Camping is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to cook some of your favorite meals over an open fire. Food is generally a huge part of our camping experience and something that stands out in our memories. Setting up a camp kitchen that’s great for you and your family is a huge part of ensuring everyone enjoys your time together and gets the energy they need for adventuring! Want to cook some tasty meals while car camping? Look no further. This article will show you how to set up your camping kitchen.
Camp Kitchen Essentials
Cooking Area
The first step to setting up your camp kitchen is finding a good spot for your cooking area. You’ll want to find a level spot far from any trees or bushes. If you’re using a camp stove, you’ll also need to ensure a flat surface for it to sit on. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, it’s time to start setting up your kitchen!
Dining Area
For some families, especially with older kids, this can be as simple as a camp chair and a plate in the lap! However, it can take a bit more work with younger kids to get set up for a successful mealtime.
Regardless, you should consider your family’s needs and ensure you are prepared for whatever situation you encounter.
Wash Station
The wash station is one of the most important parts of the camp kitchen! This is where you’ll clean your hands and cookware.
You’ll need to make sure you have soap, water, and a scrub brush. Using a dishwashing sink, you’ll also need a towel to dry your dishes.
Setting up Your Cooking Area:
Fire Pit vs. Stove
If you have the option available, you may prefer to do all of your cooking over the fire. Awesome!
However, most people who are feeding a family will find it helpful to have a stand-alone stove setup to make cooking more efficient and have more time for other things! If you’re aiming for an activity away from the campsite, the stove option allows you to jet out after a meal without worrying about ensuring your campfire is completely out.
Cooking and Food Prep Surface
You’ll need someplace to prep your food and to do your cooking. If you’re using a fire pit, you can get by with setting hot pans or pots directly on the ground (if it’s level), but we recommend having a separate surface for safety and efficiency reasons.
For stove cooking, you’ll want a stable, level surface to set up your stove. If you have a picnic table, that’s perfect. If you’re concerned with weight and space, our Portable Folding Camping Table is a lightweight option you’ll love! Just ensure you’re on level ground and that your surface is stable enough to prevent the stove from tipping or sliding.
Cookware
For cooking over an open flame, Stainless steel and cast iron are both great options. Cooking utensils don’t need to be anything special. Just ensure to pack what you need for the meals you’re planning! Our All-In-One Camping Cookware is the way to go if you’re worried about storage. It is lightweight, durable, and designed to stack into itself to optimize your storage capacity! It includes 1 Pot, 1 Frying Pan, 1 Kettle, 2 Stainless Steel Mugs, 1 Set of Cuttlery (spoon, fork, and knife), and 1 Mesh Bag; all you’ll need for a great cooking experience.
Food Storage
When considering how to pack and store your food items, it’s essential to consider temperature control and wildlife protection.
Whatever you use for food storage – coolers, reusable bags, plastic bags – you should ensure they are easy to transport. You’ll want to be able to put everything away at night or when you leave camp to avoid having your campsite ransacked by rodents and other furry visitors.
Whenever possible, try to avoid single-use food storage containers. There are tons of great eco-friendly options out there to use.
Setting up Your Dining Area
Table And Table Coverings
One of the great things about cooking outdoors is enjoying the fresh air and scenery while eating. But to do that, you need to have a comfortable and functional dining area. First, you’ll need a table. If you’re car camping, you can bring a folding table or picnic table. If you’re backpacking, you can use a portable camp table or set up your own using logs or rocks. Covering your table with a simple reusable oilcloth cover makes cleanup much easier. Also, it protects the table itself from wear and tear.
Dishes And Utensils
Next, you’ll need to choose what type of dishes and utensils you’ll use. Various options are available specifically for campers, such as folding cutlery and plates, bowls, and multi-use utensils. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s lightweight and easy to clean.
Water Station
A water station is one of the most important things you’ll need to set up. This can be as simple as a large container for drinking water with a spigot, or you can get more elaborate with a portable sink and grey water tank. Either way, ensure you have enough cooking, cleaning, and drinking water.
Setting up Your Wash Station
Tubs And Soap
In addition to a water station, you’ll also need a place to wash your dishes and utensils. You can use a variety of different tubs, depending on your needs. If you’re washing by hand, you’ll need a tub for rinsing and another for soap and scrubbing.
You can use regular dish soap, but it’s important to ensure it doesn’t contain fragrances or other ingredients that might attract animals. You may also consider using biodegradable soap to be more environmentally friendly.
Scrapers, Cloths, and Towels
You’ll also need some scrapers and cloths for scrubbing your dishes clean. Towels are helpful for drying dishes and utensils and wiping up spills.
You can use regular kitchen towels, but paper towels are a good option for camping since they’re disposable and won’t hold onto smells the way cloth towels can.
Drying Area
You’ll need a place to dry your dishes and utensils after washing them. This can be as simple as setting up a table or countertop on your campsite, or you can use a dish rack if you have one.
Make sure the area is well-ventilated so that dishes can air-dry quickly.
If you want the ultimate camping kitchen experience, check out the slide-Out Kitchens from Rooftop Tents. These kitchens come fully equipped with everything you need to cook and clean while camping, and they can be easily stored away when not in use. With a Rooftop Tent Slide-Out Kitchen, you’ll never have to worry about setting up or taking down your camp kitchen again – it’ll be there whenever you need it.
They come fully equipped with two gas burners, a sink with a foldable tap for easy storage, hot and cold water hookups, a sink drain, a gas line, and a tray top to fit your cooler or fridge! These compactable kitchens collapse down to half their size, taking up minimal space in any trailer and giving campers the room they need for all their camping necessities!
