Choose Camping Cookware by the Meal

Your camping kitchen begins with the food you plan to eat. Write down each meal and what it needs before pulling cookware from the cupboard. For a short car-camping trip, familiar equipment from home may work perfectly well if it is compatible with the stove.

For oatmeal and hot drinks, start with a pot, lid, spoon, bowls, and mugs. Eggs or pancakes add a suitable pan and turner. A one-pot pasta dinner needs a pot large enough for the group and a safe way to serve or drain it. Sandwiches may need only a clean preparation surface and knife. Choose meals you can manage without juggling more burners than you have.

Check pot stability and the stove manufacturer's cookware limits. Practice cooking outdoors with the actual setup and correct fuel. Keep camping stoves out of tents, vehicles, and other enclosed spaces because of fire and carbon monoxide hazards. CPSC camping carbon monoxide safety

Pack cleanup equipment with the cooking equipment: basin, suitable cleaning supplies, towel, rubbish bags, and a container for washwater when needed. Scrape food scraps into your trash. Follow the site's wastewater instructions; biodegradable soap does not grant permission to dump dirty water.

NPS recommends simplifying meals and keeping a clean cooking area in its NPS cooking in camp. Add a food thermometer for meals that require verified cooking temperatures, and plan the cooler alongside the menu. Return to the complete gear guide.