6 Best Campfire Cookware Products for Outdoor Living That Serve Double Duty
Explore 6 versatile campfire cookware essentials designed for double duty. This multi-functional gear helps you save space and cook efficiently outdoors.
There’s nothing like a meal cooked over an open fire, but when you live in a small space, every single item you own needs to earn its keep. You can’t afford to haul around a collection of single-purpose gadgets that only get used once in a while. The best campfire cookware isn’t just durable; it’s versatile, serving multiple functions to save you precious space and weight.
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Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker: The Top Choice
This 2-in-1 cast iron combo cooker offers a deep pot and frying pan for versatile cooking on stovetops, in ovens, grills, or campfires. Its pre-seasoned surface ensures easy food release and improves with every use.
When it comes to campfire cooking, nothing beats cast iron for its heat retention and durability. The Lodge Combo Cooker is the undisputed champion of versatility. It’s not just one pot; it’s a deep skillet, a fryer, a Dutch oven, and the lid is a shallow skillet in its own right.
Think about it this way: you can bake bread in the Dutch oven, then flip the lid over to fry eggs and bacon for breakfast. Searing a steak on the shallow skillet while chili simmers in the deep pot is a common move at my camp. This single piece of equipment replaces at least three other pans, which is a massive win for anyone managing a tiny kitchen in a van or RV.
The only real tradeoff is weight. Cast iron is heavy, no question. But for vehicle-based living, that weight translates directly into performance and longevity. A well-seasoned combo cooker will last a lifetime, handling the direct, uneven heat of a campfire without warping like cheaper, thinner pans. It’s an investment that pays for itself in delicious meals and saved space.
Rome Industries Pie Iron for Sweet & Savory
Cook two delicious meals simultaneously with the Rome Industries Double Pie Iron. Its generous 8-1/2" x 4-1/4" cast-iron cooking head and long steel and wood handles offer versatility for sandwiches, calzones, and more.
Don’t dismiss the humble pie iron as a gimmicky dessert-maker. This simple, hinged cast iron cooker is a surprisingly versatile tool for quick and easy meals. It’s essentially a personal, fire-toasted sandwich press that excels at turning leftovers into something special.
Sure, you can make classic fruit pies, but its real double-duty value comes from savory applications. Use it for perfect grilled cheese sandwiches that are sealed on all sides. Stuff it with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni for a mini calzone. You can even crack an egg inside with some cheese and bacon for a self-contained breakfast pocket.
The long handles keep you safely away from the fire, and its simplicity means there’s very little that can go wrong. It’s a fantastic tool for getting kids involved in cooking or for when you just want a hot, satisfying meal without pulling out a bunch of pots and pans. It’s lightweight, easy to clean, and takes up minimal space.
Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill Grate
Grill over an open fire with this heavy-duty steel barbecue swivel grill. Its large 24" x 16" surface rotates 360 degrees and adjusts height for optimal heat control.
Cooking directly on a fire pit’s built-in grate can be a recipe for burnt food. The heat is often uncontrollable and uneven. The Texsport Swivel Grill solves this problem by giving you total control over your cooking surface. You stake it into the ground next to your fire, and the grate and arm swivel 360 degrees.
This simple design is genius in its application. You can swing the grate directly over the hot coals to sear steaks, then swing it to the edge of the fire to keep things warm. This ability to adjust the height and position gives you a level of temperature control that’s otherwise impossible over an open flame. It’s the difference between a perfectly cooked meal and a charred disaster.
Its double-duty function is clear: it’s both a primary cooking surface and a warming rack. You can have burgers cooking over the high heat while your pot of beans stays warm on the side. When you’re done, it cools quickly and breaks down for flat, easy storage—a critical feature for small-space living.
GSI Glacier Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator
Brew delicious coffee anywhere with the GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Percolator. Its durable stainless steel construction ensures longevity, while the cool-touch silicone handle and PercView knob offer safe and convenient brewing.
Every good morning at camp starts with coffee, but your coffee pot should do more than just brew. The GSI Glacier Percolator is built from heavy-gauge stainless steel, making it tough enough to sit directly on a grill grate over the fire. It’s not just a coffee maker; it’s your primary kettle for boiling water.
Forget packing a separate pot just for hot water. Use this to boil water for washing dishes, making instant oatmeal, or preparing freeze-dried meals. The stainless steel construction won’t hold onto coffee flavors like aluminum can, so your hot water for tea won’t taste like yesterday’s dark roast.
