How Camping Cookware Works

At the very least, your high adventure cooking kit needs a pot with a lid. If you can boil water, you can make coffee and instant oatmeal, reconstitute dehydrated meals, cook pasta and rice, and sterilize your eating utensils. A fry pan gives you the option to cook bacon, eggs and other fresh foods. In a Dutch oven, you can fry bacon, whip up a batch of beans, bake bread and pies, and slow-cook stew in a cooking pit.

Several manufacturers make camping cookware sets built specifically to meet the needs of different groups, from single hikers to a family of six. Many of these include a lid that fits two pots or doubles as a plate, fry pan, strainer or cutting board. Some include dishes and utensils. Sets like these often nest together like Russian dolls that open to reveal ever smaller dolls inside.

You can also opt for all-in-one cooking systems that integrate cookware with a heat source. Jetboil systems, for example, are lightweight, highly portable water boiling kits engineered for fast heating and fuel efficiency. The boiling pot attaches to an ultralight stove that connects to a miniature fuel canister. It has a push-button, no-match lighting mechanism and comes in different sizes to accommodate individual or group needs. These types of integrated systems work well in cold weather and at high altitude [source: Men's Journal].

For heavier cooking, the Safari Chef Grill, manufactured by Cadac SA, is a stove, fuel source and cookware in one foldable, portable package. The propane-powered grill includes a wire grate and a reversible grill insert, with one ridged and one flat surface. The dome doubles as a pot [source: Johnson]. Coleman offers a similar set-up, but the clamshell lid on the "Fold N Go Grill" doesn't double as a pot, and the griddle and stove grate are sold separately [source: Hostetter].

The metal used in your camping cookware affects more than the weight. Read on for some comparisons on the next page.

Camping equipment manufacturers make camping cookware in aluminum, stainless steel, titanium and cast iron. There's a relationship between cookware weight and cooking results. Heavier cookware yields faster, more even cooking. Cast iron offers the best heat distribution and versatility, but it's very heavy, so it's best for base camp or car camping. You'll need to make a trade-off if you, your kayak or your horse will pack the cookware to your outdoor adventure destination.

Plain aluminum is the lightest and cheapest material. You can pick up a scout-style mess kit for less than $10. If you're a budget backpacker whose culinary aspirations stop at boiling water for summer backcountry meals, plain aluminum is your pick. Foods with more body than broth, however, will stick to unmodified aluminum and stainless steel. They'll also suffer from uneven heating, and the shiny material doesn't retain heat as well as darkened cookware does. But there are some good upgrades on both materials that make them more user-friendly without breaking the bank:

Corrosion-resistant titanium is light like aluminum, strong like stainless steel, and sticky like both of them. It's also expensive, however. Non-stick coatings are available on all of these except cast iron. Because it's a bit delicate, you'll need to handle this type of cookware carefully to avoid scratching the non-stick surfaces.

Learn about camping stoves, fuel sources and using your camping cookware on the next page.

Camp cooking devices vary depending on your activity and campsite. A multi-burner camp stove is preferable for base camp, where groups share meals. Rugged terrain adventurists need something lightweight and portable. Several adventure sport equipment manufacturers offer palm-sized stoves. Weighing around 3 ounces (85 grams), they consist of three moveable pot supports attached to a small burner that screws into a miniature fuel canister.

Camping stoves use different types of fuel, each with advantages and drawbacks:

You can't take cooking fuel on an airplane, so if the first leg of your outdoor adventure includes a flight, call ahead to make sure the fuel you need is available.

When you're ready to cook, think in terms of heat and fuel conservation and low environmental impact. Prepare only as much food as you can eat, and fill your pot before you light the burner. If your stove comes equipped with a temperature or flame control mechanism, use it. Whenever possible, keep your cooking pot covered. The lid traps heat and redirects it to your food. To keep dehydrated or freeze-dried food hot while it soaks, put it into a covered, insulated travel mug, or cover the pot with a cozy after you take it off of the heat source.

At the end of every meal, dirty dishes tend to linger. Learn how to clean and store your camping cookware on the next page.

No matter how far from civilization your outdoor adventure takes you, somebody's got to do the dishes. In the wild, washing up sometimes requires creativity. If it's possible and practical to wash your cookware with soap and water, warm the water in your cooking pot and use biodegradable soap. Allow as few food particles as possible into the wash water. When you're done, strain food particles out of the water and carry it well away from your campsite and any water sources before scattering it on the ground.

Instead of soap, you can use sand and snow to scrub your pots and dishes, followed by a hot water rinse to melt away traces of grease and kill germs. Boiling water alone is sufficient to sanitize your camping cookware if a scrubbing would scratch non-stick surfaces. Well-seasoned cast iron cookware has a non-stick surface that you can just wipe clean. If scrubbing is necessary, use coarse salt. It scours away food that's stuck on and adds seasoning to the next meal.

When you're ready to pack up and move on, a layer of cloth between nested cookware prevents scratching of non-stick surfaces. Store your cookware in a stuff sack to keep it from transferring fire blackening to other gear.

Thoroughly wash and dry all of your camping cookware when you return home. Nest sets together and store in a cool, moisture- and humidity-free place.

For lots more information on camping and cookware, venture over to the next page.