When it comes to the topic of food, a lot of first-time campers don’t know where to begin. After all, it’s hard enough deciding what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner in our normal everyday lives. Why would it be any different on a camping trip?

Some newbie campers might consider living on snacks and quick meals for the entirety of their trip. Unsurprisingly, this is not the best approach. Sooner or later, you’re going to start to feel unsatisfied with snack bars, jerky and two-minute noodles. And unfortunately, cheap and easy microwavable meals just won’t provide you with the energy you need to participate in popular camping activities like hiking, fishing, swimming, cycling and all the rest.

As an alternative to living on easy meals, you might consider meal prepping for your upcoming trip. Admittedly, this is an awesome way to hit two birds with one stone. By smashing out all your cooking beforehand, you can eliminate the need to cook nearly as much on your trip, leaving you with plenty of time for other activities.

The only problem with meal prepping is that it can be time consuming for you to do last minute. Keep in mind that the few days before your trip will be spent getting other things packed and sorted. So, naturally you might not want a cooking extravaganza on top of your already jam-packed schedule. There’s also a couple of other issues to consider. For instance, what if you don’t feel like eating the frozen container of food that you prepped days beforehand? What if, let’s say, you’re craving a satisfying serving of campfire nachos instead? Or you feel like cooking the fish you managed to catch fresh that day?

Luckily, there’s a solution to the ever-present camp food conundrum; a camping kitchen that you can use to produce anything from light and simple meals to complex and intricate dishes!

The Ultimate Camp Kitchen Must-Haves

The best thing about campsite cooking is that you can do so much with just a few simple items. Below, we’ve listed some of the most important pieces of camp cookware that you should consider adding to your camping kitchen setup:

• Camp Stove & Fuel

The first thing you’ll be needing is a heat source to cook your food. Old school campfires are great for atmosphere, but unfortunately, not every campsite allows these. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, by bringing a camp stove and propane fuel tanks. Of course, if you’re going to be staying at your campsite longer and cooking more meals, a larger fuel tank will be necessary.

• Campfire Tripod

If campfires are allowed at your campsite, it would be a crime to pass up the opportunity for over-the-fire cooking. For that, you’ll be needing a campfire tripod to balance your pots, pans and other food items.

• Pots & Pans

You know that one pan in your kitchen cabinet that you use for pretty much everything? Well, the Dutch Oven guarantees to be the equivalent of this on your camping trip. These versatile pieces of cookware are excellent for frying, stewing, braising, searing and more. Basically, it’s the perfect multitasker for all your campsite cooking needs. But aside from the quintessential Dutch oven, you can also bring along several other pots and pans to cater for your individuals tastes and preferences. Just remember to choose cast iron cookware if you’re going to be cooking your meals over an open flame.

• Cooking Utensils

You won’t be able to prep your ingredients or pull the final product together without the right cooking utensils on hand! Cutting boards, knives, whisks, serving spoons, ladles, mallets and rolling pins may be among some of the items you choose to bring. Ultimately, the utensils you bring will depend on what you plan on cooking. For camp cooking especially, multi-purpose utensils tend to be quite handy.

• Camping Tables and Chairs

Camping tables can be used for a variety of different tasks- including prepping ingredients and cooking meals on your trip. Tables will substitute as your kitchen benchtop surface, so it’s a good idea to get a few and lay them out in a row, so you won’t have to worry about running out of space. Don’t forget to add chairs as well, because not everyone likes to peel and cut vegetables standing hunched over the table!

• Coolers

If you’re going to be dealing with campsite recipes that involve raw meat, dairy products, or any other food items that require storage at specific temperatures, you’ll be needing an insulated camping cooler. If you’re only just getting into camping, a standard esky might suffice. However, if you’re going to be making a habit out of going on camping trips, it may be worth investing in one of the better quality (although more expensive) camp fridges or coolers.

• Containers

Got leftovers? Don’t let them go to waste! Chuck them in a container and pop them in a cooler- then you’ve got an easy breakfast, lunch or dinner to enjoy the next day or bring along on your outdoor adventures. Containers will also be helpful for prepping food beforehand and storing it until it’s time to whip up the meal.

• Cutlery & Dinnerware

It would be a shame to bring all your must-have cookware but forget to bring cutlery and dinnerware for people to eat the delicious meals you’ve prepared. Luckily, there are plenty of camp-friendly dinnerware sets that are durable, non-breakable, plus easy to store and transport.

Set Up the Perfect Camp Kitchen with Supex Products

Want to make tasty, nutritious meals a reality on your next camping trip? Well, with the perfect camping kitchen, you finally can! At Supex Products, you’ll find a wide range of high-quality camping cookware available, built to last, perform and enable you to whip up delicious, homestyle meals as quickly and efficiently as possible. Offering everything from collapsible containers to cast iron pots, pans, camp stoves and more, you can find everything you need to set up the ultimate camp kitchen with us.

Don’t leave your stomach grumbling on your next trip. To discover our wide range of camp cookware, visit your nearest Supex Products stockist today!