Good food makes a first camping trip. You don't need a big setup: a small stove, a few tools, light to cook by and a plan for cleaning up. Here's a simple camp kitchen that works for two to four people.
1. Check the rules before you go
Many parks and forests limit open fires and charcoal in dry months. Check the campground or land manager's page for current fire restrictions before you pack a grill. A gas stove is usually allowed when campfires are not, but check that too.
2. Pick your heat: gas stove, charcoal grill, or both
- Gas stove for coffee, pasta, eggs and anything in a pot. It lights in seconds and is easy to control. The Wildcore CampFlame™ Portable Mini Gas Stove weighs 300 g (10.6 oz) and comes with a carry case. Fuel canisters aren't included; buy them at an outdoor or hardware store near you, and bring a spare.
- Charcoal grill for burgers, sausages, corn and vegetables when you're car camping. The Wildcore FireForge™ Portable Charcoal Camping Grill folds flat for the trunk. Charcoal isn't included.
Safety: never cook, or bring a stove or grill, inside a tent or car. Burning fuel makes carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell. Set up on flat, non-flammable ground away from the tent, keep water nearby, and never leave a lit grill alone. Let coals go fully cold before you pack them out.
3. Pack the tools in one place
Most forgotten items are small: tongs, a knife, something to cut on. Keep them together so they come on every trip. The Wildcore CampChef Pro™ 8-Piece Camping Kitchen & BBQ Tool Set holds a cooking spoon, spatula, tongs clip, scissors, knife, rice paddle and chopping board in one zip-up case.
Also bring: one pot and one pan, a lighter or matches, plates, cups and cutlery, a cooler, a water jug, biodegradable soap, a small sponge, a trash bag and paper towels.
4. Light your kitchen
At camp, dinner often runs into dark. Hang a lantern over the cooking area and wear a headlamp so both hands are free for the pan.
- Wildcore GlowTrail™ Magnetic Camping Lantern: 300 lumens of warm white light, up to 6 hours per charge, with a hanging handle and a magnetic base that sticks to a car door or metal table.
- Wildcore HorizonBeam™ 350 Rechargeable Headlamp: 350 lumens with a wide 230° beam and up to 12 hours of runtime.
5. Plan easy meals
- Night one: something prepped at home, such as chili or pasta sauce in a sealed container, reheated on the stove.
- Breakfast: coffee, eggs and tortillas, or oatmeal with fruit.
- Grill night: burgers or sausages with foil-wrapped corn and peppers.
- Lunch: no-cook wraps so you're not tied to camp.
Pre-chop vegetables and marinate meat at home, and pack raw meat at the bottom of the cooler in sealed bags.
6. Clean up and store food safely
- Wash up at least 200 feet (about 60 m) from lakes and streams, and scatter strained dishwater away from camp.
- Pack out all trash and food scraps.
- Never keep food, trash or toiletries in your tent. Follow the campground's rules on food storage, especially in bear country.
- Keep a first aid kit in the kitchen box for small cuts and burns.
Camp kitchen checklist
- Stove + fuel canister (and a spare)
- Grill + charcoal (if allowed)
- Utensil set, pot, pan
- Lighter or matches
- Plates, cups, cutlery
- Cooler + ice, water jug
- Lantern and headlamp
- Soap, sponge, trash bags, paper towels
- First aid kit
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