Cooking utensils are the tools used to make food both in a kitchen as well as over an open fire outdoors. When outdoors most of what you will need can be crafted using a knife and a piece of wood while some are easier to buy from a store.

The most common materials for cooking utensils are wood, plastic and metal. Each material got its own advantage and disadvantage and we will first quickly cover the general information about this.

Plastic as an material is light, somewhat flexible, somewhat heat resistant and do not damage other materials. It do not transfer heat but will become quite brittle if exposed to freezing temperatures.

Metal as an material is heavy, usually stiff, heat resistant and easily scraps or damages other materials. It transfers heat and cold easily and should already in moderately warm and cold temperatures be isolated when handled.

Wood as material is light, usually stiff and brittle, somewhat heat resistant and do not damage other materials. It do not transfer heat or cold but can start to burn if exposed to high temperatures for extended time.

Spatula

A spatula is a tool with a long handle with a flat and wide end. It is used to move food that is either in small pieces or in an unstable or brittle shape, either from different locations or flipping them to another side.

A makeshift spatula is difficult to make yourself to get flat enough and still strong enough with wood. So one should instead be brought with in the backpack.

Ladle

A ladle is a tool with a long handle and a deep spoon shaped form at the end. It is used to stir and pour liquids from pots.

A makeshift ladle is quite easy to make with a good piece of wood and a knife. The good thing if you make your own is that you will probably never need to make or bring another.

Fork

A fork is a tool with a long handle and two or more sharp teeth at the end. It is used to perforate, lift or hold soft ingredients such as meat.

A makeshift fork can be made with a piece of wood and a knife just as a ladle. As with the ladle once you have made your own fork you will probably never bring another.

Tong

A tong is a cooking tool with a sets of long arms that are joined by the end. This allows grabbing, turning and moving food around and is quite essential when grilling on an open fire.

A makeshift tong for use with one hand is difficult to craft in wood and requires a some work, tools and some special components. It is easier to just use two sticks, one in each hand to simulate a tong with yourself as the joining force.

Cutting board

A cutting board is a flat surfaced board used for cutting and preparing ingredients on. They are usually made out of wood or plastic, where the plastic ones are easier to keep clean while the wooden boards are more gentle to the edge of the tools and are more heat resistant.

Makeshift wooden cutting boards are quite easy to make from any wooden piece that is mostly flat. As with the Fork and Ladle, once you made your own that fit your needs and gear, you will probably never bring another.

Tripod with chain

Tripod with a chain is essential for cooking over open fire and is easy to craft on the spot with just three branches of wood and some rope. The tripod is used to hang pots over the fire without actually touching the flames or tinder itself, giving a better control of the heat and preventing burning the food.

Bringing a tripod chain is easy to do as it takes almost no space, the three sticks can be slightly more cumbersome. Make sure you know if you can harvest scrubs or not around the campsite, if not you could use your staffs as a makeshift tripod.

Cookware

Simplified cookware come in two categories when outdoors, cauldron for boiling or pans for frying.

Cauldron

A cauldron is an old type of pot, made out of metal and has a high edge allowing for volume of liquids to be boiled. It’s bottom is arched to better distribute the heat from the fire and is mounted with a hanger so you can place it above the fire, from example hanging from a tripod.

A cauldron is a bulky tool as any kind of pot, a good recommendation is to keep it as small as possible and carry it hanging from the backpack to save space.

Frying pan

A frying pan is a tool made out of metal that is intended to fry or sear the food in it. It is flat, either with rounded or straight edges going upwards and a long handle.

A frying pan for outdoor activities is a heavy piece of equipment, as it need to be made out of cast iron to distribute the heat from the fire evenly and not bend or break. A good cast iron frying pan can on the other side by putting it straight into the fire and leaving it there, making it very useful in any situation.

Note that all cast iron equipment including the frying pan is sensitive to moist and need to be seasoned to not rust. The seasoning is not done to the outside of the pan though so make sure it stay dry.

A makeshift cookware is difficult to make outdoors so bring one, usually there is one or several small ones in a camping stoves kit. They are usually just large enough for one or two people though.

Dutch oven

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A Dutch oven is a large cast iron pot that is dug down directly among the ember and then covered with more ember, giving the oven an even temperature all around. It can be used both as a pan or as a pot, but its main function is to serve as a bakeware.

A Dutch oven is very heavy and something you do not walk around with, but it works to bring it along when travelling by vehicles such as cars, motorbikes, canoes or boats.

Grill grid

A grill grid is a metal frame with crossed bars that is placed above the campfire. They are normally intended to be placed above the ember instead of directly atop the fire, as they are not sturdy enough to handle the direct heat over time.

A Makeshift grill grid is difficult to make outdoors and if possible is instead replaced with sticks. A light and sturdy grill grid could be useful to bring but is quite bulky, better to bring food that fit on a stick unless you got a vehicle.

Kettle

A kettle for outdoor activities is quite small, come with a handle and thick bottom that is used to boil water. It can be placed directly on the ember or hanged above the fire. Having a kettle dedicated for boiling drinkable water is useful and simplifies things a lot when being outdoors.

Portable stove

gas burner with bottle

A portable stove is very important to bring when travelling or camping. They can be fuelled both by alcohol or gas and usually come with a set of pots and pans all fitting together in a small and lightweight package. Just as a backup in the bottom of the backpack with a small sealed storage bottle of alcohol for burning, the portable stove is a great investment.

A portable stove can be used almost anywhere, is good for heating or cooking simple food and can in many cases replace a campfire if travelling alone or in pairs. When there is no firewood available, weather prevents or forbids making a campfire the stove will have you covered.

Storage containers

a varied set of plastic boxes with airtight lids is great for bringing your food when being outdoors. Glass while easier to keep clean are more prone to breaking. Nothing worse than hitting your backpack on a rock when walking and hearing how your glass box breaks in pieces, spilling out your home made tomato soup among glass shards, your sleeping bag and your camera…

Food knives

While possible to use your survival knife for making food, bringing a separate knife intended for food making is usually a good idea. Especially if you want thin slices or not having to worry about if it is clean or not.

Bring a smaller knife that is roughly the same length as your survival knife or shorter. Just make sure it is in a sheath when packed so you don’t cut yourself on it.