Overlanding and exploring the backcountry takes a lot of energy. In my experience it can leave you very hungry once as you hit camp. For that reason, it is important to have an overland kitchen setup that works for you.
Check out the below overland cooking gear for your next adventure.
Portable Stove
The simplest overland kitchen set up is a portable propane stove. You can get a single or double burner stove depending on your cooking style. This simple setup allows you to pan fry food and make all sorts of tasty meals. If you prefer bringing dry backpacking food, you can boil water using a single burner. It is also a solid set up for morning coffee, which is a must on my adventures.
I use the Coleman Stove which works great for my situation and allows me to cook all sorts of meals.
If you are looking for a more compact option, you can use single burner portable stoves. For a smaller backpacking size stove check out the Texsport Single Burner Stove.
Portable Grill
Nothing beats a barbecue, especially a barbecue in the great outdoors. A portable grill is a great option for any overlander. You can get a simple charcoal grill or a propane grill with all the bells and whistles.
For the charcoal setup all you need is the grill and a bag of charcoal which can be purchased at most grocery stores. You simply load in the charcoal and then light it. Now you have a usable grill ready for use. Make sure to properly dispose of the coals and never leave hot coals unattended.
Check out the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill.
For a more advanced setup you can bring a portable propane grill. For this set up you will need the grill and a tank of propane. I recommend the Coleman Gas Standup Grill
Over-the-Fire Cooking
Maybe you prefer cooking over the fire. Cooking over the fire adds a delicious woodfire taste to it. If you usually have a fire at camp than this is a great option.
A cooking grate can turn your campfire into a barbeque in seconds. You first get the fire started and then place the grate over the fire. Cook your food and enjoy a delicious fire cooked meal.
Some fire pits have grates attached to them but if not, there are many cheap portable options to purchase. Check out the Redcamp Folding Campfire Grill.
You can also cook with a cast iron pot or cast iron pan over the fire. One option would be to directly place the cast iron on the coals and cook.
When cooking directly over the fire it is best not to cook with hot flames that will overcook your meal. It is better to use small flames or even coals to get a nice controllable temperature.
Another option is to use an over the fire tripod. An over the fire tripod can attach a hanging Dutch oven, pot, or grate, and keeps your food high enough to not overcook over high flames. Check out the Campfire Tripod.
Skottle
The skottle mimics a Mongolian grill. Originally used in South Africa by farmers, skottles have gained prominence in the off-road community. Although pricy they can work well for some overlanders.
Portable and made to cook like a flat top grill. Usually, they attach to a propane tank which heads a flame below the hot surface. You can control the flame with a knob and cook large amounts of food on the large surface. This is ideal for large groups of campers.
Check out the TemboTusk Skottle Grill Kit if you are interested.
To learn about how to store your food on overland trips read our article Overland Food Storage.
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1 comment
Nice, concise, and to-the-point! Great article!