Outdoor activities such as camping are enjoyed by most people who enjoy time away from their homes. Unlike the home environment, outdoor cooking is so much fun. What are your suggestions on Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire?
Among the best campfire cookware for outdoor activities you will find the Lodge 3 Camping Cast Iron Combo Cooker, Comfort Loft Open Flame set, and Bisgear 12 pcs Camping Cookware. These are the best dishes to prepare while camping, anywhere in the world.
This article discusses details on the best camping cookware and reviews several cookware products you can use while camping. We also discuss some of the common questions about camping, as well as a few useful tips when cooking over an open fire for the best experience. Read the article to learn more.
Different camping kitchen utensils for different styles.
Before looking at pots and pans, it is a good idea to think about how you are going to cook.
Cast iron cookware is the Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire. However, if you plan to cook with only a portable stove, a more compact pan set is a better investment.
Many campsites, especially in the United States, have fireplaces or grills. However, open fire is not always an option, especially when the risk of fire is high. Therefore, it is worth having an oven in reserve.
For the lightweight motorhome, usually, a single stove is sufficient, but if you are going camping by car, a two-burner camping stove is a good investment.
It gives you the flexibility to prepare meals that require two pans without worrying about the temperature of the food before your dinner is ready.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 2-Piece Set, 10.25″, Black
When it comes to cooking over an open fire, there is nothing quite like good cast iron. They have a lot of mass and heat storage. They are durable and withstand the heat of fire well.
Lodge has been making cast iron cookware in its own foundry in Tennessee since 1896. A good cast iron pan and saucepan are the basis for cooking on an open fire, which can be used to cook almost anything.
The pan and saucepan are seasoned. The longer you use them, the more spices will build up and the easier it will be to clean. I was skeptical at first when my wife bought a cast iron pan that we use at home.
After a few years, this has become my favorite cookware. Non-stick pots wear out and lose their non-stick pots after a while. Cast iron gets harder over time and is easier to clean.
The only downside to this pot and pot is its weight. Cast iron cookware is heavy. You are no exception. Weighing 13 pounds in total, these aren’t lightweight glasses for hiking. If you are camping near your car or truck or RV where weight is not an issue these are great.
This is our number one choice for the best camping cookware for an open fire.
Specifications
What’s in it? 1 pan, 1 pot
Material: cast iron
Weight: 13.2 lbs
What we liked
✔️ Culinary performances
✔️ Durability
✔️ Made in the USA
What we didn’t like
❌ weight
❌ High cost
Primus | Stainless Steel Campfire Cookset | Nesting Pots & Pan for Camping and Outdoor Cooking
Stainless steel is another good material for cooking over an open fire. It is not as dense and durable as cast iron and it does not dry out and is easier to clean. It is more durable than scratch resistant uncoated aluminum.
It is also much more expensive than aluminum. The Primus Stainless Steel Campfire Pot Set is a good basic set of pots and pans for cooking over an open fire.
This set contains 2 deep pans and a saucepan. Stainless steel is heat resistant. Stains and burns when really abused. It is never easier to clean with use. It’s non-porous, so don’t season it with layers of oil and grease.
Stainless steel pots are generally lightweight. Stainless steel has good thermal properties, so it retains heat well. This helps dampen temperature changes on the fire, making cooking easier.
This cookware set includes lids for the 2 pans. The whole is in a beautiful pile. All handles fold flat for storage or transport in a small space. The complete set weighs only 5kg and is therefore not too heavy to walk or carry with you.
This is a great cookware set for those looking for something that is durable and long-lasting, yet lightweight and compact. This makes it my number one choice for the best camping cookware for cooking over an open fire.
Characteristics
Contents: 1.8 l saucepan, 3 l saucepan, 21 cm saucepan
Material: stainless steel
Weight: 2.9 lbs
What we liked
✔️ Lightweight
✔️ Durable
✔️ Culinary performances
What we didn’t like
❌ Difficult to clean
❌ Expensive
yodo Anodized Aluminum Camping Cookware Set Backpacking Pans Pot Mess Kit for 4-5 Person
If weight is one of your main concerns, aluminum is a great choice for household cookware. The Yodo Camping cookware set is a good, lightweight cookware set.
It weighs only 2.9 pounds for the complete set, and all of the pieces fit into a 5.5 “diameter by 8” high stack. A mesh bag keeps everything together. All this in a nice package at a low price.
This cookware set is made of anodized aluminum. It’s safer and healthier than using Teflon and most other non-stick coatings. With proper care and practice, it’s easy to cook without burns, stuck in the dirt for cleaning up later.
Follow the included cooking and cleaning instructions for the best results. This will ensure that your Yodo cookware will last for a long time.
