This Week’s Topic: Camp Kitchen Setups
Welcome to this week’s Feature Friday! Last week, we looked at portable fridge/freezer setups. This week, we’re continuing with the camp theme and diving into the world of camp kitchen setups.
We know that a well-equipped camp kitchen can make all the difference in creating memorable camping experiences. When it comes to curating the perfect camp kitchen setup, the possibilities are as vast as the great outdoors. Each setup reflects a user’s unique style, preferences, and culinary delights. Camp kitchens can be as simple or elaborate as you desire, from compact cooking systems to gourmet feasts under the stars.
Now, let’s take a closer look at these incredible kitchen setups and discover the top three items that bring delight to their outdoor cooking experiences. You might just find the inspiration you need for your next camping escapade.
Table Of Contents
1. Zak Farris – (@helrunner)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- Tembo Tusk Skottle
- REI Co-op Pack Away Bags
- Dalstrong Knives
Tell Us About Your Setup
Any time I go on an adventure, I bring the Tembo Tusk skottle to make cooking enjoyable. You can cook anything from cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and bacon to dinner items such as pasta, tacos, or a fat, juicy steak! Tembo also makes a great table that I take everywhere. It has a built-in cutting board top and a drop-in sink.
I 110% recommend REI Co-op Pack Away bags. They have three sections per bag and let you store all the equipment a cook needs – utensils on one side, soap, and brushes for cleaning in the middle. Lastly, throw in a few bags of seasoning. I also have separate bags for toiletries and one for power supplies, lights, chargers, etc. They work, trust me.
I take Dalstrong knives everywhere as well! I carry three knives; an 8-inch chef knife, a 4-inch pair knife, and an 8-inch Nakiri Knife. They let me cut up and cook everything on my menu! They also are not crazy expensive like you would think. German steel is the perfect blade material and you know it will last a lot of camp cookouts!
2. Rainier Nombrado – (@t4rainier)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- Jetboil Genesis & Luna Satellite
- REI Folding Camp Table
- RIGd Supply Ultraswing Table
Tell Us About Your Setup
The Jetboil Genesis cooking system and Luna satellite make an amazing system when paired together! It is compact, easy to deploy, and pack away. The adjustability of the flame is what makes it shine and allows you to dial in the heat.
The REI folding camp table is lightweight and easy to pack. It has a decent surface area, and the legs are adjustable to make it level on almost any terrain.
My RIGd fold-down table for the Ultraswing is another great addition. With it, I always have a table when out on the trails. It’s easy to deploy, has a cutting board that slides away, has enough space to use your cooking devices, and is easy to clean.
3. Ejay – (@sr5roamer)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- Front Runner Wolf Pack Pro
- Jetboil
- F40C4TMP Overland Fridge
Tell Us About Your Setup
I love the Front Runner cases; they’re so easy to stack and easy to mount. I like how the case is fully sealed as well. Pretty much all my gear is in these cases, from a diesel heater, kid’s snacks, recovery gear, kitchen equipment, and sometimes clothes.
The Jetboil is amazing! It allows me to have hot water in less than two minutes! I mainly use it for coffee in the morning or if the kids want noodle soup. It’s light, compact, and super easy to use.
The F40C4TMP fridge is my first fridge. I was just going to stick with a cooler, but I got tired of using ice. You can find this unit on Amazon and it’s not super expensive. I just needed something to keep my food/drinks cold and most importantly, the kids’ ice cream.
4. JP Douvalakis – (@johny.prsm)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- Lodge Cast Iron Pan
- WaterPORT 4-Gallon Water Tank w/ Shower Nozzle
- Victorinox Paring Knives
Tell Us About Your Setup
My girlfriend and I often go camping in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We pride ourselves in the delicious meals we often make while off-grid. I wouldn’t want to leave home without my cast rron pan, 4-gallon WaterPORT pressurized water tank, or Swiss kitchen knives.
A cast iron pan is the best because you can cook anything on it. From bacon, eggs, and pancakes in the morning to steak and potatoes in the evening, it does it all. I love using cast iron over a fire or grabbing my camp stove if there’s a fire ban.
Cleaning a cast iron pan is also incredibly easy and environmentally friendly because you don’t need soap. To clean the pan, just grab a metal sponge, scrape the cast iron clean, and collect the grease for proper disposal later! I chose cast iron because of its ability to hold flavor, be easily cleaned, and can cook every camping food.
