The first thing that you’re going to need is something to do the actual cooking in, such as a pot or pan. Ideally, you want to bring as few things along as possible so you’re not lugging unnecessary items through the woods. If you’re cooking for a family of four, one frying pan and one pot will most likely be sufficient. If you want to buy the snazzy camping sets that have multiple pans that stack together that’s fine, but it’s not necessary at all. Just grab a good-sized pan and pot from your kitchen (hopefully ones that aren’t too heavy) and you’ll be fine.

Another alternative here is to bring a Dutch oven, which is possibly the greatest camping cooking item ever invented. The possibilities for using Dutch ovens on camping trips are nearly limitless and they will easily do the job of both a frying pan and a pot. The only downside to them though is that they are usually fairly large and heavy, so they may not be suitable for every camping trip. You don’t want to be lugging a bulky, 15 pound Dutch oven all the way through the woods to your campsite if you’re going backpacking.

The next things you’ll need are utensils to do the cooking with, such as spatulas, spoons, and tongs. You’ll definitely want to bring at least one large spatula, and a pair of spring-loaded tongs will certainly make your life easier as well. Plastic or metal doesn’t really matter either way here, but if I had to choose, I’d go with metal for the increased durability. It’s also easy to leave one of these items too close to the campfire, and having metal utensils will keep them from melting or catching on fire.

It goes without saying that you don’t want to bring your best stuff on these camping trips. You’ll invariably leave at least one thing, and possibly several somethings, at your campsite. Use your old stuff, and if you buy new, buy cheap.