Gus’ Campfire Cookware for Camping

By G.A. Anderson (Gus), on March 29th, 2011

Gus’ Camping Cookware for a “Normal” Camp-out

Most of the information at Camping with Gus is geared to new or almost-new campers with resource and download links for the stuff they find interesting. Several have asked me what I take on a normal camping trip. So here goes.

**Note: This is my basic pack-out list. Other items would be added for special meals or camp locations that require extra gear.
Also, all the shopping links are my own Amazon Affiliate links – which I only use to recommend good-quality camping gear – Gus

Camp Cooking Gear:

Campfire cooking grill - it’s rectangular, with folding legs and mesh screen grill, about 28″ x 18″. It’s exactly like the Texsport model, but home-made
Coleman 2-burner propane camping stove – it’s old, but faithful. It’s also just a basic model, no frills means less to break or malfunction.
Thick Leather Gloves – An old thick pair of leather gloves I use for handling stuff around the campfire, like; hot cast iron cookware, the Dutch oven, or even rearranging pieces of burning firewood. (See my old camp gloves)

Camping Cookware:

10″ Cast Iron Dutch oven – it’s a Lodge camping model with the stubby legs and rimmed lid. I also take an iron lid-lifter.
12″ Cast Iron Skillet – also a Lodge, with a lid
10″ Aluminum Non-stick Skillet – it’s heavy-duty with a riveted handle. ** yes, cooking with a cast iron skillet is great, but for stuff like eggs-over-easy, or omelets, it’s hard to beat a non-stick skillet. Even with a super well-seasoned cast iron skillet
Pie Iron – Great piece of cookware for quick, hot, sandwich concoctions. It is often used for evening campfire treats using biscuit dough and pie filling.

Coffee Pot – it has a side handle and a bail handle so it can be used on the camping stove or over the campfire
Pots and Pans:
- one 4-qt. pot with side handles and lid
- two 2-qt. pans with long handles, riveted. 1 lid
- one 3-cup sauce pan, with lid
- two 9″ cake pans – utility pieces also used to bake or warm biscuits
Cooking Utensils:
- three cooking spatulas – two long handled teflon-blade, and one long handled metal-blade (for use on the campfire cooking grill)
- two large serving spoons, one metal and one wood
- one long handle soup ladle
- one pair long metal tongs

Camp Kitchen Gear:

two plastic wash basins – square shaped, approx. 16″ x 12″
two poly cutting boards – one 12″ x 16″, and one 8″ x 10″
knives:
- one 8″ chef knife – wide blade, (for chopping and dicing)
- one 9″ chef knife – narrow blade
- one 9″ chef knife – serrated blade
- one 8″ fillet knife
- three paring knives – assorted sizes
one flat cheese grater – it also has a mandalin-cut slot
Miscellaneous:
- Measuring cup set
- Measuring spoon set
- One can opener and one bottle opener, (the sharp-pointed kind they call a “church key”)
- one basting brush
- one pair of pliers
- one sharpening wet-stone

Packing:
Most of the large pieces like the pots and pans and skillets are packed in milk crates

The knives are packed in a small cheap plastic tool box, it’s about 6″ x 6″ x 16″ (it fits inside the nested wash basins)

All the other cooking utensils and misc. kitchen gear go in a small plastic tote with a locking lid. (approx. 8-gal tote, 12″ x 20″ x 12″)
**ps. the campfire gloves ALWAYS go in the tote.

Here is a 1-page formatted campfire cooking checklist that lists all these items, and more. You can use it as a shopping and packing checklist.
Campfire Cooking Checklist

Where to Buy The Camping Gear You Need:
The logical thought is your local camping and outdoor supply store. And that may be a good choice if you can catch a hot sale. But quality camping cookware and equipment can be pricey, – so go prepared -check online prices first so you have something to compare to.

Amazon.com is a good place to check first. They are the most trusted marketplace online, their prices are usually better than anywhere else. Almost every item qualifies for Free shipping for purchases over $25, and their free 3 – 5 day standard shipping is almost always faster than that. Plus, their return policy is better and easier than Walmart’s.

Best Camping Stove and Cookware Starter Set

Camping Stove and Cookware Starter Set:
Complete Camping Stove and Cookware Starter set, all in one package! Great for the new camper. All the basics needed for campsite cooking in one inexpensive package. – Camp Stove, Pots and Pans, Cooking and eating utensils, Plates, Cups, and more.

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Here are some examples of the camping equipment discussed above.
*Note – all shopping links are my own Amazon affiliate links – which I only use to recommend good-quality camping gear – Gus

Even if you are not interested in buying now, they will give you an idea of the choices you have and the prices you can expect.

Camping Kitchen Knives	Camping Pots	Camping Skillets

Camp Dining Sets	Campfire Utensils	Campfire Grills

Storage Tips: How to pack your cooking gear; The first Choice would be a real camping chuck box, but if you are not that “into it” yet, then a 30-gal plastic tote works, or even plastic milk crates, or a large canvas duffel bag. Just stay away from cardboard boxes, sooner or later, (probably sooner), the bottom will fall out and all your gear will be on the ground.

Another reason to check-out Amazon, -free standard shipping. Camping equipment can be heavy, and almost everything discussed here will ship for free if your purchase is over $25!

Notes and discussions:

Here are a few more pieces of camping gear you might be interested in:

You can make your own wax-based fire starters for outdoor camping, (and for fireplaces and deck fire pits), but fire starters like these on the right, by Coleman, are so inexpensive and easy to use that you’ll never use paper or tinder again for your campfires.
Coleman Strike-a-Fire Fire Starters

Once you use a folding camp shovel, and discover all its uses around camp you will wonder why you didn’t include one in your camp gear sooner. This sturdy but light-weight Coleman model is so compact it even fits in a 10″ carry-bag. Here are some of the models available:
Folding Camp Shovel

Here are some samples of other campfire cooking gear you can find on Amazon. Just like the fire starters, once you have one of these camp tools you will wonder how you ever did without it. Especially when you see how inexpensive they are when you buy them online.