There are not many things that can beat cooking up a quality storm at camp. I think there is something about sharing a great meal cooked over the fire with your mates or family that just makes the food taste better. In today’s market there is such an array of camping cooking gear to choose from, allowing you to cook meals at camp that were never before possible and only thought to be reserved for your home kitchen. With the huge number of camping cooking gear out there, the decision of choosing what gear is best for your needs is harder then ever before. So the purpose of this article is to help educate you on the choices out there, and their pros and cons. That way you can make an informed decision which pieces of camp cooking gear best suit your needs.

Although updates in technology and manufacturing have given us a wealth of new cooking products, the first piece of cooking gear you should buy is a good old fashioned cast iron cooking set. The true benefits of cast iron have been used by humans for hundreds of years. In fact cast iron dates way back to the fifth century in China. However back then cast iron was not only used for cooking it was in fact used to build weapons too. Due to its incredible durability cast iron has also been used by swagman and travelers for hundreds of years too. If you look back to old western photos you can often see some cast iron pots and pans hanging off the side of a horses saddle. Another group of people that are quite fond of cast iron is commercial chefs. Cast iron has been used by chefs in commercial kitchens for many years. This is due to the fact number one it’s durable, therefore making it perfectly suited to the fast pace of a kitchen. Not to mention with the amount of use a commercial kitchen will get out of their equipment, it’s important to have something that will last other wise they will be replacing it far to frequent. The true secret weapon of cast iron, and the real reason its loved by chefs all over the world is its ability to evenly distribute heat. Unlike other cooking gear that tends to heat mostly at the source of the heat. Cast iron heats as one unit giving your food an incredibly even cook. Now I think that’s probably enough on the benefits of cast iron itself, so let’s talk about what makes a good cast iron cooking set and why.

First of all lets start with the basics, a cast iron skillet. The benefits of a cast iron frypan Is they are extremely versatile and can be placed on anything, from your Camp Oven Stove to straight on the open fire. If you look for a model that features a 50mm depth cooking stews will be a breeze and if it also features dual pouring lips, then this will allow for clean and easy serving. Due to the cast iron construction, this pan will not only clean easy, but will provide a perfect non-stick cooking surface. Around a 25cm size is the perfect not too big but not too small size, allowing for easy cooking and transport making it a true camper’s best mate.

If you love a good Sunday roast, then you’ll need a cast iron Dutch oven. Like cast iron itself Dutch ovens are also renowned for their ability to conduct heat and evenly transfer it, to the food inside. Dutch ovens are perfect for a camp fire as the models that feature lid lips make it incredibly easy to secure coals on top. This allows for a much more even cooking experience for your food. A 4.5 litre capacity is the ideal size for a nice roast. So, that way you’ll be the envy of the campsite as you spread the smell of a deliciously slow cooked pot roast from your cast iron Dutch oven.

A reversible griddle is the next piece of essential cast iron cooking gear you should have. The best part about a reversible griddle is that it’s both simplistic but also incredibly versatile. A reversible griddle features two sides, one smooth and one that features raised grooves. Chuck your cast iron griddle straight on the open fire smooth side up for a perfect flat surface ideal for breakfast foods like bacon, eggs and spaghetti. Although come dinner time, you can simply flip over your reversible griddle and cook a juicy steak. The elevated ridges will not only give you crispy grill marks, but by separating your food from the grease they will also help reduce fat absorption. Another benefit although slightly obscure of a reversible griddle is lack of cleaning up. Now this may not be for everyone but if you’re going on a short overnight camping trip rather than having to wash up at camp, use one side for dinner then flip over the clean side and use it for breakfast. Then chuck your dirty cast iron griddle into a canvas bag and give it a good wash at home. Allowing you more time to spend on adventures rather than cleaning.

Whilst camping or cooking in general it’s important to have the right tool for the right job. That’s why a cast iron saucepan is another great piece of essential cast iron cooking gear. A size of around 19cm is perfect for boiling enough water for serval cups of tea. Saucepans are specifically designed to simmer therefore they excel at cooking anything that’s mostly liquid.  That makes a cast iron saucepan ideal for your grandma’s pasta sauce recipe.

To fully complete your cast iron cooking set a trivet and a lid lifter are both a much needed accessory. A trivet is a device placed at the bottom of the inside of your Dutch oven to raise your roast from the floor. This helps both evenly cook the roast and create a pool of mouth-watering juices. These mouth-watering juices generate the flavoursome steam Dutch Ovens are renowned for. A lid lifter on the other hand is as simple as it sounds, but don’t be fooled this little device is super handy to have. With a lid lifter, you can safely remove the tops of your Dutch oven and Saucepan at a distance. This is perfect for checking on your meal when the fire is still raging.

As a good old fashioned cast iron cooking set can offer an abundances of benefits allowing you to cook a huge selection of your favorite meals, weather that’s at camp or at home. That’s why I think a cast iron cooking set is truly an essential piece of cooking gear.