Mom Goes Camping

Best Portable Camping Kitchens

Best portable camping kitchens

A camping kitchen is NOT a must-have item. I usually just set up my stove and cooking items on a picnic table or directly on the ground. I always call out “stove alert” (to the tune of the Octo Alert song from Octonauts) when lighting it so my kids don’t come barging through and burn themselves or knock the stove over.

However, having a dedicated kitchen station at camp can make your life easier, especially when camping in a large group.

Reasons to Get a Camp Kitchen Station:

  • Keeps things organized. so you don’t go crazy looking for spatulas, spices, etc.
  • Won’t have to crouch. I’m short so this isn’t a big deal for me, but I can understand how tall people with back issues would hate cooking on a picnic table.
  • Frees up space at the picnic table. So you can use it for eating instead of cooking.
  • Safety. Having flames away from the eating area is definitely safer than my method of calling out “stove alert.”

Reasons Not to Get a Camp Kitchen Station:

  • Heavy and bulky. How much room do you have in your vehicle?
  • One more thing to pack. And also set up at camp.
  • Stability issues. Cheap ones aren’t stable on uneven ground or in windy conditions
  • Critters. Unless you want critters chewing through the panels, you can’t leave food inside the cupboards.

Are Camping Kitchens Worth It? The Verdict:

For one or two-night camping trips with a small group, camping kitchens are generally not worth the effort to pack and set up.  However, kitchen stations are worth it when camping in large groups or for longer periods of time because they help you stay organized and provide a comfortable, dedicated place to cook.

Also read: How to set up your kitchen station at camp

Anyone with OCD will appreciate how organized this camp setup is! The kitchen station frees up the picnic table for eating or playing games. 

 

Best Portable Camp Kitchens Reviewed

Notes: “Total counter size” does NOT include side tables; it only includes surfaces which are strong enough for holding a stove and food prep. Click “Read More” for the full review.

1
Best Overall - GCI Outdoor Master Kitchen

Best Overall - GCI Outdoor Master Kitchen

Verdict: It's sturdy, affordable and has tons of counterspace, a sink, and storage.

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 56 x 22 inches
  • 3 side tables, 1 shelf
  • Folded size: 35 x 22 x 6 inches
  • Product Weight: 22.4lbs
  • Weight Limit: 48lbs (main counter) + 35lbs (shelf) + 30lbs (each side table)
  • Frame material: Steel
  • Other: Sink, lantern hook
Read More

Review

The GCI Outdoor Master camp kitchen was obviously designed by people who go camping a lot.  It is the camp kitchen which has the most amount of usable workspace, plus is designed with nice features which make it practical to bring on camping trips.

The main thing to like about the GCI Outdoor Master is that it is portable considering how much counter space it has.  Folded, it is only 35 x 22 inches and nearly flat at 6 inches thick.  It’s easy to fit this into any car trunk.

To use the camp kitchen, just unfold and attach the lantern hook: it takes all of 2 minutes to set up. The countertop is 56 inches long with the sink closed.  With the sink open, the countertop is 42 inches, which is still big enough for your stove and to prep food.  There is also a side table at top which brings the total space to 70 inches – though the side table isn’t quite sturdy enough for chopping food on.

The frame is made out of steel and the countertop is heat-resistant aluminum, so the whole kitchen is quite sturdy.  There are a few hooks on the side tables for paper towels and other supplies.

As for downsides, there are only a few complaints with this camp kitchen: it would be nice to have some more hooks, though you could add your own utensil organizer under the table.  I also wish the sink was removable since it can get gross and sometimes the small drain might clog.

Pros
  • Spacious countertop
  • Lots of storage space
  • Sturdy construction
  • Folds down small and almost flat
  • Quick and easy to set up
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Sink isn’t removable
  • Could use more hooks
2
Runner Up - Coleman Pack Away Camp Kitchen

Runner Up - Coleman Pack Away Camp Kitchen

Verdict: Great lightweight camp kitchen which is sturdy and packs down compact, but not much counter space

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 5 x 21.3 inches
  • 1 side table and 1 shelf
  • Folded size: 31.5 x 11 inches
  • Product Weight: 13.8lbs
  • Weight Limit: 300lbs
  • Frame material: Aluminum
  • Other: Utensil and lantern hooks
Read More

Review

The Coleman Pack-Away Portable Kitchen has a different design than most camp kitchens.  It consists of two parts: the first part is a folding tabletop.  It actually turns into a carrying case for everything, which is pretty cool.

The second part is a frame meant to hold your stove.  Instead of a tabletop, it has metal sliders on top.  The sliders can be moved closer or further apart to fit your stove.  This table-less design makes the kitchen station lighter and more compact.  It clips onto the main counter, so you could use the main counter by itself.

As for storage, there’s a mesh shelf underneath the main table as well as a lantern hook and utensil hooks.  They aren’t the sturdiest but will get the job done.

While the overall design of the Coleman Pack-Away Kitchen is cool, there are some issues. The biggest one is that the legs aren’t adjustable so it doesn’t always sit well on uneven ground.  Also note that the Amazon picture is from the old model: The newer model has four legs which don’t cross.

