13 Tools You Need for Campfire Cooking

We enjoy cooking over a campfire when our family goes camping. Because the campfire serves as a gathering spot throughout the day, it’s only natural that we prepare meals over it. If you want to give it a shot, make sure you have the proper campfire cooking equipment.

Cooking over an open fire with the family is a memorable experience. Kids and adults alike enjoy cooking dinner over an open fire, followed by scrumptious s’mores or campfire cones — the finest! Everything you’ll need to create a nice supper over a campfire is listed below.

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What You’ll Need for Cooking Over a Campfire

Matches or a Lighter

Although this may seem like a no-brainer, you’d be amazed how many times we’ve forgotten a lighter or matches when cooking over a campfire. So bring some with you at all times; honestly, I recommend both since being prepared is prudent.

Cooler

You’ll need a cooler for all perishable things unless you’re surviving on cereal and ramen. We always bring at least one cooler with us when we go camping, filled with hot dogs, lunch meat, and other foods that our family enjoys. Don’t forget that you can’t have bacon, eggs, cheese, or cold beer without a cooler.

Heavy Duty Over-The-Fire Camp Grill Grate

If you’re at a campground, most will supply a grill grate so you can cook over the fire, but double-check before assuming. If they don’t, you’ll need to get one if you want to try campfire cooking while basic camping or in your own garden.

If you want to utilise a pan or skillet, you’ll need somewhere to put your dutch oven, even if you have a spit or a tripod to hang it from. A campfire grate provides a surface on which to cook food over an open fire.

There are numerous grill grates to choose from. Some include folding legs, which is ideal if you plan on hiking to your camping spot. Some feature many grates so you can cook multiple things at simultaneously.

Adjustable Camping Rotisserie Grill & Spit

Apart from hot dogs and hamburgers, I believe that roasting over an open fire is the best method of cooking over a campfire. You can roast some chickens for dinner while your family swims in the creek. That’s why I consider a rotisserie grill and spit to be one of the best tools for cooking over an open fire.

A rotisserie grill and spit is multifunctional, and it eliminates the need for a single barbecue grate, as I previously indicated. Instead, they have a grate with a spit above it, allowing you to roast poultry and grill burgers at the same time. The height of the grates can be adjusted.

Outdoor Campfire Poker or Log Grabber

To keep your fire going, you’ll need to add wood, so be sure you have the equipment to do so. A campfire poker is the most typical alternative, as it allows you to adjust the location of the logs by “poking” them, but a log grabber is also an option.

Log grabbers are ideal since they allow you to pick up and adjust logs without burning your hands. It’s a lot easier to put the logs exactly where you want them to cook your food this way.

Tall Tripod 

A tripod is another essential gear for campfire cooking. They come in a variety of sizes and adjustability, but they’re the finest option for cooking without a grate over an open fire. The legs span the fire pit, allowing you to suspend a Dutch oven above it.

It takes some practice to cook with a tripod and a Dutch oven. You’re standing near a fire, and it’s going to move. It can be daunting at first, but getting used to it takes time. The flexibility to raise or lower the chain to reduce heat is appealing to me.

Cast Iron Pan

A large cast-iron skillet is required for cooking over an open fire. If you have more than one or two persons in your group, small sizes will not work. Large skillets or pots are essential; skillets are my preference.

Hot dogs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, and a variety of other foods are cooked in a large skillet. The only drawback is that some of them will fill your entire fire grate. So, if you’re going big, make sure it’s large enough to feed your entire family.

Dutche Oven

Iron (cast) The most common type of campfire cookware is the Dutch oven. I’m not sure how you’d cook a variety of things without one. In my opinion, a six-quart pot is an optimum size for cooking both little and large meals without being too enormous.

What is the purpose of a dutch oven?

Allow me to count the ways. Toss some potatoes in it to make fried potatoes, or use it to simmer down some soup. Use it to boil corn on the cob or bake a cake over an open fire — it really does work.

Cast Iron Reversible Grill and Griddle 

When it comes to campfire cooking, I believe a reversible grill and griddle is a must-have. They’re adaptable; you’ll find ways to use them throughout the day.

You can make substantial breakfasts like pancakes and eggs on the griddle, and steaks, burgers, and BBQ chicken on the grill. We have one that we use at home on the stove and also bring with us when we go camping. It sees a lot of action around here.

Stainless Steel Locking Tongs 

When you’re cooking over an open fire, don’t forget to use tongs! Locking tongs keep you a safe distance from the flames so your hands don’t get burned, and they grasp food effectively. You’re not going to throw your steaks or hot dogs into the fire.

Stainless Steel Wire Grill Brush

Cleaning your campfire grill and grates, just like cleaning your cooking equipment, is a requirement. Make certain you have a wire grill brush on hand. These are inexpensive yet effective utensils for cooking over an open fire. A wire grill brush is used to clean the grates of old food and grease.

Grill Cooking Utensils 

A set of campfire cooking utensils is required; I like ones that come with a storage kit so that I don’t lose any parts. A grilling kit usually includes a variety of utensils, such as:

Spatulas
Tongs
Corn holders
Skewers
Cleaning brushes
Digital thermometer 

Of course, there are a variety of utensils in various sets. Find one that works for you, but spatulas, tongs, a thermometer, and cleaning brushes should all be included.

Kettle

You don’t have to give up hot tea or coffee just because you’re camping. An enamel tea kettle comes in handy in this situation.

You’ll want a tea kettle that you can hang from your campfire tripod or spit, and some that you can lay right on the bonfire grate. Tea kettles can be used to make coffee (instant), tea, dried meals, and to boil water for cooking.

Cooking Outside

Expect some charred dishes when cooking over an open fire, but with patience and practice, you’ll be able to prepare great meals that your family will enjoy outside of the kitchen.

You might need to cook outside if there is a food shortage and you’re in a survival situation, or simply because you are out camping with your family. The good news is, that many of these items listed you probably already have! Just make sure you have everything you need before you go off on your adventure in the woods. Don’t forget your other survival tools such as a knife and a multitool and an axe. Sharpen up on your axe sharpening skills and don’t forget your flashlight too!