Camping kitchen packing list
Camping kitchen…and other camp cooking gear
- Water canister
- Cup
- Plate
- Cereal bowl or (only) deep plate
- Fuel (gas cartridges, petrol …)
- Multitool (with can opener/corkscrew)
- optional: spatula/ladle
- Sharp knife/pocket knife
- Cutting board
- Cooler
Camp kitchen – keep it clean!
- Dishwashing liquid
- Rinsing sponge
- Washing-up brush
- Washing up bowl/folding bowl
- Tea towel
- Paper towel
- garbage bag
- Clothesline
Barbecue or outdoor grills
- Camping grill
- Grill grate
- Charcoal
Camping food list
- Spices (salt, pepper, herbs, …)
- Optional: backpacking food, energy bars
- Long-life milk
- Cereal or granola
- Canned or dried foods: pasta, beans, lentils, rice, oats
- Oil/vinegar
- Bread, bread rolls, toast
- Coffee, tea
- Hard vegetables: carrots, onions, potatoes, sweet potato, kohlrabi, garlic
- Hard fruits and nuts: apples,
- Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, Kim chi
Camping kitchen – and other utensils
The perfect outdoor kitchen is multifaceted and should include various cooking utensils depending on the length of your stay, the number of people and the meals you would like to prepare. The abovementioned list is only a guideline to add or subtract depending on your personal needs and requirements.
It’s all in the planning
Before your trek, weekend getaway, or camping holiday begins, planning your camping kitchen should include how it will be transported. Whether it is a camping kitchen, which is driven around within the camper van or something more compact that your backpack or bike panniers for a bikepacking adventure can hold- as the saying goes, different strokes for different folks.
Especially those wanting to carry a portable camping kitchen on their back whilst trekking should pay attention to minimalism and weight reduction. We recommend doubling up on your kitchen utensils (e.g. one deep plate that can be used for soups, breakfast or salads, one pocket knife instead of multiple knives, and one equally suitable pot for frying and boiling pasta).
With a well-equipped camping box you can enjoy your outdoor adventure to the max.
A camping kitchen box for your caravan or campervan
Do you use your camping kitchen for regular outings as well as for daytrips and longer road trips? Then a camping kitchen box is a hot tip for you. Stefan and Bärbel from Bergzeit Magazine Team explain the most important features of their boxes.
Stefan’s camping kitchen box: Being minimalist
“In my camping box are the most important things that my family and I need for camping. For us, the standard things are three pots, plates, cereal bowls, mugs, cutlery and some spices.”
For me, it’s important to pack my camping kit with provisions for emergency scenarios.
But there are, of course, a few tidbits that are particularly important to me:
- A small storm lantern (mine is from REI, but there are also comparable ones by, say, UCO
- My Helinox Chair One
- A Field Repair Kit and multitool in case something needs to be repaired on the tent.
- An Ortlieb folding bowl (this is great for also preparing pasta salad in large quantities.
Provisions for emergency scenarios: Stefan’s camping box at a glance!
Of course, this basic equipment is reviewed and adjusted before each trip, depending on the duration and destination. But with it, the essential core of my camping kitchen is always ready for the next trip!
My pro tip is still missing, of course: I usually have a small stove (comparable to a MSR Pocket Rocket), a small cartridge and the coffee pot in the box, which I can also take with me on trips in a small bag.
Bärbel’s camping box: You can’t do without good coffee
“Strictly speaking, our camping box is a picnic bag that we used to take to the park for barbecues. But since everything important fits in there and cooking spoons, cutting boards, plates and coffee mugs have a permanent place, it’s also super practical for camping.”
Of course, camping is always about limiting yourself to the bare essentials. But a few kitchen gadgets are a must – such as good coffee.
3 things that can never be stay at home:
- Coffee grinder for fresh coffee, which keeps warm for a long time in the beautiful thermal coffee mugs even on cold camping days.
- Vegetable peeler and grater – essential!
- Chopping board – we have forgotten it in the past and we sorely missed it! Anyone who has ever wanted to cut bread or vegetables on wobbly camping plates knows what I’m talking about!
Camping box and picnic bag in one: Bärbel always has everything with her when camping.
For Bärbel, the thermal coffee mug is a must-have for her camping kitchen.
Our “picnic bag” now has a permanent place in our VW van and is not cleared out even after a holiday. This way, we are ready for a last minute getaweay and always have the essentials on board.
My pro-tip: Always have adhesive tape (Duct Tape) with you. This has already saved us on many camping vacations, such as patching a fly screen window, a wobbly camping table or even a broken umbrella.
More tips for camping:
If you use your camping kitchen for regular trips by campervan or caravan, you can afford to pack a little more generously. For example, the luxury of a small recipe book gives the home-away-from-home touch to your camping kitchen.
For campervan camping kitchens, a ready-packed box contains all the essentials except fresh food. This way, you won’t have to constantly think about whether the salt and pepper are in. just a quick re-stock checklist before you roll away.
With a ready-packed camping kitchen box in the van, the most important utensils and spices are always at hand for cooking.
A routine kitchen check before departure is always a good idea: Is the gas enough for my planned trip? Do I have enough plates and cups for the crew or do I have to stock up on more dishes? Or: can I cut back on something this time? Once you are on the road, taking stock of your camping kitchen is often unnecessarily complicated.
Camping kitchen check list:
- Always make sure you have full gas cartridges and enough fuel. There is nothing more annoying when camping than a stove that does not work because the cartridge is empty. Especially when you’re headed into the backcountry or offroad, it’s crucial to ensure you have enough fuel reserves.
- A windbreak is a luxury that should be afforded, depending on the stove. Some outdoor stoves already have a built-in windbreak, so you don’t have to deal with the flame constantly going out. When shopping, look for sturdy and versatile cookware – for cooking over an open fire without additional utensils. Often it is also worthwhile to take a grill with you to cook directly over the campfire.
- Pack a small selection of spices depending on your weight requirements. Just salt, pepper and a few basic spices can quickly turn a bland, dull meal into a delicious dish. Even those who mainly cook a few standard recipes can promptly get some variety in the pan with a few spices.
- Please respect nature! Neither the campsite nor the great outdoors are meant to be treated as a rubbish bin. The basic rule of taking your rubbish home and disposing of it should go without saying. Especially those who camp out should abide by the fundamental rules – for nature, its residents and the respect for other outdoor enthusiasts. So don’t forget the garbage bags!
- Necessary: Depending on the region and season, whoever cooks outside should keep an eye on forest fires’ risk and take appropriate safety measures.
- More important than food is hydration! So pack plenty of drinking water. If you don’t have access to clean (!!!) drinking water, you should either take enough reserves with you or ensure you can prepare your water with a water purifier. After all, no one wants their camping holiday ruined by tummy problems!
One final tip: A small espresso machine that you can put directly on the stove is the essence of luxury and a wonderful thing. Coffee for breakfast warms you up and gives you energy. Nothing like waking up to the sunrise with a fresh brew in hand!