at a beach cottage. Backpacking gear is totally different, and yes, we know you wouldn’t lug a cast iron skillet into the deep woods.

The Essentials

A Cast Iron Skillet

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

$41 $28 at Amazon $15 at Williams Sonoma $20 at Walmart

Every collection of camping cooking gear should include a cast iron skillet. Not only does it retain heat (making it great for crispy potato hash or even just to sizzle up some bacon), it's also durable and can stand up to the flames of your campfire. Associate commerce editor Grace Kelly swears by her cast iron for searing up a steak over a campfire: “There’s something deeply satisfying about cooking a hunk of meat over an open flame, and the Lodge retains heat superbly. Plus, what a treat after a day of hiking!” she says. In our review of 22 cast iron skillets, the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet won out for its durability and performance. Not to mention the price is hard to argue with—$21 for a skillet that will last a lifetime (and probably longer).  If you’re hoping to pack a little lighter on your camping adventure (cast iron is always going to be heavier than a set of backpacking cookware), we recommend the Lodge Blacklock (our runner-up) as a lighter-weight option.

Key Specs

• Weight: 5 pounds, 8.5 ounces
• Cooking surface: 8.25 inches
• Comes pre-seasoned: Yes

A Portable Charcoal Grill (For Cooking Some Burgers)

PK Grills PKGo Camp & Tailgate Grilling System

$400 at Amazon $23 at Walmart $400 at Home Depot

Depending on where you’re camping, you may or may not have access to a fire pit. For a simple way to grill at the campground, we recommend the PK Grills PKGo Camp & Tailgate Grilling System, which performed best during our review of portable charcoal grills. It’s easy to use, comes practically pre-assembled, and offers plenty of space for burgers, hot dogs, corn, and more. Fair warning: It’s much too heavy to carry for long distances (clocking in at almost 40 pounds) but would be perfect if you’re simply driving up to a camping spot.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 204 square inches
• Dimensions: 13.03 x 20.9 x 15.3 inches
• Weight: 39.5 pounds
• Warranty: 20 years (bowl and lid), 3 years (grates and plastic components), 2 years (metal parts and accessories), 1 year (temperature gauge)

...Or A Portable Gas Grill

Weber Q1200 Gas Grill

$287 $246 at Amazon $18 at Walmart $259 at Home Depot

If you’re inclined to use gas to cook some burgers, the Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill was a standout in our test of portable gas grills. Its performance rivaled that of standard-size grills when it came to high-heat cooking, and it was also *relatively* lightweight (it’s probably best for car camping) and easy to clean. For beginner grillers or folks with less room in their cars, we recommend the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas Grill, a fantastically adorable grill that’s petite in size yet huge in grilling efficiency. The cast iron grate provides a good sear and its wooden lid doubles as a cutting board. When you’re done, everything packs up into the grill itself, including a small propane tank.

Key Specs

• Weight: 31 pounds
• Dimensions: 20.5 x 40.9 x 24.6 inches
• Cooking area: 189 square inches
• Heat capacity: 8,500 BTU
• Special features: Comes in multiple colors; has two prep trays that fold in when not in use

A Car Camping Stove

Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove

$111 at Amazon $18 at Walmart View on Coleman.com

Maybe you don’t want to deal with the hassle of starting, maintaining, and cooking over a live fire (or don’t feel like lugging a portable grill, which can still be hefty). Enter the car camping stove, a compact, portable gas stovetop that’s made for camping, hence the name. One of our friends, Sey Kim, an avid runner, backpacker, and camper, says, “Cooking over campfires can be unpredictable and time-consuming, so I appreciate the control and efficiency that this camp stove offers.” This offering from Coleman is easy to set up and clean, and sports two burners for when you’re feeding a crowd (a gaggle of scouts perhaps?). Plus, it only weighs around 12 pounds, making it much lighter than all of our portable grill picks. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 11 pounds, 14.4 ounces
• Dimensions: 21 x 13 x 3.6 inches
• Heat capacity: 10,000 BTUs
• Fuel: Propane canister
• Special features: Autoignition

Grill Gloves to Keep Your Hands Safe

Grill Armor Gloves Extreme Heat-Resistant Oven Gloves

$30 at Amazon $30 at Walmart View on Grillarmorgloves.com

Camp cooking can get tricky when the heat is high and you’re moving around your makeshift outdoor kitchen. In a moment like this, you need a solid pair of heat-resistant gloves to make sure you don’t burn your hands on a piping-hot cast iron pan or singe your fingertips over a grill. From our test of seven pairs of grill gloves, Grill Armor Gloves Extreme Heat-Resistant Oven Gloves were standout performers. These gloves offered the best heat protection of the bunch, allowing us to grasp a hot cast iron pan for 15 seconds. Because the gloves stop at the wrists, if you’re looking for something with more arm coverage, we also recommend the Comsmart BBQ Gloves as an alternative.

