Reviewing The 5 Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire & Guide

There are several excellent reasons why many of us keep heading back to the backcountry. We get to enjoy so many fun activities with one of the most exciting being open-fire cooking.

Open fire cooking allows us to create, share, and relive beautiful memories. Also, meals prepared over open fires tend to be tastier and healthier.

However, you will need to invest in camping cookware for open fire to get the best experience. This may be quite tricky if you don’t have an idea of what the best product is.

Fortunately, I’ll be reviewing the best camping cookware for open fire in this article. So, you should have a clear idea of the best camping cookware at the end.

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The 5 Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire

You will discover hundreds of products when you search for camping cookware online. The only problem is that many of these products weren’t built for open-fire cooking.

Here are the 5 best camping cookware for open fire available today:

Stansport Cast Iron 6 Piece Cookware Set

What’s in the Package?

The Stansport 6-piece iron cook set is a fantastic choice for cooking over an open fire. This cast iron cookware consists of all you will ever need for your outdoor cooking. In the package, you will find items such as a cast-iron skillet, fryer, and Dutch oven. Also, the items come with heavy lids to ensure that your food remains moist.

Additionally, this cook set will enable you to prepare all your favorite meals outdoors. You will find it useful whether you are making roasts, pastries, or cakes. What’s more, you won’t have to exhaust your time and energy in cleaning the cookware. This is because the surface was specially designed to be easy to clean.

Furthermore, the cookware can be used in temperatures as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also induction-ready. So, you can expect the product to serve you for several reasons.

The heat distribution capacity of the cookware will allow you to cook over an open fire with ease. Your food won’t get cold easily too. Also, the cookware has enough room for you to prepare your chicken, biscuits, and beans at the same time. Finally, there’s a hot handle holder and lid lifter for convenience and safety.

Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker

What’s in the Package?

If you need cookware for open fire, the Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker is an excellent option. The product consists of two pieces; a dutch oven and a skillet. Also, it is manufactured in the US and is known for its durability and functionality.

The cooking set comes from the manufacturer seasoned. Hence, you will be able to put it into use immediately. It is also versatile as it will enable you to prepare just about any meal in the wild.

You can be assured that it will do well over a campfire thanks to its durability. It is also suitable for all kinds of cooking activities including baking, frying, roasting, and more. For convenience, both pieces come with durable handles and holes for hanging.

Additionally, the quality of the material will help you cook with more efficiency. It enables the cookware to retain heat and cook food evenly. The product is designed to be very functional as the skillet can also serve as a lid. The fact that it is oven safe makes it an even better investment that you can use at home.

Odoland 16pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit

What’s in the Package?

This camping cookware is an excellent choice for people going on a camping trip with a friend and family. Unlike other mess kits, this product is very lightweight and portable. Hence, it is suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities including camping, hiking, and backpacking.

The kit consists of several useful items. Firstly, there is a small kettle with which you can boil water for your tea. It also includes two cups that are specially designed to keep your drinks got without hurting your hands. Other items in the kit include a pot, knife, serving spoon, carabiner, and a carrying bag.

For safety, the handles of the pot and pan are heat and slip-resistant. They are also collapsible for easy storage. If you have a backpack, you can clip the carry bag to it using the carabiner. This will allow you to carry other camping gear in your backpack.

Finally, the mess kit has become a favorite of several campers thanks to its lightweight, ease of use, and functionality.

Winterial Camping Cookware and Pot Set

What’s in the Package?

The Winterial Camping Cookware is another great cooking set for your camping trip. It features all the necessary items including a large pot and its lid, a frying pan, a kettle, bowls, a serving paddle, spatula, and sponge.

One of the best features of this product is how compact it is. The design of the set will enable you to arrange all items into one. You may then proceed to pack it in the carrying bag. A medium-sized backpack will be enough to transport the entire unit.

Additionally, each item is fabricated with aluminum oxide and Teflon coating to promote the even distribution of heat. The material is also capable of withstanding high temperatures. As for the handles, they provide a firm grip and do not accumulate heat.

Furthermore, the product’s non-stick coating will make it easy for you to clean it. Its excellent durability also makes it highly suitable for the wild.

Yodo Anodized Aluminum Camping Cookware Set

What’s in the Package?

It is never easy finding a set of high-quality camping cookware for open fire that comes at an average price. Fortunately, products like the Yodo Anodized Aluminum Camping Cookware Set exist. It features all the essentials including 3 different sizes of pots, a pan, bowls, a rice paddle, and a soup spoon. Each of these items is beautifully designed.

The camping cookware can serve up to 5 campers. So, it is the perfect option when camping with friends and family. Also, the product is much lighter than cast iron cooking sets thanks to its anodized aluminum material.

Additionally, the cookware absorbs and retains heat energy excellently. This will help you prepare your meals faster and more efficiently. Another advantage offered by the anodized aluminum material is that it makes the surfaces very easy to clean.

Furthermore, all handles are foldable so that the pieces can be stored and carried around in the mesh bag conveniently. The cook set can handle different cooking activities and is guaranteed to serve you for several years.

Our Top Choice

All products that have been reviewed so far are of very high quality. However, there can only be one winner. After checking out each cooking set, I had to select the Stansport Cast Iron 6 Piece Cookware as my top choice.