This set contains 4 anodized aluminum pots and pans for cooking. Contains a wide variety of BPA-free plastic platters, plates, and utensils. Do not try to cook over an open fire with plastic items or they will melt. As an added bonus, they also contain a natural loofah sponge for cleaning.
If weight is a major concern, this is one of the best camping cookware options available. The low price of a complete set also makes it a very attractive cookware set. This makes them our top pick for the best camping cookware for cooking over an open fire.
Specifications
What is included: 1 x small pot, 1 x medium pot, 1 x large pot, 1 x frying pan, 5 x bowls, 2 x medium plates, 1 x large plate, 1 x tablespoon, 1 x ladle of rice, 1 x sponge loofah, 1 x mesh storage bag
Material: anodized aluminum, BPA free plastic
Weight: 2.9 lbs
What we liked
✔️ Low price
✔️ Lightweight
✔️ Complete set of utensils and kitchen utensils
What we didn’t like
❌ Not as durable as cast iron or stainless steel
❌ Care must be taken not to damage the firing and cleaning of the anodized surface.
Overmont Camp Dutch Oven 14x14x8.3in All-round Cast Iron Pot Pre Seasoned
Dutch ovens have been a staple of campfire cooking for centuries. A good Dutch cast iron stove has so many uses that it’s hard to know where to start.
You can cook anything from casseroles and soups to fried chicken and more. The Overmont Camp Dutch Oven is an ideal base for your camping kitchenware collection.
This casserole dish has a lid that can also be used as a pan, which makes it even more useful. It has a handle and they also include a lid lifter.
Both the casserole dish and the lid have legs that allow it to remain more stable on the stove or elsewhere. The handle allows you to hang it on a tripod if you don’t want it to rest on the fire.
Like all cast iron cookware, it does not have a non-stick coating for scuffs and scuffs. It flavors over time but fills its porosity with fats and oils. Over time, it will become easier to clean up as the spices build up.
Comes pre-seasoned with a coat of starter oil. You can continue seasoning as you use it, or you can season it at home in a conventional oven.
This Dutch oven and its cover weigh 20 pounds. Like any cast iron cookware, this is not easy. It will take you a long time and you can also take your kids and kids there.
The Overmont Camp Dutch Oven is a great addition to any camping cookware.
Specifications
What is included: 1 Dutch oven, 1 lid that doubles as a pan, 1 lid lifter
Titanium cookware is the best option when you want the lightest weight. Titanium is lighter than stainless steel or aluminum and is also very resistant to corrosion.
It can be damaged by too much heat, so be careful. If you want the lightest travel cookware, Titan is the way to go.
The Lixada Camping Titanium cookware set contains 2 pans, lids and a folding set for eating. All items are stacked together in a 3.3 “high by 3.7” high stack. The total weight of this set including the tote bag is 0.8 pounds, making it perfect for cooking on the go.
Titanium stores heat in the same way as stainless steel, which makes it suitable for cooking. The larger pot has a handle to hold like a cup and a loop handle so you can hang it over the fire for cooking. You can hang it on a tripod to control the heat of your cookware.
This is one of the best open fire camping cookware available for backpackers. Its small size and light weight make it the perfect choice for your next hike.
Specifications
Contents: 1 jar of 750 ml, 1 jar of 420 ml, 2 lids, 1 folding fork
Material: titanium
Weight – 0.8 pounds
What we liked
✔️ Very light
✔️ Compact size
✔️ Versatile use in the kitchen and as a mug.
What we didn’t like
❌ Very small pots
❌ High cost for only 2 small pots
Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire – Buying Guide
There are many options for the Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire these days. Which cookware works best and is easiest to clean? What materials last the longest around the campfire? What other things are important when looking for the best camping cookware for wood-fired cooking? Let’s answer all of these questions below.
Material
The most common materials for cookware used over an open fire are cast iron, stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. Let’s take a look at each material and its benefits.
Cast iron
When it comes to campfire cooking, nothing works better than good old fashioned cast iron. Cast iron continues to be popular for cooking because it works and performs well and lasts a long time.
The cast iron cookware set you camp with can be the cast iron cookware set that your grandkids will use someday too. Cast iron has excellent thermal properties. It is dense and heavy, so it gives off heat well and it takes a long time to cool down.
Cast iron cookware should be seasoned to be easy to clean. The spice consists of layers of oil and fat that fill the porosity of the iron and give it a nice, smooth surface that is easy to clean.
Scraping off the spice will replace it with more cooking with oils and fats. The only real downside to casting iron is its weight. If you are traveling with a backpack and need to carry it long distances, cast iron is not for you.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is a great choice if you want cookware that is lighter than stainless steel but more durable than aluminum. Stainless steel still has good thermal properties for cooking.
