Camp Kitchen

Are you planning a party off the beaten track? Or looking for a way to keep food and drinks  fresh while camping for weeks at a time? You need to ditch the ice-filled cooler and move to a 12v fridge. Bring one of these along on your next adventure , and watch your popularity soar. Cold beer, anyone?

Dometic 46 liter CFX

The Dometic 46 liter CFX is a ruggedly built fridge/freezer that you can take anywhere. It has been built to last with stainless steel hinges, a slider compatible design, and sturdy, fold-down handles. It can be used in any vehicle that is off-grid for extended periods of time, but works best in a  truck, boat, or 4×4.

The interior offers plenty of space to keep the chilled food for a small group, and the ‘quick-chill’ function means you are ready to go in no time. Inside you’ll find a wire basket with divider for easy organizing . Power this unit at home on 120-volt AC, or use 12- or 24-volt DC while off-grid – cables for DC and AC are included. And once you are on the road you can even charge your cell-phone from its built-in USB port.

Dometic have built an electronic thermostat into this model, and in case you want to check it even when it’s buried in the bowels of your 4×4, you can even buy an aftermarket wireless display. That optional extra means you can keep a watchful eye on the temperatures in your fridge, avoid food poisoning, and take home as many members of the team as you set off with.

ARB 50 Quart

This offering from ARB is ready for anything. Mount it in your SUV, pick-up, or whichever 4×4 vehicle you have and you have earned the title of Beer-Master for the duration of the trip. This isn’t ‘just a cooler’ either – it’s a full-blown fridge/freezer.

The internal temperature can be set to plummet as low as 0°F. Thick insulation allows this sturdy piece of kit to maintain an arctic interior while temperatures outside soar as high as 90°F. Even better, it can do all this while drawing a tiny 0.83 amps per hour from your 12v battery, which is less drain than a single headlamp.

There is plenty of space inside this fridge/freezer. It can easily fit 2-liter bottles and has space for 72 12oz cans in its two compartments. The Heavy-duty hinge lets you get at the food easily, no matter how bad a case of the munchies you have, and a backward facing interior LED light is perfect for choosing midnight snacks.

You can secure this model with the integrated retention straps, or bolt it to ARB slider systems for hassle-free off-roading. If you want to, ARB promise that you can mount this fridge at up to a 30° angle without affecting its operating ability. How off-road worthy is that?

Engel 43 Quart

Engel are well known for making fridges and freezers for adventurers. Their models use the energy efficient ‘Swing Motor Compressor’ which draws around 40 percent less power than others in its class. There are plenty of happy owners using this model in boats, semi’s and off-roaders who have had years of service from their Engel fridge/freezer.

LIke the models mentioned above , you can run this unit on 12/24V DC or 110V/120V AC power. Temperature control is via a dial on top of the fridge, and you even have the option to switch the fridge off completely from the top while still connected to power.

For better storage you can choose to remove the handles, although this is a job that requires a screwdriver. The latch on the lid creates an airtight seal, so you can count on your ice-cream still being in perfect condition when you reach your destination.

Getting together with good company and sharing laughs and delicious outdoor cooking are what summer is all about. We think the hibachi could be the next  secret weapon in your  outdoor cooking arsenal. The Japanese have used Hibachi grills for centuries, but we they’re often overlooked elsewhere in the world. Especially by those of us who camp. Their size and simplicity allow these pint sized grills to really shine in the backcountry. .

Before we go any further let’s discuss terminology and set the record straight. Twentieth Century America did an excellent job of clumping together vast swaths of Asian culture, cuisine, and language. And, in many cases just making things up out of the blue to sound “exotic.” This is basically how the meaning of the word ‘Hibachi’ mutated from a Japanese home heating appliance, to a cooking style, and eventually a charcoal grill stateside. Americans mistakenly labeled Japanese iron griddles (Teppan) as Hibachi, and that resulted in US versions of Teppanyaki restaurants being called “Hibachi Style.” A similar thing happened when shichirin (small japanese charcoal grills) landed in the states. The centuries old Shichirin was now also a Hibachi. No one knows why it happened, but whatever you want to call them; these awesome little culinary devices blow away almost anything we commonly use to cook outdoors. (For the sake of consistency and in spite of our desire to be accurate… we’ll call them Hibachi grills for now…)

Made from ceramic (diatomaceous earth to be precise), or cast iron, hibachi use charcoal for fuel. They are really fuel efficient, as the body heats up and radiates the stored heat, helping to produce food more moist and flavorful than a gas grill can. They are the closest you can get to cooking on an open fire, but you can do it right on a tabletop in the yard, or on the tailgate of your trusty truck.

Hibachi grills come in sizes that cater to a single person or a mid sized group – they are lightweight and you can even use the small ones indoors (just be sure there’s plenty of ventilation).  What will you cook on this pint sized cooking masterpiece? You could try some japanese dishes, like juicy steaks and pork, crispy chicken wings or scallops – or anything you currently grill.

The Fire Sense Yakatori Charcoal Grill comes in large and small versions. And, yes… we know Yakatori is technically Japanese street food, but this is a Hibachi (at least that’s what we agreed to call these devices earlier). The small grill measures just under 12 inches in diameter, and 7.49 inches high, which gives enough cooking space for four burgers on the top. The large version measures 17.73 inches long x 10.24 inches wide and has 157 square inches of cooking space. The ceramic body will make sure that all the heat is directed to your food, making the cooking time shorter. Just a few lumps of charcoal will be enough to cook for a few hours. Think of it as a small, lidless, Big Green Egg… that doesn’t cost a thousand dollars.