There are several good reasons that I’ve chosen this product as my best camping cookware for open fire. Not only can it be used to cook just about any food over an open fire, but it is also safe and distributes heat properly.

Additionally, the durable iron lid will ensure that your food remains moist while you cook. It also keeps food warm longer than any other cookware. Lastly, you will find it very easy to clean and it comes at a decent price.

How To Find The Best Camping Cookware For Open Fire

There are several excellent cookware for open fire that you can purchase. However, the main issue is finding the most suitable product for your unique camping needs. In this section, I’ll be explaining the essential factors that will help you find the perfect cookware for open-fire cooking.

Materials

The materials that are usually used in the production of camping cookware are cast iron, stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum. Now, let’s see which material has the most to offer:

Cast Iron

Cast iron has been used for open fire cooking for a very long time. The main reasons why the material has remained in use for so long are that it is very effective and long-lasting. Should you go ahead and buy cookware made of cast iron, there’s a good chance that you will pass it down to your grandkids. The material also has remarkable thermal features. Its heavy-duty nature helps it to radiate and retain heat excellently.

A cast-iron cooking set will be difficult to clean if it isn’t seasoned. During seasoning, a layer of oil is added to the surface of the material to fill the iron porosity. The purpose of this is to create a smooth and easy to clean surface. However, cast iron cookware is usually heavy. So, it’s not a good option for a backpacker traveling over a long distance.

Aluminium

An anodized aluminum cooking set is a good option for open-fire cooking. However, you should do your very best not to damage the anodized coating. You may buy an aluminum cooking set with a non-stick coating like Teflon. But I won’t recommend Teflon due to health reasons. You should also opt against any coating in which BPA can be found. You should pay attention to the manual that comes with anodized aluminum cookware. This will help you preserve the coating and prevent the food from sticking.

Aluminum is not as dense as other materials such as cast iron and stainless steel. It also scratches more easily than both materials. Aluminum gains and loses heat faster too. That said, aluminum cookware is an excellent choice for backpackers thanks to its lightweight.

Stainless Steel

Cookware made from stainless steel is lighter than cast iron but more strongly built than aluminum cookware. The material also possesses good thermal features and high density. Additionally, its durability makes it suitable for all the use and abuse that it will go through on your camping trip. Since the material is highly resistant to scratch, there’s very little chance of scratching stainless steel cookware.

On the downside, a stainless cooking set won’t be so easy to clean. This is because you won’t have the advantage of using a non-stick coating. This is also the major reason why I stay away from cooking utensils made from stainless steel in my home. I may use it for boiling water but nothing more.

Titanium

Titanium cookware is the most expensive option for your open fire cooking and it has some great features. It is the lightest material on the list while having identical thermal properties to aluminum. The incredible lightweight of titanium cookware makes it the best material for you if you are a backpacker.

Thanks to its lightweight, the material gains heat quickly and doesn’t stay hot for long. The material can also be damaged by excess heat. Hence, you should be very careful when using it over an open fire at high temperatures. Despite its lightweight, titanium is very durable and should last for several decades.

Weight

There are times when you will need lightweight cookware and there are times weight won’t matter. For example, the weight won’t matter if you are camping next to your vehicle. In such a situation, cast iron cookware will be a good choice. But if you will have to carry your cooking set over long distances, then you have to opt for a lighter option. Stainless steel is light, aluminum is lighter, and titanium is the lightest material.

Cost

Another factor you will have to consider is how much you are willing to spend on a cooking set. Just like other commodities, the quality of the cookware you purchase will greatly depend on its price. Cheaper cooking sets wear out faster because they are made of lesser quality materials. On the other hand, an expensive material like titanium will be more durable and resistant to damage. You should consider investing a little more in quality cookware as it will be a better investment over time.

Type of Camping

You need to consider the type of camping you do before investing in cookware. The right cookware for car camping is different from what would be ideal for backpacking. Go for a lightweight cooking set if you will be carrying your cookware over long distances.

Type of Food

What are the meals you would like to have on your camping trip? A dutch oven is ideal for baking and making stews. To make steaks and burgers, you will need to have a skillet. Your choice of camping cookware should depend on your favorite meals.

You may check out this article for some fantastic camp meal ideas.

Ease of Cleaning

Camping should be all about fun. You shouldn’t have to exhaust your time and energy in cleaning your camping cookware. As a result, you need to purchase camping cookware that is easy to clean. Properly seasoned cast iron pots and pans can be cleaned in a breeze. On the other hand, cleaning coatless stainless steel cookware will be a tough task.

Watch this video to learn how to clean a cast iron cookware:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1evHshw8zM

Non-Stick Coating

Several non-stick coatings contain either BPA or Teflon. Each of these materials is known to be harmful. Teflon also tends to have a shorter lifespan. You may read this article to learn about the dangers of non-stick coatings. That said, anodized aluminum is free of any of these toxic materials and has excellent non-stick properties. However, you need to use it carefully. Ceramic non-stick products are great options but they are more expensive.

Cast Iron Seasoning

Seasoning is done to fill the porosity of a cast-iron surface and coat it with oil. Well-seasoned cast-iron cookware will have a smooth, non-stick, and rust-resistant surface. Though some cast iron cooking sets are seasoned during production, it is always a good idea to add more. The seasoning on cast iron pans accumulates based on how frequently oils and grease are cooked in them.

You can get more information on cast iron seasoning here.

Frequently Asked Questions