If you haven’t already, to get the most from this article please check out yesterday’s post The Best Camping Cooking Gear Part 1. Like yesterday’s post this article will provide a summary of the camp cooking gear available in the market today, from the very basic to the absolutely feature packed. So, no matter your skill level or cooking preference, this guide will help you find some camp cooking gear that best suits your needs.

Cast Iron Cooking Set:

If you want true versatility when cooking over the open fire, then a cast iron cooking set is definitely the right piece of cooking gear for you. Due to the tough durable nature of cast iron, it’s perfectly designed to be thrown straight into the open flame. Although the true benefit of cast iron is its conduction of heat. When cooking over an open fire rather than a stove top at home, creating an even cooking surface temp is a difficult task. Hence cast iron’s ability to evenly transfer heat is a huge benefit for camping cooking. Cast iron can be used to create a huge selection of cooking gear.
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
A Cast Iron Dutch Oven is an absolutely superb way to easily cook an extremely thick roast. The purpose built design of Dutch Ovens also feature incredibly good heat conduction properties. Not only that but some Camping Dutch Ovens feature thick lid lips designed to allow coals to be placed on top of the Dutch Oven itself. Lastly if you use an internal trivet to raise your roast, you will truly promote even heat transfer when using your Camp Dutch oven. Not only that but internally raising your roast also creates a pool of mouth-watering juices cooking your roast in that flavoursome steam Dutch Ovens are renowned for. So, with all these heat transfer features at play, you can be sure with a Cast Iron Dutch Oven your thick roast will be perfectly cooked all the way to the center.
Cast Iron Skillet
For a perfect all rounder piece of cooking gear a cast iron skillet is an excellent choice. Their robust nature means they can easily handle your gas stove and even the hot coals of the straight open fire. Not only that but cast iron is in fact a natural non stick surface, so you can forget about having to spend tedious time scrapping egg residue off your frypan.
Reversible griddle
A cast iron griddle is got to be one of the simplest pieces of cooking gear. You can place a griddle quite literally on the open fire and there you’ll have yourself a flat non stick cooking surface. Some cast iron griddles however are two sided. With these models simply flip it over and you’ll have a set of raised ridges perfect for fatty meats. If I’m going on a simple overnight camping trip, my favorite feature about a reversible griddle, is the fact I can use one side for dinner and then flip it over and use the other side for breakfast and that way I only have to wash it once.
Saucepan
A nifty little cast iron saucepan is always a great tool to have at hand. Rather than doing a subpar job making do with a pan or pot, simmer your sauce or beautifully thick gravy in a purposely designed camping saucepan. A helpful tip for using your cast iron saucepan or Dutch Oven is to grab yourself a handy lid lifter to safely remove the tops of your Dutch oven and Saucepan ready for dinner to be served.

Camp Oven Stove:

A camp oven stove is a great way to reap the benefits of cooking with a wood fire whilst at the same time reducing most of the negatives. Due to the high reach chimney copping smoke in the face will never be an issue.  Another benefit of a fire camp stove is that it’s a fully self contained flame and hence at some campsites with a total fire ban, a camp oven stove is actually allowed as long as you use heat beads. Wood fire camp stoves generate a perfectly flat hot surface, ideal for placing a camping kettle or cast iron fry pan straight onto. Not only that but camp oven fire stoves also double as an excellent heater for camping in those colder months.

Portable BBQ:

If you’re after ease of use, then you can’t go wrong with a simple portable BBQ. Working just like your BBQ at home a mini BBQ is just a smaller lighter design for easy transport. All you need is a portable gas bottle and you’re good to go. A travel BBQ is also another great piece of cooking gear for campsites with an open fire ban.

Portable Smoker: 

If you love nothing more than a mouth watering steak or some juicy pulled pork, then you without a doubt need to get yourself a portable smoker for camp. With a teared design of cooking, a travel smoker BBQ adds flavor to your meat by slow cooking it, while simultaneously infusing it with taste properties found in smoke. This method of cooking will generate a taste explosion in your mouth like you’ve never experienced.

12v Travel Oven:

On the other hand, if you’d much prefer to go for a swim at the beach whilst your cooking appliance does the hard work for you then a 12 Volt travel oven might be the better choice for you. Rather than slaving away in your camp kitchen or over the open fire, chuck your roast or pie straight in the portable 12v oven and set the timer. Once the timers done the oven will even turn itself off, so it literally takes care of itself.

As you can see there’s such a vast array of camp cooking gear available in the market, all with different pros and cons. So, I hope both Part 1 and Part 2 of this article have been a helpful guide so that you can find some quality camp cooking gear that best suits your needs, personal preference, and cooking style.