Discover must-have kitchen essentials for your camp kitchen.
While assembling a camp kitchen might seem as simple as tossing a frying pan, cutting board, and chef knife into your cargo bay, not having the right tools for the job can make your off-grid mealtimes go sideways faster than you can catch a marshmallow on fire.
Thankfully, there have been several innovations in the camp kitchen niche over the last few years. As camping, glamping, and overlanding continue to gain popularity, manufacturers have figured out some clever ways to make outdoor food prep just as easy and fun as it is at home — maybe even more so.
That said, there are also plenty of expensive gimmicks on the market. So, how do you know what you really need? We’ve got you covered with advice on which factors to consider and what features to look for in a user-friendly and highly-functional camp kitchen, along with some quality recommendations.
Key Factors To Consider
Portability: Obviously, one of the first things you need to think about is ensuring that you have a lightweight and compact setup that’s easy to stow and transport when not in use. Look for items that are collapsible, stackable, foldable, or all of the above.
Durability: Off-grid cooking utensils and supplies are often subjected to rigorous conditions that you won’t come across in a regular household kitchen. You need materials that can withstand outdoor conditions, high heat, open flames, and rough handling. Look for stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, or heavy-duty plastics and food-grade composites.
Versatility: With usable and storage space at a premium, consider purchasing utensils, cookware, and food storage containers that can perform double- or even triple-duty. Choose camp kitchens that support various cooking methods like boiling, frying, and grilling – ideally with cooking surfaces that can be used as a stovetop or grill. Also, consider multi-fuel camping stoves that can burn wood, fuel, or alcohol, ensuring easy food prep regardless of your available supplies.
Ease of Assembly and Storage: No one wants to spend precious time setting up their camp kitchen at every stop. Look for efficient features like snap-together parts and quick-release mechanisms for fast and hassle-free assembly. Additionally, prioritize kitchens that are easy to dismantle and compactly stow. Look for designs with clever drawers, cabinets, slots, and cubbies to keep utensils and cookware organized and stored inside the kitchen while on the move, versus having to store each component separately once the kitchen is put away.
Maintenance and Cleaning: When selecting your camp kitchen, look for durable and easy-to-clean surfaces. Dishwasher-safe components and removable parts not only simplify end-of-season deep cleaning and storage, but also help cut down on the frustration of reaching awkward areas like behind cooking grates where bacteria and grease can build up.
Other Considerations
With so many innovations in off-grid kitchen designs and technology, you can practically customize any setup to your heart’s desire. Some less obvious but equally useful and clever innovations to consider adding to your off-grid cucina include:
- Water filtration systems for those who are heading waaay off the grid
- Solar-powered appliances to help conserve precious battery power or fuel
- Compact refrigeration to keep perishable necessities fresher longer without having to continuously restock your ice supply.
Our Picks to Click
Embark on your camping journey – and enjoy a fully prepared camp kitchen – with our handpicked essentials for food prep, cooking, dining, storage, and clean-up.
Thinstore Collapsible Storage Bowls: Every good camp kitchen should include a couple sets of collapsible and stackable bowls. Great for storing prep ingredients or leftovers, they also double as handy serving dishes. Progressive International’s Thinstore line is a particularly great value, as the 3-piece set features multiple sizes with leak-resistant lids, folds down flat enough to lay in a drawer, and can safely go in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher.
We recommend checking out the brand’s other great collapsible accessories too, like colanders, dish pans, and drainers.
Bugaboo Backpacker: Who says space-saving only applies to prep gear? GSI Outdoors’ Bugaboo Backpacker nests together everything you and your fellow camper might need – including the kitchen sink – for backcountry mealtime.
This awesome non-stick cookset features an 8-inch frying pan, 2-liter pot, strainer lid, two bowls, two big mugs with insulated sleeves, a couple of sip-through lids, a folding pot gripper, and a welded carrying sack that doubles as a sink bag. Talk about the whole kit-and-kaboodle.
Komodo Camp Kitchen: If you’re looking to elevate your outdoor cooking game, then the Komodo Camp Kitchen from Overland Vehicle Systems might be your perfect partner. Constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel, this kitchen will stand up to rugged off-grid adventures just as easily as it’ll turn heads in the stadium parking lot during a tailgate.
Lightweight and portable, it folds down compactly, but expands out to be a complete prep station, grill, table, and storage unit all in one. In fact, this versatile setup features dual propane grills and a skillet, as well as a Rocket Tower that uses wood chips and charcoal briquettes, ensuring you can cook up a storm even when fuel is scarce.
SmartCap Camp Kitchen: For the true overlanding or off-grid enthusiast, this all-inclusive camp kitchen from SmartCap checks all the boxes in terms of kitchen essentials. It’s an automotive-grade stainless steel, vehicle-specific setup that installs in the side of your SmartCap modular truck cap and opens up to reveal an outdoor culinary Shangri-La that you’ll be eager to enjoy.
Featuring a fold-out camp stove, cutting board, and secure storage for the included dishes, cookware, utensils and spices, this camp kitchen turns your truck into a moveable feast. Installation can be completed in less than 15 minutes, and it comes backed by a 3-year warranty. As an added bonus, the side of the truck cap provides protection from rain and falling debris when open.
Camping Dining Table: Portable, foldable, and durable – what more could you ask of your outdoor dining table? Lippert asked the same question, apparently, and came up with “lightweight,” “rust-resistant” and “featuring a built-in mesh storage shelf.”
The company’s camping dining table sets up in seconds and is large enough to host the whole family, thanks to its oversized 56” x 28” surface and 80 lb. weight capacity. Built tough, it performs as well as it looks. The best part? When you’re done, you can simply pack it up in the included carry bag and store it until you’re ready to go again.
Camp Chairs: You’ll need a place for guests to rest, whether they’re assembled around a dining table or campfire. Lippert offers plenty of great options in this arena as well, including a charming Campfire Folding Loveseat for those who want to cozy up during dinner.
Dometic serves up quality portable seating too, in the sleek, minimalist designs we’ve come to love from the Swedish brand. And don’t forget about Faulkner – the company offers a wide array of affordable seating options, from traditional bucket and director’s chairs to foldable rocking chairs and all-in-one setups that come complete with folding side tables and built-in insulated beer coolers!
Armed with the right equipment, you can transform your campsite into a true outdoor dining experience, where every meal is part of the travel memory. Find these camp kitchen accessories and more here on Parts Via. Happy cooking (and eating)!