I also love my 4-gallon waterPORT pressurized water tank. If you’re cooking outdoors, things can often get messy. Having pressurized water right there makes washing hands super easy. You can also use the water to wash fruits & veggies, clean your dishes, or cool off!
WaterPORT’s design is great because the tank sits on top of the car in the heat of the sun. The black design allows the water to warm thought out the day, giving you warm water for those cool summer nights! I chose waterPORT because of the tank’s lightweight design and pressurized ability; it’s like having a sink with warm running water.
Lastly, when I go camping, I always make sure my kitchen gear is stocked with Victorinox knives. These knives are so sharp it’s almost dangerous. I never cook without having one of these knives on hand. The design of the knife is so sleek and thought out, and I simply love seeing them in my gear bag.
The blade of the knife has teeth, which I love because I think it cuts better. These knives also come in various colors that can be matched to your kitchen set. I grew up having these knives in my home kitchen, so I naturally want the best while off the grid.
Without these three essential items, I would simply be out of place while camping. Be sure to get yourself these hot items asap!
5. Mark Kays – (@3mstzos)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- GSI 30 oz. Java Drip Pour Over Coffee Maker
- Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove
- RTIC 52 Quart Ultra Light Hard Cooler
Tell Us About Your Setup
The RTIC 52 Quart Hard Cooler is essential to our camp kitchen. It keeps ice and our perishables good for longer than we typically need. Meat, fruit, and coffee creamer are crucial for my family and me, both at home and off the grid. Making sure that we have creamer for the coffee we make in our GSI Pour Over Coffee Maker is essential!
We couldn’t make that essential morning coffee without our trusty Camp Chef Everest stove. The two burners are great for us. We usually cook large meals and need to cook different things simultaneously, like eggs and spam!
These items play a crucial role in allowing us to eat and enjoy the things that we normally enjoy at home while off the beaten path. That’s important, especially when camping with three kids.
6. Jared Johnson – (@txhillrider)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- SHW Offroad Expedition Drawer System
- Dometic CFX3 55IM Fridge
- Jetboil Java Kit
Tell Us About Your Setup
The SHW Offroad drawer system is a great kitchen setup for the back of the 5th Gen 4Runner because it includes a tabletop drawer as well as an integrated fridge slide. Coupled with the table on my swing-out bumper, I have plenty of flat surfaces to cook and prep on.
I chose the Dometic CFX3 55IM refrigerator because of its proven record of efficiency. Even in the sweltering Texas heat, the Dometic holds the set temp without straining my batteries.
The Jetboil Java Kit makes brewing the elixir of life a breeze and is great for saving space in your rig. It comes with a French press that stores perfectly inside the cooking vessel.
7. Will Adams – (@sirwilliamgoes)
Top 3 Camp Kitchen Must-Haves
- Camp Chef Stove
- Lodge Cast Iron
- Stansport Stainless Nesting Pot Set
Tell Us About Your Setup
I like the Camp Chef Everest 2 because it’s powerful at 20,000 BTU per burner. It also offers some of the best flame control I’ve ever had with any stove I’ve used.
The Lodge Cast Iron is extremely versatile, nearly indestructible, and healthy. Plus, I can cook up some delicious meals with it. Paired with this pan, I use the Stansport nesting pot set. It’s perfect and has multiple-size pots that all stack together to save room.
Traveling full-time in the 4Runner, I use all of these items daily. I picked these items as they have withstood the test of time over the years and continue to perform flawlessly.
Final Thoughts
And that’s a wrap on this week’s Feature Friday!
Well-prepared camp kitchen setups can transform your experience from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you’re embarking on a weekend getaway or an extended expedition, pack those must-have basics along with your personal touches to create a setup that best suits your style.
We’ll be back next week with a new Feature Friday featuring dash mount setups! If you’re interested in being featured, submit it at the link above!
I read about the Nomad Kitchen Kickstarter on T4R a few years back and became a backer. It’s a great system of drawers that cantilevers out (I also have the OEM sliding tray so it extends waaay back!) with room for two chefs to work at a time. It is easy to install and remove as needed as well.
Wow, this is quite the setup! What would you say are your top 3 must-haves for your camp kitchen?