How to Set Up the Perfect Camp Kitchen: Equipment Checklist for Outdoor Cooking

Cooking outdoors becomes far easier when your camp kitchen is organised around the right equipment. Instead of juggling multiple tools and unstable setups, a simple system built around reliable camping cooking equipment allows you to cook comfortably over an open flame. 

The key to creating a practical cooking area is to centre it around a dependable camping fire pit and durable outdoor cooking products that can handle real fire, heat and repeated use in outdoor environments.

A well-planned camp kitchen doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right approach and a few carefully chosen pieces of equipment, we hand make at TJM Metalworks, you can create a versatile cooking setup that works equally well on a campsite, in woodlands or even in your garden.

Step 1: Choose a Safe and Practical Cooking Spot

Before setting up your camping cooking equipment, take the time to select the right location for your camp kitchen. The area should be stable, relatively flat and clear of anything that could easily catch fire. A well-chosen spot makes the rest of your setup far easier to manage and ensures the fire remains safe and controlled throughout the cooking process.

Position your cooking area a short distance away from tents or seating areas to keep smoke and sparks away from where people are relaxing. At the same time, it should remain close enough to your campsite so that moving food and equipment back and forth is simple.

Once the location is chosen, the centrepiece of your outdoor kitchen can be set-up.

Step 2: Position Your Camping Fire Pit

The foundation of any reliable outdoor cooking setup is a properly designed camping fire pit. This is where the fire is built, the heat is controlled and the cooking process begins.

Our hand made camping fire pits are designed to be portable and compact so they can be used almost anywhere. Whether you are setting up a temporary camp kitchen in the countryside or preparing food during a weekend camping trip, the portability of our camping fire pits allows you to establish a stable cooking area quickly.

Our adaptable fire pits can be converted into BBQ cook stations by adding the additional fire anchor arms we make at our shop, allowing them to evolve alongside your outdoor cooking setup.

Step 3: Build a Controlled Cooking Fire

With the camping fire pit in place, the next step is building a fire suitable for cooking. Outdoor cooking relies on controlled heat rather than large flames, so the aim is to create a steady bed of embers.

Start with small pieces of dry kindling and gradually add larger pieces of wood as the fire develops. Once the fire is burning well, allow it to settle and produce glowing embers. These embers provide the most reliable heat source for traditional camping cooking equipment.

Step 4: Install a Traditional Hanging Grill

Once the fire is established, you can turn your camping fire pit into a practical cooking station by installing one of our hanging grills.

Our bespoke hanging grills are one of the most effective outdoor cooking products for real open-fire cooking. Hand-forged from solid steel, we’ve built them to handle intense heat, heavy cookware and years of outdoor use without compromise.

Suspended over the flames, the grill provides a stable cooking surface that works perfectly with natural fire. Whether used over a woodland campfire or above a garden fire pit, it delivers steady and controlled heat for cooking a wide range of meals.

The adjustable chain system is particularly useful when cooking outdoors. By raising or lowering the grill, you can easily control the temperature of the cooking surface. Lowering the grill closer to the embers creates high heat for searing meats, while lifting it higher provides a gentler heat for slower cooking.

This level of control makes a hanging grill one of the most valuable pieces of camping cooking equipment you can add to your outdoor kitchen. 

Step 5: Cook Over Natural Heat

Cooking over a camping fire pit brings a completely different experience compared to indoor cooking. The natural flame, wood smoke and steady heat create flavours and textures that cannot be replicated on a standard cooker.

Using our traditional camping cooking equipment, you can prepare a wide range of meals directly over the fire. The hanging grill provides a stable surface for cooking meats, vegetables and other dishes while allowing the fire to remain the natural heat source.

Because the grill height can be adjusted easily, heat control becomes straightforward. 

Instead of constantly adjusting the fire, you simply raise or lower the grill to suit the type of cooking you are doing. This method keeps outdoor cooking simple, reliable and enjoyable.

Step 6: Allow Equipment to Cool and Pack Down

Once you’re done cooking, allow the fire to burn down safely and ensure all your equipment cools completely before handling it. Proper care helps preserve the longevity of your camping cooking equipment and ensures it remains ready for future use.

Our high-quality outdoor cooking products, made from both solid and stainless steel, are designed to withstand regular exposure to fire and outdoor conditions. With basic maintenance and proper storage, they can continue performing reliably for years.

A well-designed camping fire pit and hanging grill are not just tools for a single trip. They become trusted pieces of equipment used across countless camping adventures, outdoor gatherings and evenings spent cooking over natural flame.

For more information about the outdoor cooking products we make, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.