The 10 Essential Campfire Cooking Tools I Can’t Live Without
Cooking over a campfire can be overwhelming without the right tools. These open-fire cooking essentials are perfect for a stress-free trip.
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Time to Light the Fire!
Cooking over a live fire is easily the best part of camping (at least for me!). As a professional chef, there’s nothing like stepping outside the regular kitchen and cooking over a real wood-burning fire.
But first, you’ll need the best open fire cooking equipment to truly enjoy the experience. Here’s what went into how I chose mine:
Car Camping Focus
This article is all about car camping, where you can bring more campfire cooking gear without worrying so much about space.
If you’re backpacking, you’ll need to pack much lighter, so some of this might not apply.
What About Burn Restrictions?
If fire pits are off-limits, a portable barbecue or camp stove makes a great backup. That said, you won’t see a camp stove on my list—I don’t own one and would rather skip camping altogether if there are burn restrictions.
I did borrow a camp stove once during a burn ban. While it worked fine, it just didn’t compare to the experience of cooking over a live fire.
Some campers like having a camp stove on hand for tasks like boiling water, but my husband is more than happy to get a fire going—even early in the morning—to brew our coffee the traditional way.
Cooking with Wood-Burning Firepits with Grates
A fire pit with a cooking grate opens up endless possibilities—you can cook almost anything! During our camping trips across Canada and the US, we’ve found that most state and provincial parks provide fire pits with built-in grates, making it easy to get cooking right away.
If you’re heading into the backcountry, though, you’ll need to bring a fire pit tripod or other fire pit cooking equipment to make cooking over your campfire possible.
In this Article
If you’re looking for some recipes to cook over your wood burning fire, be sure to check out my campfire cooking recipes next. Now let’s dive in!
Top 10 Tools for Campfire Cooking
1. Fire Tongs
Making adjustments to the fire while you’re cooking is essential, whether you need to add another log or restructure the fire to adjust the temperature.
These scissor-like steel fire tongs are slim, saving space, yet strong and durable enough to handle just about any sized log.
Before using these, I used to adjust my fire with random sticks I found at the campsite. I don’t know why I chose to suffer for so long, but these fire tongs are life-changing.
Now, building better fires for cooking is a breeze, and you’ll never want to go back.
My Product Recommendation
AMAGABELI GARDEN & HOME 26" Firewood Tongs
These fire tongs, made from durable wrought iron steel, are designed to give you a solid grip on even the heaviest logs without the risk of burns. With over 3,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.6 stars, these tongs help you handle your campfire with ease and safety.
2. Pit Mitts
Good hand-protective gloves are another invaluable tool for campfire cooking.
These pit mitts can withstand temperatures of up to 475°F and have long cuffs to protect your wrists and lower arms. They are interchangeable, fitting both left and right hands, so it doesn’t matter which is which.
They also feature a silicone-textured pattern for a great grip and extra protection.
Whether you’re moving pots, adding logs to the fire, or turning steaks, these mitts come in handy every time.
My Product Recommendation
Charcoal Companion Pit Mitt - BBQ Grill Glove
This is a very similar product - It’s reversible with a textured silicone pattern for a firm grip on hot items. Just a heads-up, it only comes as a single mitt, so you’ll need to buy two if you want one for each hand. Perfect for handling your grill or campfire without the risk of burns!
3. Telescoping Camp Forks
These versatile tools do more than just roast marshmallows and hotdogs.
Try fire-roasted fruit like apple or pineapple, or makeshift skewers of peppers, onions, and zucchini from a local farm stand.
These forks have telescoping handles that extend for ease of use and pack up small. With their multipurpose applications, they are a must-have tool for campfire cooking.
My Product Recommendation
MalloMe Smores Sticks for Fire Pit 8-pack
These smores sticks are just like the ones we use, with a sturdy design and a handy zippered pouch to keep them neatly organized. Available in different pack sizes, they’re perfect for roasting marshmallows without the hassle—so you can focus on enjoying your campfire, not searching for your tools.
4. Sturdy Locking Grill Tongs
These grill tongs are my absolute favorite. Even though I have multiple pairs, I always reach for these.
They lock in the shut position, which saves space - a feature I'm obsessed with! Slim and comfortable to hold, they allow you to turn food with precision.
Unlike many similar tongs, they’re sturdy enough for the ends to meet in perfect alignment for years to come.
They’re not too stiff which makes them gentle on the hands, and their length is great to protect from the fire's heat.
Essentially an extension of your hand, investing in a quality pair like these is worthwhile - they'll last for years.
My Product Recommendation
OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs
These locking grill tongs offer a non-slip grip for better control, and the 16” size is perfect for safely reaching into the fire. With over 12,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.8 stars, these tongs are built to last, making your grilling experience safer and easier.
