Campsite Cooking Checklist

If you have never had to plan meals for a camping trip, trying to figure out what all you need to bring can be a bit stressful. On the flip side, even if you have done this lots of times, you can still easily forget something. There are so many items that get used while cooking, and you get so used to every one of those items having its own place and grabbing it while you are going through the dance of cooking a meal at home that it is easy to forget how many various things that you actually end up needing/using. Hopefully, this Campsite Cooking Checklist that we have put together will prevent you from leaving those few precious items behind.

This list outlines the various categories of items that you may or may not need while cooking during a Camping trip. You obviously do not need everything on this list, and every trip will require its own necessities. However, hopefully, this list contains everything that you could potentially need. If you do end up needing something that is not on this list, feel free to Contact us and let us know so that we can update this list for others in the future.

Cooking Essentials

Camping stove and fuel
Matches/Lighter/Firestarter
Cook pot(s) and lid(s)
Frying pan(s)
Potholders, pot lifter, and/or pot grabber
Cooking utensils (large spoon, spatula, tongs, whisk, etc.)
Bottle opener, can opener, corkscrew (or multi-tool)
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Box grater
Camp grill and charcoal/fuel
Grill rack
Griddle
Dutch oven and lid lifter
Firewood
Saw/Axe
Aluminum foil
Portable coffee/tea maker
Mixing bowl(s)
Measuring spoon(s)
Measuring cup(s)
Marshmallow/Hotdog roasting sticks
Flat metal skewers
Rolling ice cream maker
Hand crank blender
Camp table(s)
Kitchen organizer unit
Pie irons
Potato peeler

Setting the Table

Plates/Bowls (enough for everyone)
Mugs/Cups (enough for everyone)
Eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
Napkins
Water bottles
Tablecloth (and clips)
Lighting (lanterns, flashlights, and/or headlamps)

Food Storage

Cooler(s)
Ice or ice substitutes
Bear bag(s) and hanging kit (and/or bear canisters)
Egg holder(s)
Small food containers (for leftovers)
Resealable/Plastic bags
Large bins or bags (to store kitchen gear)

Cleaning Essentials

Camp sink or wash bin(s)
Large refillable water jug
Biodegradable soap
Pot scrubber/sponge(s)
Trash/recycling bags
Quick-dry towel(s)
Paper towels
Dish drying rack
Clothesline with clips

Basic Food Items

Salt & Pepper
Spices
Cooking oil/nonstick spray
Coffee/Tea/Hot chocolate
Powdered milk
Sweeteners (sugar, honey, sugar substitute)
Oatmeal
Pancake mix
Syrup
Rice
Dried pasta
Canned foods (soup, chili, etc.)
Dried foods (fruit, jerky, etc.)
Energy foods (bars, gels, etc.)
Trail mix
Peanut butter
Jelly/Jam/Preserves

Water Source/Treatment

No matter where you go in the outdoors, water is going to be at the top of your priority list. If you are camping near your vehicle, then you can likely bring all of the purified water that you will need. Alternatively, if you are staying at campgrounds, then you may have running water available to you. However, in other settings, you will need to source and purify your own water. Fortunately, these days there are many different water treatment options that can be used to purify water on site. For a more extensive look at these options, feel free to follow the link below to check out the post we put together on this topic.

Water Treatment Options

Conclusion

Few people have the space to store tubs of cooking supplies that are only used for Camping. It happens, but it is definitely not the norm. Therefore, using a resource such as this Campsite Cooking Checklist is ideal for making sure you have everything you need before you head out.

Now that we have coved all of the supplies needed for Campsite Cooking. Feel free to check out one of the other checklists available along the right-hand side of this page (down at the bottom if you are on a phone).

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