Key Specs

• Materials: M-Aramid, P-Aramid, silicone, cotton
• Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Total length: 12 inches
• Heat resistance rating: 932ºF
• Waterproof: No 
• Care instructions: Machine-wash gentle; air dry

A Sturdy Pair of Grill Tongs (for Hot Dogs and More)

OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs

$18 at Amazon $18 at Williams Sonoma $18 at Walmart

Whether you just want to flip a few hot dogs or a fancy flank steak, a long pair of grilling tongs does the job with aplomb—all while keeping your hands safe. In our review of nine sets of grill tongs, the OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs won out. The rubber grips on the sides ensured a solid grasp in the hand, and the stainless steel, scalloped, tapered ends easily grabbed at a variety of foods, including kabobs, flank steak, and even roly-poly hot dogs. 

Key Specs

• Length: 15 7/8 inches
• Weight: 8.7 ounces
• Materials: Stainless steel, rubber

A Soft Cooler for Weekend Adventures

Yeti Hopper Flip 18 Insulated Personal Cooler

$300 at Amazon $300 at REI View on Yeti.com

A soft cooler is great for lugging your drinks and dinner ingredients if you're spending a night or two off the grid. Unlike hard coolers, which can weigh upwards of 24 pounds, our favorite soft cooler from Yeti only weighs four pounds, nine ounces (!!)—that's 1/6th the weight! But even though it's easy to tote, don't you mistake it: this thing keeps stuff cold. In our review, the interior stayed under 40°F for 40 hours.

Key Specs

• Materials: Dryhide shell; cold cell foam 
• Weight: 4 pounds, 9 ounces
• Stated capacity: 20 cans
• Actual capacity (with 8 pounds of ice packs): 18 cans

Biodegradable Soap for Cleaning Dishes (and Yourself)

Dr. Bronner’s Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap

$29 at Amazon $18 $17 at Walmart $12 $11 at Target

Whether you’re cleaning cookware or cleaning yourself, Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap is a time-tested biodegradable soap that’s easy on the environment while thorough on your dishes. At $10 for an 8-ounce bottle, it’s also nice on the wallet. Just remember to be cautious about how you get rid of your wastewater—if you’re at a campsite with public sinks, great; if not, Leave No Trace recommends carrying water at least 200 feet away from streams or lakes before you wash anything.

Key Specs

• Product Dimensions: ‎ 3 x 3 x 3”
• Product weight: 8 ounces
• Biodegradable: Yes

If You Have the Space

A Small (but Mighty) Whisk

Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk

$15 $12 at Amazon $14 at Walmart

If you prefer scrambled eggs over fried ones to fuel your outdoor adventure, you’ll need a trusty whisk that’s small enough to travel with but sturdy enough to whisk up eggs in no time. Our review identified the Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk as the perfect smaller-sized whisk that can still thoroughly mix and blend.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Dimensions: 6.75 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches

A Flexible Fish Spatula

Wusthof Fish Spatula

$65 at Amazon $15 at Walmart View on Wusthof.com

If you want to rustle up some pancakes in the morning by the campfire (or burgers for dinner), you’ll need something sturdy yet nimble enough to get the perfect flip. After testing 12 fish spatulas, we landed on the Wusthof Fish Spatula as our top pick. It slid cleanly under pancakes, fish, and burgers; plus, its agility makes it great for feeding yourself, and not feeding the fire. The stainless steel blade is also easy and quick to clean by hand. Since it’s admittedly pricey, we also recommend the budget-friendly Winco Fish Spatula, which is only $8, yet still performed well. And, if you’re a lefty, we like the Lamson Flexible Slotted Spatula (Fish Turner) for Lefties.

Key Specs

• Materials: Synthetic polypropylene, stainless steel
• Weight: 3.7 ounces
• Blade length: 6.5 inches
• Left-handed option: No

A Truly Portable Thermometer

Thermoworks ThermoPop 2

$41 $33 at Amazon View on Thermoworks

Speaking of food safety while camping, knowing when your dinner is perfectly cooked is essential. We recently reviewed the Thermoworks ThermoPop 2 and are just as smitten with the latest model as we were with its predecessor. It’s small, affordable, and incredibly accurate, with near-instant readings—great for making sure your campfire hotdogs are truly ready.