It is always a high density like cast iron. Stainless steel is durable and can withstand the heat of an open fire well. You can dye it so that it doesn’t look as pretty as it is used. It is very scratch resistant. You don’t have to worry about scratching the coatings.
Stainless steel is more difficult to clean after cooking is complete. They don’t have the benefit of the spice or the coating to keep things from sticking to them. It’s my least favorite thing with stainless steel pots and pans and home cooking. I like to boil water, but almost nothing else.
Aluminum
Aluminum with anodized coatings makes good camping cookware. You have to be careful not to scratch the anodized coating. Aluminum cookware can be purchased with Teflon and other similar non-stick coatings.
Personally, I don’t like Teflon for health reasons. You should also avoid coatings containing BPA. You must follow the instructions that come with the anodized aluminum cookware to prevent food from sticking and damaging the coating.
Aluminum is less dense than cast iron or stainless steel. It’s easier to scratch than either. It heats and cools faster than any of these materials. It is also much easier. If you are concerned about the weight of the hike, is aluminum a good choice?
Titanium
Titanium is the most expensive and at the same time the lightest material. It has thermal properties similar to those of aluminum. If you are on the hike and want the lightest cookware, Titan is your choice.
Because it is a light metal, titanium heats up quickly and cools down quickly. You can also damage it from excessive heat.
Be careful if your fire is very hot. Due to its weight, titanium is very strong and therefore durable as long as you don’t overheat it.
Weight
When camping near your car, truck, or RV, the weight of your cookware doesn’t matter. In this case, you should go straight to cast iron cookware.
If you are hiking or need to carry your cookware long distances, be sure to check out one of the other supplies. Cast iron will be the heaviest, followed by stainless steel and aluminum. Titanium will be the lightest material for camping cookware.
Cost
Nothing is free and for most things, you get what you pay for. Cheaper cookware has non-stick coatings that wear out. It can be made of inferior materials which rust or oxidize quickly.
Inexpensive stainless steel can rust and rust quickly if exposed to a lot of heat. Lightweight, high-strength materials like titanium cost more. When you spend a little more on cookware made with better materials, you get something that will last a lot longer.
What kind of camping do you do?
Cooking utensils for mobile homes or car camping are very different from cooking utensils for backpacking trips. Remember how often and how far you need to carry your kitchen utensils while camping. A 20 lb Dutch cast iron oven can get really tough fast.
What do you want to cook?
A Dutch oven works well for stewing and baking. A saucepan is good for cooking steaks or burgers. Sticks are great for hot dogs. When choosing your cookware, think about the type of things you want to cook while camping.
Easy to clean
No one wants to spend all day storing pots and pans while camping. They’re going to camp for fun. You also don’t have an unlimited amount of hot water to scrub. A well-seasoned cast-iron pot or pan is very easy to clean. Uncoated stainless steel can be a huge pain.
Non-stick coatings
Many non-stick coatings use Teflon or BPA. Both substances can be toxic. The Teflon will scratch and peel the pans fairly quickly, preventing them from sticking. I avoid non-stick pans these days, even at home.
Even the non-stick pans upscale companies like Scan-Pan does not last as long. For more information on Teflon flu and other dangers of nonstick coatings, check out this article from Healthline.com
The aluminum annodé has no Teflon or BPA and some release value. You have to be careful how you cook with it and clean it for it to work.
There are also non-stick ceramic options that are more durable and much more expensive.
Cast iron Seasoning
When seasoning, the porosity is filled and the cast iron is smeared with carbonated oil. You do this by boiling oil in cast iron. This will prevent the cast iron from rusting. It also gives you a nice non-stick cooking surface. The more oil or fat you cook with a cast iron pan, the more spices you will accumulate on the pan. Some cast iron cookware comes pre-seasoned, but adding more always helps.
At about the same time, we bought a frying pan nonstick Scanpan of very high quality and a stove cast iron Le Creuset. After a few years of seasoning, the cast iron pan will be much easier to clean. The non-stick pan is less and less non-stick coated.
Things to consider While Buying The Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire
Sometimes handling pots and pans over an open fire can be risky if you don’t protect your hands. For this reason, always wear flame retardant gloves with you. They are meant to protect your hands when entering the open flame.
You should also bring the appropriate cooking utensils for your heat source. Some of the sources include open flames, stoves, the use of charcoal, or the use of a grill over a large open flame. For example, with an open flame, you will need to use pots and pans made of cast iron or aluminum. You should also use pots and pans with longer handles to avoid excessive contact with the flames. For ovens and grills, you can use those with smaller handles. Finally, avoid materials with plastic over an open flame as they tend to melt.
You should not cook directly over the flame. Why? You might end up eating burnt food. What should I do? Build a fire on one side of the pit and use the other side for cooking.
