Cooking is one of the best parts of camping for us – we genuinely enjoy preparing good meals outdoors. We’ve been told a few times that we’re the most gourmet campers. Over time, we’ve fine-tuned a setup that makes it easy to cook, clean, and store food while still eating well on the road.
Cooking gear
We like to mix things up when we cook outdoors – from simple one-pan dinners to rotisserie chicken or grilled meats. Having a few versatile tools makes a big difference to how and what we can cook while camping.
Portable gas stove
Why we love it: Quick to set up and compact to pack, our gas stove is our go-to for everything from pasta to veggie stir-fries. Our model isn’t the most powerful (8,000 BTU), so if you plan to use one often (we prefer cooking over the fire!), it’s worth investing in a slightly more powerful version (Iwatani is a trusted brand).
Our tip: We always bring extra gas canisters, especially on longer trips or in remote areas. It’s also handy to have wind guards.
Fire pit barbecue
Why we love it: Adds flavour and variety. We use it when we have a nice piece of meat, but it’s also delicious with veggies, especially as we can change the height. Our foldable and portable model makes packing and storing much easier.
Our tip: Always check fire alerts before using it, and make sure to have something to protect the ground.
Rotisserie
Why we love it: Perfect for slow-cooked chicken or roasts – it turns any camping trip into a feast. Our model sits on top of most BBQ grills or fire pits, as long as the ground isn’t too hard.
Our tip: Make sure you know how to secure your meat properly on the spit and balance it with the counterweight before you’re ready to set it up!
Moka pot (Italian coffee maker)
Why we love it: It’s durable and makes proper coffee using the gas stove.
Our tip: Bring pre-ground coffee in an airtight container and make sure the handle doesn’t sit too close to the flame.
Plancha (for gas stove)
Why we love it: Perfect for cooking several items at once like a breakfast with eggs, bacon, and tomatoes all in one go. It takes less space than a pan (when we know we won’t use the fire) and it’s easy to clean too.
Our tip: Preheat it well and use a bit of oil to keep things from sticking.
Camping pot with a lid
Why we love it: Ideal for cooking one-pot meals, pasta, soups, or simply boiling water. The folding handles make it easy to pack, and the lid helps water boil faster, saving you both time and gas.
Our tip: Always double-check the size before you buy. Some pots are designed for solo hikers and can be too small if you’re cooking for two.
Pizza oven
Why we love it: While the charcoal and all pizza accessories and ingredients take a lot of space, it’s fun to have a cooking session outdoors!
Our tip: Have nibbles and snacks ready as it takes a lot longer than you’d expect to prepare and cook the pizzas, especially your first time!
Raclette kit
Why we love it: For French people, winter comfort food rhymes with raclette. It’s very simple to prepare and turns the camping trip into something special.
Our tip: Boil the potatoes at home so that dinner is ready as soon as you start melting your cheese!
Korean BBQ grill (for gas stove)
Why we love it: Designed to let the fat drain off, which means healthier meals. It’s a great option for grilled meat when barbecues aren’t allowed.
Our tip: Make sure it’s compatible with your stove – if it makes the stove too hot, it could be dangerous.
Cast-iron frypan
Why we love it: Great for grilling, frying, and sautéing on both the campfire and the camp stove. The folding handle makes it much easier to pack.
Our tip: Simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth or sponge after use. Avoid scrubbing too hard so you don’t damage the non-stick coating.
Food storage and organisation
Portable fridge
Why we love it: Keeps perishables fresh on longer trips and means less waste. Essential for storing dairy, meat, and fresh produce safely when remote camping. See how we power it here.
Our tip: Think about what you need before opening the fridge to keep it open as briefly as possible so it stays cold.
Cooler
Why we love it: Great for short trips or when the fridge is full. Now that we have a fridge, we use it mostly for drinks and snacks that don’t need strict refrigeration.
Our tip: Freeze your meat before you leave so it acts as an ice pack for the first day, and you can pack more food!
Foldable stackable boxes
Why we love them: These boxes save space when not in use because they fold flat. I love that they’re transparent and can be accessed from any side.
Our tip: We separate food by when we’ll use it – breakfast, snacks, quick meals, and meals to cook – so we can find things easily.
Water bags
Why we love them: They fold down when empty, saving space and avoiding single-use plastic bottles. Having enough water (sometimes more than you think) is key for safety and comfort.
Our tip: I prefer having multiple small bags (5L/1.4 gallons) than a big one. It’s easier to carry.
Foldable food containers
Why we love them: Perfect for storing leftovers or prepping a quick lunch in advance. And of course, they don’t take up much space when we don’t use them.
Our tip: If you choose stackable or foldable ones, they don’t take much space when empty!
Wine bottle tubes
Why we love it: We often travel on dirt or bumpy roads, and things can shift when we grab something else. These neoprene tubes are perfect for protecting bottles without needing a box – we can now just slide them into any available space.
Our tip: Use the colours to separate your bottles – red for red wine and black for white – so you can quickly grab the right one when it’s time for sunset drinks.
Kitchen furniture
Camping furniture might seem basic, but the right choices make a big difference in comfort and convenience.
Folding table
Why we love it: Our table folds flat into two, making it super easy to pack. We can adjust it to three heights: it works as a kitchen counter when cooking or washing dishes, a regular table for meals, or a low coffee-table style for drinks and snacks.
Our tip: Make sure you clean it well or use a tablecloth before you put food on the table or in storage.
Hiking chairs
Why we love them: Compact and lightweight, perfect for smart packing. We chose models with a high back for extra comfort and breathable fabric to stay cool on hot days.
Our tip: Try the chairs in the store if you can or make sure you can send them back. We had some surprising discoveries when testing different models – what looks comfy isn’t always the case!
Secondary table
Why we love it: We use this extra table to hold storage boxes, water containers, or anything else we want off the ground and within easy reach.
Our tip: A small, lightweight table can be a game-changer for organisation.
Kitchen utensils
Even simple gear can make a big difference when cooking and eating outdoors. Here are a few essentials we always take along.
Unbreakable plates and glasses
Why we love it: Lightweight and unbreakable, perfect for camping. If they can be stacked, it’s even better.
Our tip: We use plastic wine glasses too — wine just doesn’t taste the same from regular plastic cups!
Camping cutlery set
Why we love it: All the essentials—forks, knives, spoons—kept together in a simple Tupperware box that makes it easy to grab and pack.
Our tip: We also keep our peeler and can opener in there, so everything’s in one place.
Cutting boards
Why we love it: Essential once you start cooking meat or chopping veggies. Plus, it doubles as a trivet to protect surfaces from hot pans.
Our tip: Choose one that’s easy to clean and not too small (or have a couple with different sizes).
Spatula and tongs
Why we love it: Must-haves for flipping, turning, and serving food on the stove, BBQ, or plancha.
Our tip: Opt for heat-resistant handles and durable materials, and long enough to easily reach the items on the fire.
Collapsible colander
Why we love it: Perfect for draining pasta, our go-to quick meal with a good sauce when we don’t feel like spending too much time cooking. It folds flat, so it barely takes up any space.
Our tip: Also works well as a fruit bowl or for storing onions and potatoes, which fit much better in a colander than on a plate.
Dishwashing
Collapsible bucket
Why we love it: Multi-purpose and space-saving. It’s easy to pack and unpack without taking up much room.
Our tip: Go for one with sturdy handles and a reinforced rim so it stands up on its own when full.
Microfibre cloths
Why we love it: Dry fast, don’t get smelly, and don’t take much space.
Our tip: Bring more than one – one for dishes, one for hands, and so you always have a dry one ready to use.