Key Specs

• Features: Backlight display, rotating screen
• Accuracy: Within ±1°F (±0.5°C)
• Probe range: -58 to 572°F (-50 to 300°C)
• Response time: Full reading in 2-3 seconds (0.4 seconds per time constant)
• Warranty: 2 years

A Handheld Coffee Grinder

1Zpresso J Manual Coffee Grinder

$129 at Amazon $139 at 1zpresso.coffee

For those who can’t survive without their morning cup of Joe (and want freshly ground beans), there are a few coffee essentials. And if you’re really (and we mean really) into coffee, a handheld coffee grinder will ensure a fresh cup. Our review of handheld coffee grinders saw the 1Zpresso JX Manual Coffee Grinder rising to the top of the pack. It was the fastest grinder (grinding 30 grams of beans in 23 seconds), with a quality that matched our favorite motorized grinder (and that’s saying something). All that said, it's $130—so it's best for folks who are really into freshly ground coffee. For a budget option, we recommend the Timemore C2 Max Manual Grinder, which was $55 at time of publish.

Key Specs

• Capacity: 30- to 35-gram hopper and grinds bin
• Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Burrs: 48mm stainless steel
• Time to grind 30 grams of coffee: 23 seconds
• Notable features: Foldable handle

A Single-Serve Coffee Brewer

Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series

$29 $21 at Amazon $32 at Walmart

If you swapped stories around the campfire late into the night, you’ll need a perfect brew for the morning after. A single-serve coffee brewer needs to be compact yet able to deliver a quality cup. Our tests identified the Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series as the best overall single-serve coffee brewer due to its even and consistent extraction, brew after brew. While our top pick is a glass version, we recommend the stainless steel model for your outdoor adventures (it would be sad if it shattered in your backpack!). Another popular model that performed well in our tests is the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker, which allows for even more control and customization. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Glass or stainless steel
• Weight: 4 ounces
• Number of pieces: 2
• Compatible with: Kalita Glass 300-G Server

A Vietnamese Coffee Filter

Nguyen Coffee Supply Original Phin Filter: Stainless Steel 4oz

$18 $15 at Amazon View on Nguyencoffeesupply.com

For the simplest campfire coffee process possible, look into a phin coffee filter—a Vietnamese brewing tool that’s small, extremely easy to clean, and efficient in getting your morning coffee ready in minutes. We recommend the Nguyen Coffee Supply - Original Phin Filter: Stainless Steel 4oz. It’s easy to clean, packs small, and reliably makes a good cup of drip coffee each time.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity: 4 ounces
• Number of pieces: 4

A French Press (Fancy!)

Fellow Clara French Press

$99 at Amazon $100 at Williams Sonoma $100 at Target

If you’re camping with a big group of dedicated coffee aficionados, you may need something larger to make sure everyone remains well-caffeinated. From our test of 18 French press coffee makers, the Fellow Clara French Press really stood out as the best overall performer. There are fill lines etched inside the brewer to indicate how much coffee and water to use, and while we always recommend using a scale for measuring coffee grounds, it’s a handy feature if you’re in the middle of the woods. The Clara also has impeccable heat retention (losing only 19 degrees from the initial pour to the end of a four-minute brew). We must admit that the price is a bit steep at $99, so we’d also like to spotlight the budget-friendly Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker, which is half the price and comes recommended by coffee expert Jesse Raub. Its heat retention is still impeccable and its double-walled structure means it’s sturdier than most other French presses out there.

Key Specs

• Capacity: 24 oz
• Dimensions: 4.53 x 6.69 x 7.87 inches
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Insulation: Double-wall insulated
• Filter type: Single screen
• Care instructions: Hand-wash

A Few Packets of (Actually Good) Instant Coffee

Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic

View on Intelligentsia.com

Ruby Coffee Roasters Instant Creamery Blend

View on Rubycoffeeroasters.com

While instant coffee might conjure memories of a brackish, burnt cuppa, there’s a whole new world of (better) coffee granules out there. For an easy morning pick-me-up, we recommend Ruby Creamery and Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso, which rose to the top when we tested 17 instant coffee brands. They are great either brewed black or with a splash of milk or cream.

Key Specs

Ruby Creamery and Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso, respectively

• Packets per box: 6;5
• Amount per packet: 5 grams; 4.5 grams
• Best by date listed: Yes for both
• Roast level: Medium for both
• Coffee style: Blend (both)
• Instant processor: Swift Coffee (both)
  

A Reusable Dishcloth (or Two)

Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dish Cloths

$16 at Amazon $24 at Walmart

Cleanup is no joking matter during a camping trip, especially with animals all around looking for a treat. Swedish dishcloths are a great way to clean your pots and pans since they’re easy to pack and are incredibly efficient g. Our top pick, the Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths sopped up big spills while still drying out faster than other cloths.