It’s a simple, non-electric system that works anywhere you can build a fire or use a camp stove. The glass knob on top lets you see when the coffee is percolating, giving you a bit of old-school satisfaction. It’s a durable, multi-purpose workhorse that earns its spot in any compact kitchen.
Stanley Adventure Base Camp 4-Person Cook Set
Enjoy outdoor cooking with the Stanley Base Camp Cook Set! This 21-piece nesting cookware is made from stainless steel and BPA-free material. Perfect for camping trips and adventures with friends and family.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, the Stanley Base Camp Cook Set is hard to beat. The entire system nests together like a Russian doll, giving you a full cooking and dining kit in the space of a single large pot. This is the ultimate space-saver.
Inside the main stainless steel pot, you’ll find a frying pan, cutting board, spatula, serving spoon, plates, bowls, and sporks. The pot lid even has vents for straining pasta. This isn’t just cookware; it’s a complete kitchen system designed to eliminate clutter and guesswork. You grab one thing, and you know you have everything you need to prep, cook, and eat a meal.
The "double duty" here is systemic. The pot is for boiling, the pan is for frying, and the lid is a strainer. The whole unit’s primary job is cooking, but its secondary, equally important job is organization and space consolidation. For anyone in a van, skoolie, or tiny home, a system that packs this much utility into such a small footprint is invaluable.
Stansport Tripod Cooker for Open Fire Control
This Stansport Tripod Cooker features a sturdy, adjustable 18-inch grill for even cooking over your campfire. Its lightweight, collapsible design with shock-corded steel legs makes setup quick and easy for camping or backpacking.
For cooking with larger, heavier pots like a big Dutch oven, a simple grill grate won’t cut it. A tripod cooker gives you stability and adjustable heat control for slow-cooking stews, chilis, and soups. It allows you to suspend your pot directly over the flames at the perfect height.
The Stansport Tripod comes with an adjustable chain, letting you raise or lower your pot with ease. Lower it down into the flames for a rapid boil, then raise it up for a gentle simmer. This level of control is essential for dishes that need to cook for a long time without scorching.
Its versatility comes from its simplicity. You can hang a Dutch oven, a coffee percolator, or even a grill grate from the chain. It transforms your campfire into a predictable, adjustable cooking station. The legs fold together for slim, easy storage alongside your camp chairs or in a narrow bay.
GRILL ARMOR Gloves: Essential Heat Protection
This isn’t cookware, but it’s the most important campfire cooking accessory you can own. A good pair of high-temperature-resistant gloves is a non-negotiable safety item that also serves a critical utility role. The GRILL ARMOR Gloves are rated for up to 932°F, which is more than enough for any campfire scenario.
Forget clumsy oven mitts or fumbling with pot holders. These gloves give you the dexterity to safely handle hot cast iron skillets, adjust a grill grate, or even shift burning logs around to manage your fire. This direct, confident control prevents accidents and makes the entire cooking process smoother and safer.
Their double duty is being both personal protective equipment and a functional tool. You can grab a hot pie iron, lift a Dutch oven lid to check your food, or pick up a piece of charcoal that fell out of the fire pit. They give you the confidence to manage a hot fire and hot cookware without fear of getting burned, which ultimately makes you a better and more efficient outdoor cook.
Maintaining Your Campfire Cookware Investment
Your campfire cookware takes a beating, so proper care is essential for longevity. For cast iron, the rules are simple: avoid soap, scrub with a stiff brush and hot water, and always dry it completely over the fire or on a stove to prevent rust. A thin coat of cooking oil after drying maintains the seasoning.
Stainless steel gear like the Stanley set or the GSI percolator is much more forgiving. You can scrub it with soap and water without any issue. The biggest challenge is often soot buildup on the outside. A good trick is to coat the outside of the pot with a thin layer of dish soap before putting it over the fire. The soot sticks to the soap, not the metal, and washes off with surprising ease.
Proper storage is just as important as cleaning. Make sure everything is bone dry before you pack it away, especially in the humid environment of a small rig. Sticking a paper towel inside cast iron pots can help absorb any residual moisture. Taking these small steps ensures your gear will be ready to go for your next adventure, rather than a rusty, sooty mess.
Ultimately, choosing the right campfire cookware is about maximizing utility while minimizing footprint. By selecting versatile, durable pieces that serve multiple purposes, you create a capable outdoor kitchen that supports your lifestyle without cluttering your limited space. Cook smart, stay safe, and enjoy the meal.
