A camp kitchen is just as it sounds, your portable cooking station to whip up some awesome camping meals! No longer ask yourself “what is a camp kitchen?”, but rather, ask yourself “how can I optimize my camp galley to keep my taste buds dancing?”. It’s so easy to overlook. Many times, we often associate camping with poor quality food, like solely tuna packets and hot dogs. But with the right equipment and preparation, camping meals can be just as good (if not better than) some meals prepared under the roof of your own home. Just take a peek at FreshOffTheGrid for some inspo!
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What makes a good camp kitchen?
This is where you get the typical recurring Adam response:
“Quit overthinking it!”
Honestly. The “perfect” camp kitchen doesn’t really exist. That’d be like walking into someone else’s kitchen and thinking that their kitchen is perfect from top-to-bottom. Utensil placement and everything. Or maybe I’m the only one who has troubles finding things in other homes. Sure we can appreciate someone’s setup, but that doesn’t mean it will be perfect for you. We’re all different. That’s the joy of humans.
Let me help you simplify things even further…
Make a dang list!
Nothing is more disheartening than heading off on a camping trip, looking forward to that first cup of coffee fresh off the stove top, while breathing in the cool, brisk air, and fully immersing yourself in the nature that surrounds you; Only to find out that you forgot the beans! Coffee without coffee beans? No Bueno. Talk about a poor start to the morning. Trust me I have been there. Nothing like letting yourself down because of a simple mistake, and only yourself to blame.
It seems obvious. Like “how could someone forget anything for their camp kitchen? It’s only a handful of items.”
But I promise it does happen. So write that list, and include the small things. You’re not as likely to forget those large items (coolers, dual burner stoves, etc), but if you need a fork for a meal, write it down. As much as I enjoy eating with my hands, when you make rice and beans with salsa, hot sauce, queso, and guac; It’s a bit off-putting to scoop it up with your hands and shovel it into your face. But still… It’s an option.
Just write a list. No one is judging you. Food is a staple, a comfort, and a joy. Don’t be the one to rain on the parade because of a simple mistake that could’ve easily been avoided. Then we’ll really judge you. Don’t mess with my food.
What Items are Needed for a Camp Kitchen?
Simplicity is key in my opinion (Obviously. Have you looked at any of my other content?). Even though you can really gain some extra space by car-camping, use that space for something else, not for bringing 4 different sized pans, or enough spatulas to reenact a sword-battle scene from Conan the Barbarian. Planning to use a pan? Bring one. Getting a tad more intricate than a simple one-pot meal? Fine. Bring 2 pans. That’s where I am at. 2 pans (cast iron is my preference for camping) for the camp kitchen and move on.
The other major components to consider can also be quite simplified..
You need food storage. Dry foods can go into a bin, something like this. Grab yourself a cooler to keep the necessary items chilled. It doesn’t need to be fancy. A well-maintained cooler is a good cooler. If you are truly worried about not keeping things cold for days on end, look up some other cooling options. I for one, fill my Nalgene bottles (3) about three quarters of the way full, and freeze them. Once frozen, top the bottles off with some cold water, and you essentially have a few ice blocks. The bonus is cold drinking water once completely thawed.
Do you want all your kitchenware to be smacking around while you drive? Probably not. I can guarantee that I don’t want to be looking underneath my car seats for the fork I swear I packed. Get yourself another container. Heck, get a bigger container for food storage, and use it as an all-in-one kitchen box. That’s what I do, it makes it easy. Kitchen gear and food is in the kitchen gear and food box (duh). Sure, I also have things in places throughout my vehicle, but I’m not you. Personalize it to fit your needs. Just make sure to stay organized. Getting frustrated on a trip isn’t fun for anyone.
Setting up Your Camp Kitchen.
You know how I keep saying to keep things simple?
Although having a glorious mess hall would absolutely bring joy to the campsite, keep in mind that you’re in charge of it all. By all means, if you’d like to pack, use, and clean a million different things, go for it! I’m just not that person. That’d be like information overload every time I chow.
Here’s something I will recommend…
Make sure you are completely ready to go before you start. When camping, you have limited resources (most of the time), you don’t want to get into the heat of the moment, whipping up some tasty treats, just to run out of fuel; Or find out that an important ingredient is still somewhere in the vehicle. Believe me, I’ve been there many times too. It’s never a moment that my grandmother would be proud of with the words that come out of my mouth.
Realistically, you could take things a bit further even. There have been quite the number of times where I will have things “preparing” in my vehicle or cooler (think marinades, soaks, pre-cracked eggs, etc) just to keep the kitchen process easy. The options are endless, really. Use your imagination.
Want a little tip?
I carry 2 small spray bottles with me. One holds pure water. The other has a drop of eco-friendly soap in it. They’re what I use to wash dishes. Eliminates excess water usage, and also requires less preparation for clean-up. Don’t get me wrong, I also will use a bowl or tub for some deeper cleans. But the spray bottle technique sure is convenient.
Long Story Short
Call it a chuck box, a camping mess kit, wilderness cooking tools, or even a wild camp kit. To each their own.
A camp kitchen is your means of creating those satiating plates when deep in the wilderness; Or heck, even at a tailgate, or just in the backyard. Camp meals themselves don’t have to be over-simplified, you just have to plan ahead, make sure you (and your kitchen) are properly prepared to imitate Bobby Flay when the time comes.
Your camp kitchen needs to cater to you. Forget what your Google search for “best camp kitchen” struck up (unless of course that got you here). Work with what you’ve already got, and make alterations as you find needed. Also, remember something for me…
Clean the f*#& up after yourself! Leave No Trace is more than bringing a trash bag with you. Do your part.
Need some specific recommendations? Shoot me a message, or leave a comment down below!