Key Specs

• Materials: Cotton and cellulose (wood pulp)
• Size: 8 x 7 inches
• Set includes: 10 cloths
• Features: Ribbed and diamond texture sides; multiple colors available

A Food Thermos to Keep Victuals Warm

Simple Modern Provision Food Jar

$30 at Amazon $45 at Walmart

Soups, stews, and chilis are all ideal camping meals and are a treat at the end of a hike. For your next campsite to mountaintop journey, bring something warming and delicious in a food thermos to revive your spirits (and aching body). We tested 14 food thermoses and found that the Simple Modern Provision Food Jar outperformed all other models in keeping food warm.

Key Specs

• Capacity: 16 ounces
• Weight (empty): 11.3 ounces
• Height: 7.25 inches
• Width: 3.25 inches
• Opening diameter: 3 inches
• Materials: 18/8 stainless steel and plastic
• Accessories: None
• Other available sizes: Simple Modern also makes 12-ounce models.
  

Zojirushi Stainless Bottle SJ-JS10

$33 at Amazon View on Zojirushi.com

Speaking of keeping things hot or cold for a very long time, a thermos to hold drinks is *critical* for the campground culinary experience. Whether you’re hanging onto the morning’s coffee for as long as possible or trying to keep an iced tea nice and cool, the Zojirushi Stainless Insulated Bottle rose to the top in our test of our insulated thermoses. This model was an all-around great performer,  retaining temperatures for both hot and cold liquids.

Key Specs

• Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Product dimensions: 11.5 x 3.5 inches
• Capacities available: 1 liter
• Manufacturer temperature ratings: Hot: 180ºF at 6 hrs / 144ºF at 24 hrs, cold 45ºF at 6 hours
• Lid type: Cup lid
• Care instructions: Handwash only
  

Some Freeze Dried Delights

Peak Refuel Beef Stroganoff

$15 at Amazon $15 at REI

Associate commerce editor Grace Kelly loves to cook over an open flame, but on deep woods backpacking adventures, toting a cast iron skillet or cans of beans just isn’t realistic. In this instance, she turns to the freeze-dried food aisle—and notes that today’s selections are far different from the freeze-dried astronaut ice cream bars of her youth. “I was really blown away with how far freeze-dried meals have come,” she says. “I was especially surprised at how dang good the Peak Refuel Beef Stroganoff came out—it was lush with sour cream sauce, the noodles still have a bit of bite, and even the beef chunks were decent.” Her alt-pick is the black bean soup from Patagonia Provisions which she likes to augment with a few slices of cured sausage and some tortilla chips.

Key Specs

• Serving size: Two
• Protein per packet: 41 grams

Solo Stove Bonfire Essential Bundle

$840 $625 at Amazon $28 at Walmart View on Solostove.com

You might think, can you really lug a fire pit to a campground? The short answer is: yes! We love the Solo Stove Bonfire fire pit for roasting some s'mores, cozying up to a fire, and also for cooking (just pair it with the Solo Cast Iron Grill Top and Hub). Plus, it's portable, and it even comes with a carrying case. Senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm brought her Solo stove car camping in Cape Cod last summer and thus convinced her whole family they needed one.

Key Specs

• Diameter: 19.5 in
• Height: 14 in
• Weight: 23.3 lbs
• Materials: Stainless steel

FAQs

What are some camping cooking essentials?

If you’re car camping, you’ll likely have the luxury of space. In that case, investing in having a dedicated “camping box” will keep you organized and ready to camp at a moment’s notice. In any storage container of your choice, you can keep a set of camping plates and bowls, mugs, utensils, one or two cuttings boards, a folding knife or knife with a cover, and wooden cooking utensils such as a spoon or spatula. If you’re cooking over a fire, a cast iron skillet or dutch oven will do. If you have a camping stove, you can invest in a set of nesting pots and pans.

Can I use normal dish soap to clean cookware at a campsite?

While you can technically use normal dish soap to clean cookware at a campsite, biodegradable camp soap is recommended since it’s better for the planet, especially if you don’t have a way to get rid of wastewater at a campground.

How do I store food or food scraps at a campground?

The rule of thumb is to never leave your food unattended at a campsite. It’s important to not give bears and other wild animals the excuse to come sniffing around. Even if you’re around in your tent, any food that’s not currently being eaten should be stored in your cooler or in your car. After cooking, any food scraps or trash should be taken to the campground’s disposal site.

Why We're the Experts

• An Uong is a writer and recipe tinkerer whose work “whose work orbits themes of pop culture, food, and Vietnamese-American womanhood.” 
• She has written numerous stories for Serious Eats, including a review of vegetable peelers, manual juicers, and a piece on Vietnamese phin filters.
• We at Serious Eats have extensively tested outdoor gear, including backpacking food and soft coolers.