Making and preparing food is an important part of any extended off-road trip. Conveniently storing your camping kitchen is a great skill to have when it comes to streamlining your meal process out on the trail. It is important to factor in how many meals you plan on preparing, how long your trip will be, and what is readily available at your campsite. Remember, when it comes to extended trips you need the necessities not luxuries.
Necessities
- Storage box (a medium tote usually holds all your kitchen needs)
- Tarp (incase you need to cover your grill/fire from the elements)
- Travel utensils (bring ONLY as many knives, forks and spoons as you will need)
- Travel stove (foldable is best)
- Pot (small to medium size without a long handle)
- Fry pan (small to medium)
- Hot pads (2-3 is all you need)
- Camp cups (ones that hold both cold and hot liquids are ideal)
- Camping dishes (unbreakable)
- Cleaning supplies (small container of dish soap, sponge, and dish towel)
- Matches/lighter
- Knives (2, one serrated one normal edge)
- Other utensils (spatula, ladle, etc.)
Assembly
When you pack your kitchen on the go, you want all of your items to fit like Tetris blocks. You don’t need to be too worried about access since you will use these items at almost every meal you prepare on the go.
Place small items together in baggies. Cleaning supplies can go in one baggie and matches/lighter and lighter fluid (if needed) can go in another. This will also help prevent a mess if one of your supplies busts!
Charlene Tip: For extra organization and convenience, put each person’s name on a baggie and put their cup, utensils, and plates in it! Everyone gets to use their own stuff and is responsible for keeping their dishes clean!
Packing
Step 1: Fold the tarp and place it as your bottom layer in the container, then place your camp stove, pot and pan on top.
Step 2: Place hot pads over the pot and pan to give some padding. Add your dishes (or place setting baggies) on top of this. Wrap your knives and other utensils in your dish towel/remaining hot pads for additional protection and add to your storage container.
Step 3: Add in your baggies for cleaning supplies and fire making. This is also where you can add in paper towels, trash bags, and other supplies you might need.
Bonus: If you still have extra space in your kitchen in a box, add in your dry food goods like uncooked pastas, bread, canned items, etc..
What Next
Look at your current on-the-go kitchen situation. What do you have? What do you need to add? Consider taking inventory of your supplies so that you always know what you need, and reorganize your supply box for maximum efficiency.
Now you have a kitchen ready to go with you on your next off-road adventure. Like the other supplies you pack, be sure to tie down your kitchen on the go so that the bumps and jumps of the trail doesn’t knock it over!
For more ideas be sure to follow our Pinterest Board: Off-Road Life Hacks
Author: Shelby Benson
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