5. Grill Basket
I've replaced my traditional grill grate with this stainless steel grill basket to cook just about anything over the fire, even steaks.
Its tapered edges and circular slots prevent anything from rolling or falling through the grates, making it great for cooking small or round items like Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, or sausages.
The one pictured above is perfect for two, but there are larger models available for families. The basket is easy to clean, durable, and can withstand high temperatures.
Convenient handles on the sides help to maneuver towards, away from, or off the heat, giving you ultimate control during campfire cooking.
My Product Recommendation
Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
While I found some baskets that look more like mine, I can’t recommend them as too many reviews complain about warping and corners coming apart. However, Weber is a reliable brand and we’ve used many of their products. This grill basket is very similar to the one we originally purchased from Canadian Tire but features linear slots rather than round ones and comes in two sizes - small or large.
6. Cast-Iron Skillet
A cast-iron skillet is essential for cooking foods that can’t be grilled directly over the fire, like eggs, bacon, or steak with a nice fat cap, without the flare-ups you’d get from cooking directly on the flames.
I use a cast-iron grill pan since we don’t cook many eggs while camping (I know - we’re weird), and it handles everything else beautifully. We lucked out when we found this one left behind by other campers—after cleaning it up, we’ve loved using it ever since.
The raised ridges of the grill pan mean your food stays above the fat or moisture in the pan, so it cooks everything evenly and still gets those perfect char marks. Plus, it’s great for toasting bread, making grilled cheese sandwiches, blistering tomatoes, and much more!
My Product Recommendation
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Chef Collection Square Grill Pan
I particularly like the square shape of this pan, which efficiently utilizes space compared to our round one. The large handles will also make maneuvering it over the fire much easier. We own a couple of Lodge pans and love their quality and budget-friendliness.
7. Small Pot
I only have one pot for campfire cooking, and this little guy is the perfect size for my husband and me.
It also doubles as a kettle to boil water for coffee, which is its primary use. Occasionally, I use it to cook pasta, boil potatoes, or make polenta as well.
I like the clear lid, which allows me to keep an eye on what’s cooking inside.
For larger groups or families, a bigger pot would be necessary, but having at least one multipurpose pot is essential for any camping trip.
My Product Recommendation
NutriChef 3 Qt Stainless Steel Pot with See-Through Lid
This pot is very similar in size and shape to mine, featuring a clear see-through lid. It’s available in various sizes, so you can choose the one that best suits your family's needs. Made of stainless steel, it can withstand temperatures up to 500°F, making it perfect for campfire cooking.
8. Electric Bellows
I absolutely love this little gadget, it gets a fire blazing hot in no time. No more manual blowing or fanning flames - this electric bellows is a game-changer!
When you need to quickly boost a dying fire, especially in the middle of cooking dinner, these electric bellows come in handy every time.
The only downside is that you can't switch it on and off - you have to continuously hold down the button. To solve this, we use a rubber band to keep the button pressed while we set it down a few feet away from the fire, allowing us to prep other things in the meantime.
Powered by three AAA batteries, this compact tool will quickly become your new best friend for stoking fires efficiently.
My Product Recommendation
Zippo Firefast Bellows
If you're in Canada, you might find the Woods brand electric bellows we use at Canadian Tire, but this Zippo version is the closest alternative. It works similarly with a button that needs continuous pressing, so I recommend using a rubber band to make it more convenient. The Zippo model operates in 1-minute bursts and requires two AA batteries (not included), so don’t forget to grab those!
9. Essential Smallwares
There are a few essential smallwares that I always have on hand for prepping, cooking, and storing food. These items may seem basic, but they're incredibly useful:
Here are my favorites and what I use them for:
Aluminum foil - seems obvious but it’s not just for wrapping or covering food. I use it as a clean surface to season meats or as an easy-to-dispose-of eating surface.
Disposable gloves - a must-have for cooking without running water. I always wear them when handling messy tasks like working with raw meat or peeling charred husks off grilled corn.
Kitchen scissors - invaluable for opening wood bags or other packaging, as well as prepping or portioning food. I use them to cut broccoli into florets, dice cooked meats like chicken or sausage, snip chives, cube cheese, or slice pizza and quesadillas.
Small plastic cutting board and sharp knife - essential for tasks that scissors can't handle, like slicing onions or resting and cutting steak.
Zip-top bags and locking storage containers - zip-top bags are perfect for storing leftovers or portioning snacks like precut veggies or mixed nuts. Locking storage containers are great for liquids because they don’t leak and prevent melted ice from your cooler leaking in.
My Product Recommendations
Wusthof Classic 6-inch Sandwich Knife
This is the exact knife we use for camping. It’s the perfect size for various tasks, lightweight yet sturdy with a high-carbon steel blade that stays sharp for a long time. I trust this brand and have used their knives since my very first knife kit for chef school.
