kitchenware
About the minimum cooking equipment needed for camping and how to choose it
Cooking can be said to be the main fun of camping, whether it's enjoying your favorite dishes to your heart's content when camping solo or working with friends when camping in a group.
However, many beginners who are just starting camping may not know what kind of cooking equipment they need.
Therefore, this time we will introduce the minimum cooking equipment required for camping. We will also introduce some useful cooking utensils.
If you are new to camping and are having trouble choosing cooking equipment, please refer to this article.
What cooking utensils do you need for camping?
You can do basic cooking while camping if you have the following cooking utensils.
- Bonfire stand/barbecue stove
- Gas burner/cassette stove
- cooker
- Cutting board/knife
- Tongs/Chopsticks
- sierra cup
We will introduce in detail the role of each item and points to consider when selecting one.
① Bonfire stand/barbecue stove
If you are going to cook outdoors, be sure to use a bonfire or charcoal for cooking. Bonfires and charcoal fires have far-infrared rays that make food even more delicious.
Most of the recent ``bonfire stands'' are products that can be used for cooking. If you use a bonfire stand, you can enjoy cooking while enjoying the bonfire.
However, the bonfire stand is more suitable for dining with a small number of people. For camping with a large number of people, a ``barbecue stove'' is suitable for cooking only and can cook many foods at once.
②Gas burner
Bonfires and charcoal fires can cook food deliciously, but it takes time for the heat to become stable enough to start cooking.
If it's lunch or dinner, you can start the fire early. However, when it comes to breakfast, I find it quite painful to wait for the heat to stabilize.
The appeal of gas/petrol burners and cassette stoves is that you can start cooking immediately after lighting them. It will be useful as a heat source for making breakfast, coffee time, etc.
Also, in camping where food is not a big priority, such as touring camping or camping in a tent while mountain climbing, many people cook only with a burner or cassette stove.
③Cooker
A "cooker" is a pot or frying pan for outdoor use. If you have a cooker, you can do a variety of things, including cooking rice.
Cookers are designed for outdoor use, so they can be stored nestled or the frying pan handle can be folded down for compact storage.
Of course, you can also use pots and pans you have at home while camping.
④Chopping board/knife
You will also need a cutting board and knife to cut the ingredients.
You can use the same cutting board you use at home, but a cutting board that can be stored compactly is better for camping.
As long as the knife is easy to use, there is no problem with the knife you use at home. If you value camping style and portability, you may want to use an outdoor knife.
Knives, knives, and other cutlery items may cause injury when carried or taken out. Make sure to cover the blade with a sheath or cloth when carrying it around.
⑤Tongs/Chopsticks
Tongs can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including grilling meat and mixing ingredients. Even when the firepower of a bonfire or charcoal fire is strong, you can cook without worrying about the flames spreading.
When it comes to cutlery for meals, chopsticks are recommended because they can be used with a variety of dishes. Foldable chopsticks are especially useful when carrying them around.
⑥Shera cup
As tableware for meals, we recommend the versatile Shera Cup.
Sierra cups can be used not only for drinks such as coffee and alcohol, but also as plates for rice, side dishes, soup, etc.
Also, if you have a Sierra cup that can be used over open flames, you can also use it as a cooker. When your coffee or tea gets cold, you can reheat it by heating it up.
Most Sierra cups are stackable. Another feature is that you can stack 3 or 4 pieces, so they don't take up much storage space.
As you go camping more often and the range of dishes you cook expands, we recommend adding more tableware in addition to Sierra cups to add style to your dining table.
Convenient to have! Cookware that expands the range of cooking
Once you get used to cooking at camp, you can take your camping cooking to the next level by using equipment that expands your menu.
The following three items are recommended items that will expand your camping cooking experience.
- hot sandwich maker
- dutch oven
- kettle
We will introduce the characteristics of each item and the menus that can be created.
①Hot sandwich maker
With the "Hot Sandwich Maker", you can make a hot sandwich with a congari on the outside and a juicy inside by sandwiching your favorite ingredients between pieces of bread and baking them over an open flame.
It can be easily cooked not only over a bonfire or charcoal, but also on a burner or cassette stove, making it a recommended tool for making breakfast while camping.
With the hot sandwich maker, you can make not only hot sandwiches but also a variety of other dishes. If you grill gyoza, Chinese steamed buns, chicken, bacon asparagus rolls, etc., you can enjoy the crunchy texture that can only be achieved with a hot sandwich maker that presses the ingredients as they bake.
