Seasoned campers know all too well the importance of having the right tools, cooking equipment, spices, work space, and everything else that is needed to be a successful camp cook.  When you are in the middle of preparing a meal and out in the middle of nowhere, it isn't a good time to realize that you should have brought certain items along to make the job easier.  Just think about all of the things you use at home when cooking.  It's no different in the woods, except for one thing….your kitchen cupboard could be a hundred miles away, and the nearest store might be too far to be worth the trip. Being prepared ahead of time takes the hassle out of camp cooking and ensures that everyone will enjoy great meals.

The first thing you should do is put together a "Chuck Box" (also known as a grub box or patrol box) where you store all of your camp kitchen equipment.  The only requirement for a chuck box is that it contains the items you need for your camp kitchen.  This saves you from scrounging around your home kitchen for place settings, cooking and eating utensils, spices, and everything else you'll need every time you want to go camping.  In the strictest sense a sturdy cardboard box could be used as a chuck box.  However, since cardboard is not water or rodent proof you are well advised to use inexpensive plastic containers that seal and are easy to stack. 

If you do much camping, you soon learn that it's not enough just to have the small things.  You also need work surfaces for cooking, cleaning and food preparation.  Camping table space is at a premium when you are doing outdoor cooking so some hard-core campers prefer to build a chuck box from wood that can provide an actual portable kitchen with many features found in the home kitchen including work surfaces. 

What all this really means is that once you have a well outfitted chuck box, whether it is a simple box full of utensils, spices, & other necessities, or a more elaborate design, your once lengthy camping checklist turns into only a few items with the chuck box being one of those items.  Now the hassle of getting ready to go camping is gone forever and you won't forget the key items because they are always in your grub box just waiting for your next adventure. 

When preparing your camp kitchen, there are many things you'll want to include.  As you become more familiar with cooking in camp, you'll be able to adjust your gear to your personal needs.  At first, you'll probably take along things that you'll never use, and forget things you wish you would have brought along.  Have a pen and paper handy to jot down the items you don't use and those items you needed, and make your adjustments accordingly.  Following is a checklist of items that most camp chefs will nearly always need:

Lighter or Matches
Campfire Kindling
Long Tongs for Hot Charcoal
Lid Hook/Lifter
Wisk Broom
Oven Mitts
Hot Coal/Ash Shovel
Hot Coal/Ash Bucket (fire proof)
Cookware (Pots, Pans, Pie Irons, Dutch Oven, etc.)
Wooden Stirring Paddles
Long Handled Solid Spoon
Long Handled Slotted Spoon
Long Handled Meat Fork
Long Tongs
Ladle
Long Handled Spatula
Wire Whip
Meat Thermometer
Can Opener (Manual, Not Electric!)
Vegetable Peeler
Paring Knife
Large Butcher Knife
Basting Brush
Cutting Board
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons
Aluminum Foil
Metal or plastic mixing bowls
Coffee Pot or Kettle
Plastic Dutch Oven Scraper
Paper Towels
Vegetable Oil
Dish Pan
Dish Detergent
Dish Rag
Nylon Scrubbing Pads
Dish Towels
Garbage Bags
Wash Basin
Fresh Water Container
Hand Soap
Wash Rag
Hand Towels
Fresh Water Container
Tableware
Plates
Bowls
Cups or Glasses
Eating Utensils
Table Cloth
Napkins

Tags: camp kitchen, camping equipment