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
PHOTO: Amazon
$29 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 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
To Find the Best Cast Iron Skillets, I Seared Steaks, Baked Cornbread, and Fried Eggs
A Portable Charcoal Grill (For Cooking Some Burgers)
PK Grills PKGo Camp & Tailgate Grilling System
PHOTO: Amazon
$400
$340 at Amazon
$400 at Walmart
$400 at Home Depot
Depending on where you’re camping, you may or may not have access to a fire pit.
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)
We Tested 14 Portable Charcoal Grills to Find the Best Ones at Every Price
Serious Eats / Russell Kilgore.
When it comes to portable gas grills, the Weber Q 1200 Portable Gas Grill stands out. It rivals standard-size grills in high-heat cooking performance and is relatively lightweight, making it ideal for car camping. Its ease of cleaning and compact size are also notable features.
For those new to grilling or with limited car space, the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas Grill is recommended. This petite grill boasts high efficiency and a cast iron grate for excellent searing. Its wooden lid serves as a cutting board, and everything packs neatly into the grill itself, including a small propane tank.
Key Specs for Cuisinart Venture: 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: Multiple colors, two foldable prep trays.
For a hassle-free camping stove option, consider the Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove. It’s easy to set up and clean, with two burners for larger groups. Weighing only around 12 pounds, it’s lighter than most portable grills.
Key Specs for Coleman Cascade Classic: 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.
When cooking outdoors, safety is paramount. Grill Armor Gloves Extreme Heat-Resistant Oven Gloves offer the best heat protection, allowing for safe handling of hot cookware. These gloves are a standout choice for camp cooking.
Key Specs for Grill Armor Gloves: Materials: M-Aramid, P-Aramid, silicone, cotton, Weight: 9 ounces.
I Tested 8 Pairs of Grill Gloves to Find Ones That Could Take the Heat
Serious Eats / Jesse Raub
A Sturdy Pair of Grill Tongs (for Hot Dogs and More)
OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs
PHOTO: Amazon
$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.
Key Specs
Length: 15 7/8 inches
Weight: 8.7 ounces
Materials: Stainless steel, rubber
After Testing 9 Grill Tongs, We Found Three That Gripped and Flipped With Ease
Serious Eats / Grace KellyA Soft Cooler for Weekend Adventures
Yeti Hopper Flip 18 Insulated Personal Cooler
PHOTO: Amazon
$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.
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
We Found the 4 Best Soft Coolers By Going Through 45 Pounds of Ice
Serious Eats / Riddley Gemperlein Schirm
Biodegradable Soap for Cleaning Dishes (and Yourself)
Dr. Bronner’s Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
$25 at Amazon
$17 at Walmart
$12 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
PHOTO: Amazon
$12 at Amazon
$29 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.
When it comes to camping kitchen essentials, we’ve tested
**Wusthof Fish Spatula**: This spatula is our top pick for its sturdy yet nimble design, perfect for flipping pancakes, fish, and burgers by the campfire. Made of stainless steel with a weight of 1.6 ounces and dimensions of 6.75 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches, it’s easy to clean and agile enough for self-serving without feeding the fire. For those on a budget, the Winco Fish Spatula at $8 is a great alternative that still performs well.
**Lamson Flexible Slotted Spatula (Fish Turner) for Lefties**: If you’re left-handed, this spatula is designed for you. It offers the same functionality as the Wusthof Fish Spatula but with a synthetic polypropylene and stainless steel construction, weighing 3.7 ounces and featuring a 6.5-inch blade length.
**Thermoworks ThermoPop 2**: Food safety is crucial while camping, and this portable thermometer is small, affordable, and incredibly accurate. With near-instant readings, it ensures your campfire hotdogs are perfectly cooked. It features a backlight display, rotating screen, accuracy within ±1F (±0.5C), a probe range of -58 to 572F (-50 to 300C), and a response time of full reading in 2-3 seconds.
**1Zpresso J Manual Coffee Grinder**: For coffee enthusiasts who want freshly ground beans, this handheld coffee grinder is the fastest, grinding 30 grams of beans in just 23 seconds. It has a 30- to 35-gram hopper and grinds bin, weighs 1.5 pounds, and features 48mm stainless steel burrs. For those on a budget, the Timemore C2 Max Manual Grinder is a more affordable option at $55.
**Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series**: After a night of campfire stories, a perfect brew is essential for the morning after. This single-serve coffee brewer is a must-have for your camping gear.
When seeking a compact single-serve coffee brewer that consistently delivers a quality cup, our tests have identified the Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series as the best overall choice. It stands out for its even and consistent extraction, ensuring a great brew every time. While our top pick is available in glass, for outdoor adventures, we recommend the stainless steel model to avoid the risk of breakage in your backpack.
Another model that performed exceptionally well in our tests is the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker. This device allows for greater control and customization over your coffee brewing process. For the simplest campfire coffee experience, consider a phin coffee filter, a Vietnamese brewing tool that is small, easy to clean, and efficient. We recommend the Nguyen Coffee Supply – Original Phin Filter: Stainless Steel 4oz. It is easy to clean, compact, and consistently produces a good cup of drip coffee. When camping with a large group of coffee enthusiasts, you may need a larger coffee maker. From our tests of 18 French press coffee makers, the Fellow Clara French Press emerged as the best overall performer. It features fill lines for coffee and water, and excellent heat retention, losing only 19 degrees from the initial pour to the end of a four-minute brew. Although priced at $99, we also highlight the budget-friendly Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker, which is half the price and offers similar heat retention and sturdiness. Lastly, for those times when you need a quick and easy coffee solution, consider packets of instant coffee. Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic and Ruby Coffee Roasters Instant Creamery Blend are both highly recommended options.Instant coffee has come a long way, offering a variety of high-quality granules that can rival freshly brewed cups. Among the many options, Ruby Creamery and Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso stand out as top choices for a quick and satisfying morning boost. Tested against 17 instant coffee brands, these two brands excelled whether enjoyed black or with a touch of milk or cream.
Key Specs: – Ruby Creamery and Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso – Packets per box: 6 and 5, respectively – Amount per packet: 5 grams and 4.5 grams – Best by date listed: Yes for both – Roast level: Medium for both – Coffee style: Blend (both) – Instant processor: Swift Coffee (both) For camping enthusiasts, cleaning up is essential, especially with wildlife around. Swedish dishcloths are an efficient and portable solution for cleaning pots and pans. Our top pick, Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths, effectively absorb large spills and dry 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 When it comes to camping meals, keeping food warm is crucial. The Simple Modern Provision Food Jar outperformed other models in retaining warmth for soups, stews, and chilis. 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 For long-lasting temperature retention, the Zojirushi Stainless Insulated Bottle is a must-have for any camping trip. It excels in keeping both hot and cold liquids at their desired temperatures. 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 Lastly, for those who love to cook over an open flame but need lightweight options for backpacking, freeze-dried meals like Peak Refuel Beef Stroganoff offer a delicious and practical solution.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 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. Associate editorial director 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.
I Tried 27 Backpacking Meals and While Some Were Gross, Many Were Delightful.