J.A. Henckels Twin L Kitchen Shears
Aside from the color, these are the same brand and type of kitchen shears we use. They’re known for their sharpness & comfort and come in two sizes. Although some reviewers mention rust issues, we’ve never experienced this. I recommend hand washing to maintain sharpness and possibly avoid the rust issue.
10. Coffee Press
Another tool I absolutely love for camping and can’t live without is my Delter coffee press. Check out my Delter Coffee Press: Review and Guide to Brew & Clean article for a more in-depth look at this coffee press.
This slim, simple-to-use press allows you to push hot water through coffee grounds and a filter directly into your cup, making a delicious brew anywhere you can boil water.
The only downside is it only makes 2 cups at a time, which is perfect for us but might not be enough for larger groups.
I should also mention that I’ve heard the Aeropress works similarly and is quite popular, but I haven’t had the chance to try it out yet.
My Product Recommendations
Delter Coffee Press
This is our preferred coffee press for camping - easy to clean, portable, and makes 2 cups of coffee at a time.
AeroPress Original Coffee and Espresso-style Maker
Although we haven’t tried this brand, it's highly rated with over 20,000 reviews averaging 4.7 stars on Amazon. It's available in two sizes: the original makes one cup at a time and is similar in price to the Delter, while the XL version makes two cups but is almost twice the price.
Honorable Mentions
There are a couple more items I wanted to highlight but didn’t quite make the top 10 because, technically, I can live without them.
11. Spatulas
While not essential, spatulas are pretty handy if you have the space. I always keep a fish spatula for flipping burgers and a couple of small silicone spatulas for scraping out containers or stirring pots.
My Product Recommendation
Winco Medium Stainless Steel Fish Spatula
This stainless steel fish spatula has been my favorite for years without any issues. It’s super affordable yet doesn’t compromise on quality. Made with durable stainless steel and a wooden handle (which won’t melt like plastic versions), it’s a reliable tool for any campfire cooking setup.
12. Metal Wine Tumblers
If you enjoy relaxing by the fire with a glass of red wine like I do, having a safer and more elegant option than glass or plastic cups is nice. Currently, we use the 10-ounce Hydroflask wine tumbler. It's insulated, has a bowl-like shape, and comes with an insulated lid, allowing you to keep your wine at the perfect temperature while avoiding spills. These tumblers come with us on every trip, not just camping, because they’re so useful.
My Product Recommendation
Hydro Flask 10 oz. Wine Tumbler - Vacuum Insulated Travel Wine Glass
These tumblers are very similar to ours but are an updated and improved model. They feature a ceramic internal coating and a closeable lid - unlike our stainless steel interior with a non-closing lid. Available in various colors, they are also dishwasher safe.
Top Tips for Cooking Over a Campfire
How to clean your campfire cast-iron skillet
Pour a little water into the hot skillet over the fire, scrape with a wooden utensil to remove burnt bits, then discard the water. Allow it to cool, wipe thoroughly, and apply a thin layer of oil to prevent rust. Use a small amount of soap for extra dirty or greasy pans.
Use disinfectant wipes - handy for cleaning hands and utensils without water. I like to wipe down reusable cutlery, grill tongs, and camp forks after a meal while still sitting at the picnic table.
Opt for paper! - reduce waste with paper plates, cups, and disposable wooden cutlery, all easily burnable in the fire along with any food scraps.
Make a camping box - keep camping essentials in one or two storage bins year-round, including campfire cooking tools and paper products, for quick and organized packing. The box can also double as a handy side table.
Invest in quality - quality tools like cast-iron and durable locking tongs are worth the investment for their longevity and reliability.
How to manage the heat of a campfire for cooking -
Start with a stable base of dry firewood for even burning.
Control airflow using vents or by adjusting logs to regulate heat intensity.
Use different zones around the fire for varied cooking temperatures. Place longer-cooking items further away and add quicker-cooking items closer to the fire towards the end of cooking.
Maintain a steady fuel supply, and let the fire burn to embers for consistent heat.
That’s me cooking a duck breast using the grill pan, tongs, and pitt mitts. You can also see my camping box, aluminum foil, and insulated wine tumbler in the background.
That’s it - happy campfire cooking!
With these essential tips and campfire cooking tools, you should be well-equipped for a stress-free and enjoyable campfire cooking experience.
Remember, investing in high-quality open fire cooking tools can make all the difference. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows or cooking up a gourmet campfire feast, having the right campfire essentials and knowing how to manage your fire will lead to delicious results every time.
What are some of your favorite campfire tools? Let me know if I missed a tool you can’t live without in the comments below!
