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!
The best part of camping, in my opinion, is cooking over a live fire. As a professional chef, my top priority when it comes to camping is enjoying the outdoors and cooking over a real wood-burning fire – something I can't do in a regular kitchen!
I know that not everyone is going to be as passionate about campfire cooking as I am, and some of you are more adventurous, needing to pack light for backpacking trips. So, this article is more geared towards my kind of camping - car camping.
For those who don't have access to a fire pit or are dealing with burn restrictions, a portable barbecue or camp stove is a must. We don’t own one but borrowed a friend's camp stove once because of the local burn restrictions, and while it worked, the experience just wasn't the same.
Camp stoves can also be useful for boiling water for coffee, but luckily, my husband loves starting a fire, even first thing in the morning to get our water boiling. So you won’t find any outdoor cooking appliances on this list.
As long as you have access to a fire pit, I believe anything and everything you want to cook can be done over a wood-burning fire. The smoky flavor is truly special and worth the effort.
To make the most of open-fire cooking though, you’ll need the right equipment. Read on to find out the campfire cooking tools I can’t live without.
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 are the same as ours, made from wrought iron steel, and have over 3,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 stars.
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, heat resistant, and has a textured silicone pattern. Just keep in mind it doesn’t come in a pair, so you’ll need to buy two if you want one for both hands.
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
We originally bought our camp forks from Amazon, although I’m not sure of the exact brand since it was a long time ago. These look exactly the same, come in different pack sizes, and include a handy zippered pouch to keep them organized.
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 come in a 12” or 16” size, although I recommend the 16” - especially for grilling over an open fire. They’re sturdy, feature a non-slip grip (a feature that mine do not), and have over 12,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.8 stars.
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 specifically use a cast-iron grill pan because we don’t eat a lot of eggs or breakfast while camping (I know - we’re weird), and it handles everything else perfectly.
This piece of cookware serendipitously became part of our collection when it was left at our campsite by the previous campers (a very lucky find!). After cleaning it up, we gave it a shot and ended up loving it.
I initially wondered why we would need a grill pan with an open-fire grill available. But 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, Canadian Tire might carry the Woods brand electric bellows we use - otherwise, this Zippo version is the closest alternative I found. It works similarly with a button that needs to be continuously pressed. The main difference is that it operates in 1-minute bursts and requires two AA batteries (not included, so remember to purchase 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. Pictured above is the same model I have but the photo is sourced from Delter’s Instagram page since I don’t have a photo of mine yet. I’ll be adding one as soon as we’re back from our travels.
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 rubber 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.
This is 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 tools, you should be well-equipped for a stress-free and enjoyable campfire cooking experience.
Remember, investing in high-quality gear can make all the difference. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows or cooking up a gourmet campfire feast, having the right tools 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!
