Camping kitchens and dining - Editor's top picks
We've all experienced that camping meal of warmish baked beans and slightly burned, fire-cooked sausages. But cooking while camping does not have to be like that. With some simple additions to your camping kit, your mealtimes can be a wonderful experience. Our Editor, Iain Duff, has some affordable top picks for you to help make your camping cooking repertoire as adventurous as your taste buds demand.
Practical plates and cutlery for camping
(Photo courtesy of Lifeventure)
Lifeventure Ellipse camping tableware set
JUST ADDEDWe recommend because...
If space is at a premium in your tent, you’re unlikely to have myriad cupboards set aside for your finest crockery, and bespoke champagne glass holders like you see in big, fancy motorhomes and caravans. More likely, your kitchenware is chucked in a plastic box, so you’ll want to make sure it’s unbreakable.
That’s where fantastic plastic comes in, and this set can be clipped together with a karabiner to keep it all together. The set contains a plate, bowl, mug, spoon, fork and tent knife – and is available in graphite, teal, pink and navy.. Great value, light to carry and easy to clean, this is perfect for dishing up those lovingly-created campsite meals.
Expect to pay...
About £12
A stylish addition to your camping kitchen
(Photo courtesy of Outwell)
Outwell Adana utensil set
JUST ADDEDWe recommend because...
It's all very well having a great camping stove and pots an pans, but to really master the art of campsite cooking you need a set of suitable utensils like this offering from Outwell as well.
The Adana features all the main cooking tools you'll need – spatula, pasta spoon, whisk, serving spoon and ladle – all with easy-grip handles in bright colours i really like the way they all hook onto a stable stand that doubles up as a grater.
The handle hooks also prevent the utensils slipping into the pot when they are at rest. Stylish and practical, this set will certainly enhance your campsite cooking set-up.
Expect to pay...
About £23
A great alternative to disposable barbecues
(Photo courtesy of Valiant)
Valiant Portable Folding Barbecue
We recommend because...
It’s hard to stand out from the crowd these days, but Valiant has managed it with its new limited edition barbecue. It’s yellow – really yellow – and it has a lovely little picture of a bumblebee on it too.
That’s because it has been developed to support the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA). We all know the honeybee is currently struggling, and this charity aims to train and support beekeepers and promote the importance of bees in the environment.
This suitcase shaped barbecue is compact (28.5cm by 40cm by 10cm closed), and light enough (3.3kg) should you want to take it on a picnic. Simply open up the suitcase to reveal to cooking grill and charcoal basket, then fold out the legs and place the charcoal basket on the metal brackets and pop the grill on top. It takes moments.
Expect to pay...
About £49
A cool campsite cooler
(Photo courtesy of Vango)
Vango E-Pinnacle 40L
TOP TECHWe recommend because...
The 40-litre version of Vango’s E-Pinnacle thermoelectric cooler is spacious enough for milk, a couple of bottles of wine and some fresh food.
It takes around two hours to reach maximum temperature – but you can help things along by making sure the contents are cold when they go in. A bag of ice or even a couple of freezer blocks will also help the performance.
The telescopic handle and sturdy wheels make it easy to move around and other features include a built-in cable compartment and two removable dividers for food and drink organising.
Thermoelectric coolers cool the contents to a certain level below the ambient temperature. In this case, it’s around 16°C below, so if its sat somewhere where the air is 20°C, inside the box it will drop to around 4°C. The hotter the environment, the harder the cooler has to work to keep the temperature down and the warmer it will be inside. So, bear that in mind – particularly try to keep it in a cool area and out of direct sunlight.
Thermoelectric coolers are far cheaper than compressors, and can be a very good option if you want to be able to keep food and drink chilled, even in warm weather, without spending a huge amount.
Expect to pay...
About £148
A cooker with infrared technology
(Photo courtesy of Vango)
Vango Combi IR Grill Compact
TOP TECHWe recommend because...
