To prepare campsite meals and feed yourself or family during your camping trip, at least some camping cookware will be needed. Camping cookware that is small in size and portable will make your camp cooking and packing for your trip less complicated.
Backpackers who are camping will especially appreciate compact, portable camping cookware. Camping cookware can range from a simple single pot to a number of skillets and pots in different sizes that nest into each other for easy storage and transportation.
Type Of Cookware A main choice you will have when shopping for camping cookware is the type of cookware material. Aluminum, cast iron, titanium, and stainless steel are all available and each has their own merits.
Aluminum, titanium and stainless steel cookware sets will be lighter and easier to tote around. Aluminum camping cookware sets may come in non-stick varieties, which will be slightly more expensive.
Metal cookware sets will all be prone to rusting, so be careful that your cooking pans are dry before you store them.
Cast iron cookware sets are especially durable, and can last you a lifetime with proper care. Because they are so sturdy, cast iron cookware sets will be much heavier and harder to transport than cookware sets made out of other materials.
Folding Utensil Sets Save Space
Besides pots and pans, utensils and cutlery are other essential pieces of camping cookware. Depending on what type of campfire foods you want to prepare, you may be able to get away with just a simple knife and spoon, or you may need a more elaborate utensil set including a spatula, measuring cups, tongs and forks. Folding utensil sets are available that allow for easy storage.
If you are worried about storage space, a simple and cost effective solution is to purchase an all-purpose wooden spoon and saw off most of its handle, being careful of splinters from the sawed off end.
Also, look for plastic cutlery sets including forks, spoons, and knives, for another cost saving way to find camping cookware.
Preparing Items Ahead Of Time
To minimize the need for lots of camping cookware, there are a few camp cooking strategies you can follow. For example, much cooking preparation can be done ahead of time in your own kitchen.
Vegetables can be chopped up and sauces can be prepared and stored in small containers or plastic bags. This allows you to leave behind the knives, cutting boards, stirring spoons, and other equipment that will take up room and need to be cleaned.
Also, sticking to simple camp cooking recipes will allow you to reduce the number of camping cookware pieces needed for your meal preparation. Aluminum foil cooking is a simple and easy method that creates hot, delicious dishes and the only cookware needed is a roll of foil.