②Dutch oven
This Dutch oven has a highly airtight seal and can be heated from above and below by placing charcoal on the lid. As the name suggests, this oven can be used to make pizza, roast chicken, roast beef, baked apples, etc.
In addition to being used as an oven, it can also be used as a regular pot for stewing dishes. If you use a steaming net, you can also try steaming and smoking dishes.
③Kettle
Outdoor kettles are lighter and more compact than those used at home, making them more portable.
If you often enjoy coffee or tea while camping, it's helpful to have a kettle that makes it easy to pour hot water.
How to choose cooking utensils for camping
When choosing cooking utensils for camping, keep the following three points in mind and you will be able to choose the one that is perfect for you.
- Can be stored compactly◎
- Determined by number of users
- You also need to be careful about weight.
I will explain each point in detail.
How to choose ① If it can be stored compactly◎
When walking, touring camping, or camping in a tent while climbing, you need to keep your luggage as compact as possible. Therefore, it is best to choose equipment that can be stored compactly.
For families camping with a lot of belongings, more storage is required.
Cooking utensils with foldable handles and stackable handles can be stored compactly and are easy to carry. Box-shaped items like Mestin have less dead space, making it easier to store your belongings in a bag or container.
How to choose ② Decide based on the number of users
Choose the size of cooking utensils depending on the number of people camping.
It depends on the menu you are making, but if you are camping solo, you will need a cooker with a capacity of 500m to 700ml, and if you are camping with two or more people, you will need a capacity of 700ml x the number of people.
How to choose ③ Pay attention to the weight
When camping on foot or camping in a tent while climbing, you should be especially careful about weight. Choose cookware that is as lightweight as possible, as it will be difficult to carry.
Also, even in auto camping, tools that are too heavy are difficult to use. In particular, if you choose a heavy cast-iron oven or skillet that is too large, you will tend to avoid using it because it is heavy.
Don't simply think that "large is also small" and choose the appropriate size.
TOKYO CRAFTS cooking utensils with a focus on design and functionality
TOKYO CRAFTS has a wide lineup of cooking utensils that are not only functional but also carefully designed.
Among them, we will introduce three items that can be used as the minimum necessary cooking equipment for camping.
Marpot
`` Marupot '' is a tagine pot made of stainless steel for outdoor use, with a beautiful film that has been carefully finished down to the smallest detail by craftsmen in Tsubame-Sanjo.
In addition to anhydrous cooking that brings out the deliciousness of the ingredients, you can also enjoy a variety of cooking methods such as baking, boiling, and stir-frying.
Furthermore, if you use it in conjunction with the separately sold " Steam Plate ", you can try steaming and smoking dishes. Weighing only 710g, it is easy to carry and can be used outdoors or at home.
*Please note that this is not compatible with IH cookers.
sierra cup
TOKYO CRAFTS' "Sierra Cup" is available in a variety of materials and colors.
First of all, you can choose from three types of materials: stainless steel, titanium, and brass. The stainless steel cup comes in four colors, including the basic silver, black, 24K gold, and 24K antique.
Furthermore, you can choose from two types of each material and color: regular model (approx. 320ml) and deep model (approx. 480ml).
You can choose the perfect cup depending on how you use it and the atmosphere of your tent site.
The one that I would like to use as a set with the Sierra Cup is the ``Shera Plate.'' If you use it as a lid for a Sierra cup, it will keep drinks and food from getting cold and prevent insects and ash from getting inside. It can also be used as a coaster or small plate.
Jikamanaita
" Jikamanaita " with removable legs. This cutting board is easy to use even in grand style camping such as mountain climbing and touring camping.
The top plate can be removed, so it can also be used as a regular cutting board. Furthermore, it can also be used as a stylish tableware as a wood plate. The top plate is made of natural acacia wood, and the more you use it, the better it will become.
Along with the cutting board, please also take a look at the Delta Talon , a knife that can be used for everything from cooking to batting.
Prepare your cooking utensils and enjoy camping meals!
When camping, you can make delicious outdoor meals with the minimum necessary cooking equipment.
While making good use of the items you already have at home, why not start by gathering the minimum necessary tools introduced in this article?
Even if you don't have many tools, the food you make and eat while camping will taste exceptional. As you gain more camping experience, gradually increase your favorite cooking utensils and expand the ways you can enjoy outdoor cooking.