The Combi IR Grill Compact is a traditional two-burner stove with the addition of something called an infrared grill. This infrared technology has been around for a few years now and it has been hailed as the microwave of outdoor cooking.
In simple terms, the main benefit is that it provides very high heat output and cooks evenly but remains low on fuel consumption and emissions.
In fact, Vango says it saves 10% on fuel and delivers a 90% reduction on emissions. The Compact is a smaller and lighter (and cheaper) version of the original double-burner cooker, and has all the features you’d expect, including piezo ignition, a drip tray, anti-slip feet, windshields and a vibrant green, lockable protective lid.
Overall I’ve found the cooker extremely easy to set up with the gas bottle and it is very straightforward to use. The IR Grill certainly performs as well as promised, creating a good, even heat across the food.
Expect to pay...
About £48
A reusable BBQ that packs flat
(Photo courtesy of ProQ)
ProQ Flatdog barbecue
We recommend because...
I’ve always felt that single-use disposable barbecues should be outlawed because they’re not recyclable and just end up in landfill and campsite hedgerows. So I’m pleased to see that, at last, some supermarkets are taking action and banning them.
Quick to pick up on this is ProQ Barbecues and Smokers and the brand has launched the Flatdog, which offers the benefits of a disposable barbecue but is of, of course, reusable.
When not in use, it flatpacks down to a similar thickness to a laptop (25mm), so it’s easy to store.
When you want to use it, just open it up, add charcoal and get cooking on the 30cm by 38cm grill.
Made from high-quality stainless steel, it’s easy to clean afterwards, too. It weighs 4.65kg.
Expect to pay...
About £90
An ideal cookset
(Photo courtesy of Outwell)
Outwell Feast M cookset
BASIC ESSENTIALWe recommend because...
Less is more when it comes to your camping kitchen. Space is at a premium, but the last thing you want is to have your culinary repertoire curbed by a lack of pots and pans.
The trouble is they are pretty cumbersome to store because they never stack and the handles always seem to get in the way, so it’s well worthwhile investing in cookware designed for campers.
The Feast Set M is ideal because the handles are removable and it all packs inside the largest pot and comes with a carry bag. The frying pan acts as a lid for the big pot, too.
Unlike many camping cook sets, which feel cheap and tinny, the Feast Set is more like the pots and pans you’d have at home.
Expect to pay...
About £35
Award-winning compact cooking stove
Campingaz Camp'Bistro 3 - single burner camping stove
We recommend because...
The Camp'Bistro stove has undergone a significant makeover for 2022, which somehow makes this camping kit classic even better.
It's still perfect for single-pot cooking or simply boiling the kettle for a brew. And the basics are the same, too - compact size, piezo ignititon, powerful flame and its own carry case.
But the new version now comes in a stylish black and has had a few significant upgrades designed to make it even safer to use. Every camper should have one.
Expect to pay...
About £30
Highly-commended camping grill
Campingaz 360 Grill
We recommend because...
This sleek tabletop-style gas grill gives you 360 degree access to its cooking surface while you sit around the table, making it the ultimate communal cooking experience.
Versatility is key here, too, and it comes with a ribbed griddle, flat plancha and a pan support for stove cooking.
Expect to pay...
About £140
A whistling kettle
Kampa Polly Whistling Camping Kettle
We recommend because...
There's nothing especially fancy about this camping kettle, but it does exactly what you need it to do, which is boil enough water for your campsite cuppa and let you know when it's ready to pour.
The handle folds down to minimise space and it stays cool to touch even when the kettle has been on the heat. But, for purely nostalgic reasons, our favourite thing about it has to be the retro whistle!
Expect to pay...
About £16
A handy kitchen table
Outwell Drayton Kitchen Table
We recommend because...
If you want to create a real home-from-home feel for your tent, then this is exactly what you need. We used to joke that we packed everything but the kitchen sink on camping trips – well, now the sink comes with us as well!
