top of page
HAVE YOU REACHED FOR A MUCH NEEDED BOTTLE OF WINE AFTER SPENDING HOURS BOUNCING DOWN DIRT ROADS ONLY TO REALIZE YOU FORGOT THE BOTTLE OPENER? OR COOKED TOO MUCH TRAIL PIZZA AND HAD NOTHING TO PUT LEFTOVERS IN? WE HAVE. THIS OVERLAND KITCHEN CHECKLIST IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU REMEMBER THE ESSENTIALS SO YOU CAN BE THE BEST CHEF ON THE TRAIL.
BOTTLE OPENER: WE'VE FORGOTTEN A BOTTLE OPENER ENOUGH TIMES TO USE THE BUMPER, KEYS, AND VARIOUS OTHER OBJECTS TO OPEN BEER BOTTLES AND KNIVES TO PUSH CORKS INTO WINE BOTTLES SO THAT WE COULD POUR WINE OUT OF THE BOTTLE. AFTER ALL OF THAT, A BOTTLE OPENER IS NOW A PERMANENT ITEM IN OUR KITCHEN.
​
COOKING UTENSILS: A SPATULA. LARGE SPOON AND TONGS ARE THE COOKING UTENSILS WE MOST OFTEN USE.
POTS AND PANS: POTS AND PANS ARE A PRETTY OBVIOUS KITCHEN ESSENTIAL IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING ANY REAL COOKING. WE LIKE TO USE A CAST IRON PAN FOR A LOT OF THINGS. WE ALSO SOME POTS AND PANS FROM GSI OUTDOORS, WHICH HAVE WORKED GREAT FOR US. YOU CAN BUY ITEMS SEPARATELY, LIKE THE PINNACLE FRYPAN OR HALULITE BOILER, OR GET A SET. IT IS REALLY CONVENIENT AND A SPACE SAVER HOW THE SET STACKS TOGETHER.
​
ALUMINUM FOIL: ALUMINUM FOIL CAN BE USED NOT ONLY TO COVER FOOD AND HOLD LEFTOVERS, BUT IS ALSO A GREAT RECEPTACLE TO COOK FOOD IN OVER A CAMP FIRE.
​
PAPER (OR CLOTH) TOWELS: AVOID HAVING TO USE CLOTHES TO CLEAN UP MESSES BUT MAKING SURE TO ALWAYS HAVE SOME PAPER (OR CLOTH) TOWELS IN YOUR OVERLAND KITCHEN.
PLATES AND BOWLS: WE'VE HAD THIS STANSPORT ENAMELWARE SET FOR YEARS AND IT STILL WORKS GREAT. COLEMAN MAKES A SIMILAR SET IN RED.
​
CUTTING BOARD AND KNIFE: CUTTING MEAT AND VEGETABLES WITHOUT A CUTTING BOARD AND SHARP KNIFE SUCKS, SO THESE ITEMS ARE ESSENTIAL IN OUR OVERLAND KITCHEN.
​
EGG HOLDER: SURE, YOU'VE GOT TO BREAK SOME EGGS TO MAKE AN OMELETTE, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN BROKEN EGGS IN A COOLER. WE USE COGHLAN'S EGG HOLDER TO KEEP OUR EGGS INTACT. WE HAVE BOTH A 6 EGG HOLDER FOR WEEKEND TRIPS AND 12 EGG HOLDER FOR LONGER TRIPS.
​
CUPS: THE STANLEY ADVENTURE CUPS ARE SUPER EFFECTIVE AT KEEPING YOUR DRINKS HOT OR COLD. WE HAVE SOME STANLEY CUPS, AS WELL AS SOME MUGS THAT WE USE FOR COFFEE AND HOT CHOCOLATE (OKAY, AND MARGARITAS AND WINE).
​
CUTLERY: I'M ALL FOR FINGER FOODS, BUT EASTING PASTA OR SALAD WITH YOUR HANDS IS PRETTY CHALLENGING, SO CUTLERY IS AN IMPORTANT KITCHEN ESSENTIAL.
​
TRASH BAGS: DON'T FORGET TRASH BAGS AND PACK IT OUT!
​
TUPPERARE: WE USE THE RUBBERMAID BRILLIANCE FOOD CONTAINERS IN A VARIETY OF SIZES, INCLUDING 3.2 CUP, 4.7 CUP, AND 9.6 CUP.
​
THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT DIDN'T MAKE OUR LIST OF "ESSENTIALS", BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE LUXURIES THAN NECESSITIES. THESES ARE STAPLES IN OUR OVERLAND KITCHEN, BECAUSE BEING IN THE WILDERNESS DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE A MINIMALIST.
​
LIME/LEMON SQUEEZER: HAVING A LEMON SQUEEZER OR LIME SQUEEZER (OR A COMBINATION SQUEEZER) MAKES MARGARITAS AND OTHER COCKTAILS A LOT EASIER TO CRAFT.
​
MEAT THERMOMETER: SOMETIMES IT CAN BE HARD TO TELL IF A PIECE OF STEAK IS COOKED, SO WE LIKE TO BRING A MEAT THERMOMETER TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT PERFECTLY MEDIUM-RARE.
​
FRENCH PRESS: DITCH THE INTANT COFFEE AND TREAT YOURSELF BY ADDING A FRENCH PRESS TO YOUR OVERLAND KITCHEN.
​
POT HOLDERS: WE COOK A LOT IN A CAST IRON PAN, WHICH MEANS WE NEED SOMETHING TO GRAB THE HANDLE TO PROTECT OUR HANDS FROM BURNING. THESE POT HOLDERS HAVE WORKED GREAT FOR US.
​
MEASURING CUPS: THESE MEASURING CUPS ARE IN OUR OVERLAND KITCHEN FOR TIMES WHERE WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE PRECISE WITH OUR MEASUREMENTS.
bottom of page