The region offers dry wood and a barbecue. However, camping unprepared is a big mistake. What if it is raining and the forest is wet? Always take a backup with you to improve your cooking.
When cooking meat, turn it often so that it does not burn on the side. It also improves even cooking throughout the meal.
Don’t forget some of these Essentials
Once you’ve sorted out your camping cookware, there are a few other key points that will help you cook easier and safer.
Pack these extras in your camping box so you don’t forget them when you get to camp …
Aluminum foil – the lightest cookware ever! All kinds of things can be baked in foil over your campfire coals, from baked potatoes and corn (add a little garlic for added flavor) to baked bananas and smells.
Skewers – Whether you’re grilling chicken souvlaki, vegetable skewers, or fried marshmallows, you can always use a handful of skewers.
Spice Box – A special camping seasoning box is worth adding depending on what you’re cooking on a particular trip. Its basic elements include olive oil, dried herbs, salt, pepper, stock cubes and spices. Try a pill organizer to easily carry your spices, as shown in our article on Camping Food Hacks.
Heat Resistant Gloves: You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that cooking over a fire will get hot. If you are traveling light, you can use a dish towel twice as an oven mitt. However, if you don’t run out of space in your car, you should put on a pair of heat-resistant gloves.
FAQ – Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire
Q: Can you put stainless steel in an open fire?
You should not place your stainless steel cookware directly in or on fire. You must use a grill or a tripod to prevent it from standing directly over the flame. The temperature of your fire can get hot enough to damage stainless steel and aluminum.
Q: What type of pot do you use around the campfire?
The best pot around the campfire is cast iron. It is very durable and can withstand high temperatures. Due to its high density, it has excellent thermal properties. Once heated, it radiates heat very evenly into your food. When I wasn’t backpacking and the weight was really important, I always chose cast iron for cooking over an open flame.
Q: What pots do professional chefs use?
Most professional chefs prefer cookware made of cast iron, copper, or carbon steel. These all have excellent thermal properties and are easier to clean when used correctly. Most chefs avoid Teflon coated cookware because the coatings are not durable. The smoke that comes out of the kitchen with them can be dangerous.
Q: Is Teflon still dangerous?
Yes. Teflon is still dangerous. Vapors given off by Teflon exposed to excessive heat can lead to Teflon flu. If you have pet birds in your home, cooking with a Teflon pan can kill them. Many bird owners have discovered this the hard way. Teflon coatings scratch easily and do not last long. When you buy the cookware coated with Teflon, you buy pots and disposable pans that will not last long.
Q: How do you season a cast iron skillet?
To season a cast iron pot , follow these steps:
Clean the saucepan or cast iron pan. Rub it well and clean it.
Apply a thin layer of cooking oil to all surfaces requiring seasoning. Vegetable oil works well.
Bake it at 450-500F for 1 hour.
Q: How do you clean a cast iron pan?
Follow these steps to clean a cast iron pot :
Wipe off any remaining food on the pan.
Rinse off with lukewarm water
Wipe off with a soapy sponge or exfoliating pad. Do not use a metal scrubber as you can scrape the spice.
Rinse and pat dry.
To maintain the spices, you can heat the pan until all the moisture is gone. Add a small amount of oil and rub it on the surface of the pan with a paper towel until all the oil is gone.
How do you cook over an open fire at the campsite?
When cooking over an open fire, do not cook directly over the flames. You need to control the heat and the flames to cook better. Depending on your recipe, you can use low, medium, or high heat for cooking. Also wear a pair of gloves when handling hot surfaces while cooking.
Can you put stainless steel on an open fire?
It is not a good idea to put your stainless steel cookware directly on an open fire. Why? Over time, they will change color at the base, even if washed with steel wool. In addition, metallic steel has melting points much lower than the temperature reached by an open fire. However, some people season it their pots and their pans stainless steel and use them over an open fire.
Can you use a regular pot on a fire?
You can use regular pots, but direct contact with the flame can damage the surfaces of the pot. It can also be unhealthy for your food as it releases nasty chemicals and flavors into your food. However, dried cast iron is the best material for an open fire.
Is cast iron the best for camping?
Cast iron is the best choice when it comes to camping cooking utensils. Why? It easily absorbs heat and distributes it evenly over the surfaces of pots and pans. It also adapts to the high temperatures commonly used in camping. However, cast iron works best when seasoned properly, although you can make it partially non-stick for cooking.
Get Cooking!
You have now sorted out your camping cookware. Time to put on your apron and discover some gourmet camping recipes.
Or, if a few casseroles aren’t enough, flip all the pork over and invest in a fully stocked camp kitchen.
If there ever is a camping version of MasterChef, you need to be prepared for it.