Not just the sink, but the worktop, kitchen cupboards, larder, utensil hooks, wire mesh shelving and a dish towel rail, too. And it all comes in this single kitchen unit, that folds flat and can be easily carried to and from the car. This is the ultimate in campsite kitchen luxury and we've found it here at a great price.
Expect to pay...
About £115
A convenient kitchen cupboard
Zempire Eco Fold Single Cupboard
We recommend because...
Keeping your tent organised and tidy goes a long way towards a happy holiday and that's where a piece of furniture like this is invaluable. The Eco Fold Single has a heat-resistant bamboo tabletop and an aluminium frame, which create a perfect kitchen working surface.
The shelved cupboard and side pockets give you plenty of useful storage space and the neat retractable utility rack can also store a basin for washing up. Although this is primarily a kitchen storage cupboard, you could easily use it in the lounge or bedroom instead.
Expect to pay...
About £160
A cool cooler box
Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler 47L
We recommend because...
The new Coleman Xtreme Wheeled 50QT Cooler is perfect for keeping large amounts of food and drink cool on the campsite, even when the weather hots up. Coleman is renowned for its coolboxes, and this passive cooler features a new look and modern shape and, with a capacity of 47 litres, we think it's a great choice for families.
Two sturdy wheels and a telescopic steel handle make it easy to transport over uneven ground and the thick injected polyurethane insulation means it will keep food and drinks cold for up to four days.
Expect to pay...
About £120
A gourmet cooking set
Vango Gourmet Cook Set
We recommend because...
We can't guarantee this will turn you into a gourmet-standard chef, but if you don't, it won't be for the lack of good equipment.
The Gourmet Cookset has two different-sized saucepans with lids and a large frying pan. The pans are all coated with non-stick material so are good to cook on and easy to clean. The whole set neatly packs into itself, which makes storage on the campsite and transport in the car much easier.
Expect to pay...
About £44
A handy cooking stove
Campingaz Camp'Bistro 2 Single Burner Stove
We recommend because...
For us, this is a camping classic. Our Editor has had a single-burner like this in his kit since the very first time he went camping a couple of decades ago. The Camp'Bistro is perfect for single-pot cooking, frying bacon or simply boiling the kettle for a brew, and it's just as useful for days at the beach as it is for weekend camping trips.
There are plenty of versions of it in the shops and online – but beware of cut-price imitations. The Campingaz name on the side gives a level of reassurance on safety and reliability. It packs into its own carry case, is simple to clean and has an automatic piezo ignition. This is a camping essential.
Expect to pay...
About £30
A chef's cooking stove
Campingaz Camping Chef Folding Double Burner Stove and Grill
We recommend because...
This twin-burner stove is just the thing for feeding the family on longer holidays. The Campingaz Camping Chef Folding Compact Stove lets you boil, fry and grill all at once. The multifunctional stove is ideal for whipping up a meal for the family on camping trips.
The piezo ignition and push/turn knobs make it easy to start and control and it all folds away into its own carry case. At around £45, it is a great- value camping cooker.
Expect to pay...
About £45
A durable dining set
Kampa Terracotta dining set
We recommend because...
Melamine camping tableware may not be the most exciting-sounding piece of camping equipment, but this new range from Kampa is certainly eye-catching and we think adds a touch of class to your campsite dinnertimes.
It looks for all the world like actual ceramic but has all the practical qualities of 100% melamine -so it's rugged, light, easy to clean on campsite and dishwasher safe, if you want to give it a zap when you get home. The 16-piece set includes four each of dinner plates, bowls, side plates and mugs.
Expect to pay...
About £38
The camping shop
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How we choose our recommendations
Nearly every product we recommend has been tried and tested, reviewed, handled and experienced by our very own Camping magazine Editor, Iain Duff. You can take our recommendations and be sure you are getting a quality piece of kit, that also represents superb value for money. We only recommend products we believe in, to help you choose the best value-for-money camping products that do their jobs really, really well.
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