Because they are so efficient, you can even fire up hibachi for a single steak, without wasting any fuel. Unlike a Smokey Joe which needs a boat load of charcoal to get up to temperature (since heat is lost through its thin metal body), hibachi grills heat up much more quickly, using less fuel. It’s also easy to cook for a larger group – cooking times are so quick, you can just keep the food coming till everyone’s satisfied.

Marsh Allen also do a hibachi grill, but this one is made from cast iron. While it’s the same size as the larger Fire Sense grill, it is a little bit lighter. It has two air intakes, like the Fire Sense Yakatori, but includes a height adjuster for the grills so you can fine tune the cooking. The cast iron body will hold its heat for a long time, making a marathon cooking session easy, after a hard days camping.

If you run out of charcoal, you can use wood collected around camp. And later, when the night gets cooler, these grills will radiate enough heat to keep the chill off (like an actual Japanese hibachi), while you make s’mores.

If you’ve never tried a hibachi, we say give one a go – they are a versatile and inexpensive way to cook delicious food, both at home and on the move. We think you’ll love it.

No matter how you experience outdoor adventure, refueling after a long day outside is crucial. Food is basic to life, and when you’re out on the trail it’s even more important. If you want to eat more than trail mix, hot dogs,  and Clif  bars, you’re  going to need a good set of camping cookware.

There are a few things to consider when choosing cookware for that next backcountry excursion. Like all outdoor gear; not all camping cookware is created equal.  Neither are people’s budgets, requirements, or ideal  camping experiences. Here is some basic information that will  help you pick the best camping cookware set to meet your outdoor cooking needs.

Material. Camp cookware comes in a variety of materials. There is no “perfect” material, however. You’ll need to consider your camping needs and your budget when shopping for  a new set.

Stainless steel is a popular choice because of its durability. Unfortunately, it is one of the heaviest options, and therefore isn’t a great choice for backpackers trying keep their gear weight low. But, it is great for vehicle camping.

Aluminum is a good lightweight choice, but it often changes food flavor and doesn’t hold up well to rough usage. However, aluminum conducts heat more evenly and efficiently than Titanium. If you do go with aluminum make sure it’s anodized or coated.

Titanium may be the perfect material for backpacking  cookware since it is both strong and incredibly lightweight. It also conducts heat very well, but thin walls may create hot spots. Also, it is often quite expensive, so many budget-conscious adventurers  shy away from it.

Set Size. If you’re embarking on a long solo backpacking trip, you can probably get by with just one good multi-purpose pot. If you’re taking the whole family, that just isn’t going to cut it. Instead, you’ll need a larger set. Some sets include different size pots and pans, as well as plates and cups for multiple people.

There are a lot of wonderful camping cookware sets out there. And, it can seem like a daunting task to choose just the right one, especially when you can’t exactly give each one a field test. To help you narrow things down, here are four of our favorites .

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HealthPro 3-Piece Titanium Camping Cookware Set

Made from titanium and weighing in at just over 9 ounces, this cookware set is a great option for backpacking. It’s so light, that it’s easy to forget it’s even in your pack.

Also, since this cookware is made from titanium, it won’t leave a funny taste or odd smell in your food like some other materials. This set makes cooking on the trail easier than you expect. The pans nest together to form a sort of double boiler. Cooking this way helps prevent your food from scorching and sticking to the pan, a major bonus when trying to clean up after your meal when there isn’t a convenient kitchen sink nearby.

One small complaint is that the pans don’t fit together snugly. This can cause quite a commotion as they rattle around in your pack. The noise is pretty easily remedied however by stuffing your camp towel in between the pans. It fills the space and stops the rattle. Problem solved.

MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot

Made from stainless steel, the MSR Stowaway pot comes in several sizes ranging from as small as 475 milliliters up to a generous 1600 milliliters. They nest like Russian dolls, so you can carry several with you on the trail without eating up  too much pack space. However, if one is all you need, one pot makes a handy storage space for rations or even a small camp stove / fuel.

While these pots may not take up a lot of space, they do have some heft to them. They are made of sturdy, yet weighty, stainless steel. The benefit is that they can stand up to some serious abuse. The drawback is the extra pounds in your pack. We think they’re better suited to vehicle-based adventures.

Sea to Summit X Set 31

The most appealing feature of the Sea to Summit X set is its compact size. It is a little heavier than a comparable aluminum set, but features collapsible silicone sides to save a ton of room. The two bowls and two mugs sit perfectly inside of the pot when all five pieces are collapsed.

The pot features a hard anodized aluminum base which is compatible with small camp stove cooking. Some care needs to be taken, however, a direct flame  can damage the  silicone sides. So don’t  use  this set to cook over an open campfire.

While the set is almost perfect for family camping, the collapsible silicone can be difficult for small children to manage. When the mugs are full, you’ll want to make sure they use both hands to prevent accidental spills. Some people also notice that cooking in silicone imparts a taste on food or water.

GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookset

This set includes everything you need to prepare and enjoy a gourmet meal in camp, on the road, or on the trail. The set includes a 3 liter pot, a 2 liter pot, a lid that doubles as a fry pan, 2 heat resistant nylon strainers, four insulated mugs, four bowls, four plates, and a welded seam stuff sack that doubles as a wash basin. If you need to pack the whole kitchen, this camp cook set fits the bill.

While everything fits inside and packs up into a cozy bundle, this set still weighs in at over two pounds. It works best for car camping trips with the family or a short group trail trip where everyone shares the weight burden of their equipment.

Cleanup is easy with the set’s featured Pinnacle non-stick coating. And if you’re wanting to eat more than simple ramen and rehydrated trail food, this set rocks when it comes to preparing a nice family-style meal.

Whichever camping cook set you choose, make sure you take the time to really enjoy a meal shared in the great outdoors. May it nourish your soul as well as your body. Bon appétit.