Pros
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Can use the countertop by itself
  • High weight limit
  • Lantern hook
Cons
  • Lacks storage
  • Not great for uneven ground
3
Splurge Pick - SylvanSport Outdoor Camp Kitchen

Splurge Pick - SylvanSport Outdoor Camp Kitchen

Verdict: Awesome camp kitchen with bamboo countertops, cabinets, a sink and tons of extras but expensive.

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 70 x 18 inches
  • Two shelves
  • Folded size: 40 x 19 x 7 inches
  • Product Weight: 44lbs
  • Frame material: Aluminum
  • Other: Sink, utensil hooks, windscreen, trash bag holder, paper towel holder
Read More

Review

The SylvanSport Over Easy is one of the coolest and most functional camping kitchens available.  It has almost every feature you could possible need to do serious cooking while at camp.

Setting up the camp kitchen is actually pretty easy: just open the case, unfold the kitchen, snap the legs in place, and unfold the second counter and sink.  The legs are adjustable for uneven ground.

Once open, you have two bamboo-topped countertops: one for your stove (32 x 18 inches) and another for food prep (38 x 18 inches).  This gives you a total of 70 inches of countertop space.  There’s a zip cabinet underneath with two shelves.  These shelves are actually sturdy enough to hold food without sagging.

There’s also awesome extras like a collapsible sink station, built-in windscreen, trash bag holder, paper towel holder, and tons of utensil storage. They really thought of everything down to the Velcro straps to hold the cabinet doors open. The only thing that’s lacking is a lantern hook.

Pros
  • Bamboo countertops
  • Adjustable legs for uneven ground
  • Tons of deluxe features
  • Lots of storage
  • Insect-proof cabinets
  • Removable sink
Cons
  • Heavy
  • Pricy
4
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Outdoor Cook Station

GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Outdoor Cook Station

Verdict: Sturdy, packable and not too heavy, but lacks space for food prep.

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 24 x 16 inches
  • Side tables: 4
  • Shelves: 1
  • Folded size: 35 x 21 x 4 inches
  • Product Weight: 19lbs
  • Weight Limit: 48lbs (main counter)
  • Frame material: Steel
  • Sink: No
  • Other: storage hooks and paper towel holder
  • Buy At: GCI websiteAmazon
Read More

Review:

Here’s another great camping kitchen station by GCI Outdoor.  Like their Master Kitchen, the Slim-Fold is very sturdy.  It can hold over 300lbs worth of supplies, which means you can use it to hold larger grills and not just gas camping stoves.  It’s very durable and tough, so expect it to last you through many camping trips.

There are also a lot of nice design features on the camp kitchen, like how it quickly folds out and takes all of 1 minute to set up. There are hooks on the fold-out shelves for paper towels, tongs, and other camp supplies.

The reason that the GCI Master Kitchen gets the #1 pick is because this one only has one countertop. Yes, the side tables do mean you have a lot of space – but they aren’t really meant for chopping food on.  You’ll have to do your food prep somewhere else and carry items to the side tables until you are ready to use them.   There’s also no lantern hook.  Other than that, this camp kitchen is near perfect and one of the top picks all-around.

Pros
  • Very sturdy
  • 4 side tables plus shelf
  • Instant setup
  • Lots of storage hooks
  • Affordable
Cons
  • No storage case
  • Side tables too flimsy for food prep
  • No lantern hook
5
Camp Chef Sherpa Kitchen Box

Camp Chef Sherpa Kitchen Box

Verdict: Great solution for organizing kitchen essentials but best for simple meals due to lack of counterspace. 

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 27 x 17”
  • Two shelves
  • Folded size: 27 x 18.25 x 15.75 inches
  • Product Weight: 14lbs
  • Frame material: Aluminum
  • Other: Zippered storage, cooler bag
Read More

Review:

If you are more concerned with organizing your camp kitchen than having countertop space, this is the best camp kitchen for you.  It is designed to be like a chuck box in that it holds everything you might need for cooking.

To set up the camp kitchen, all you need to do extend the telescoping legs and click the roll-top tabletop onto the box.  You then get a camp table which is 27×17 inches and 28 inches tall.  Unzip the front area and you’ll see there are 4 zippered compartments for holding your items.  One of the bags (the blue one) is insulated and works as a cooler bags.  It could also work as a sink.  The bags are actually pretty big and will hold around 14 cans of beer each.

The obvious downside is that the setup doesn’t have enough space for food prep and a stove.  However, if you already have another folding camp table, this station provides a surface for your stove plus tons of storage.

Pros
  • Lots of storage
  • Self-contained unit
  • Built-in cooler
Cons
  • A bit bulky
  • Small countertop
6
VEVOR Camping Kitchen

VEVOR Camping Kitchen

Verdict: Tons of nice features and closed storage, but a bit flimsy.

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 49 x 13 inches
  • One side table, three shelves
  • Folded size: 31 x 20 x 6 inches
  • Product Weight: 20.9lbs
  • Weight Limit: 66lbs
  • Frame material: Aluminum
  • Other: Lantern hook
Read More

Review:

This exact same camp kitchen is sold by a lot of generic Chinese brands. For example, in addition to Vevor, Giantex and CampLand also sell it.

Since it's a generic brand, it's not surprising that the camp kitchen is flimsy.  However, for a cheap camp kitchen, it’s actually a pretty good solution.

The camp kitchen comes with multiple parts, so it takes a bit longer to set up than the other camping kitchens reviewed here – but it’s still very simple and easy.  Once set up, you get a nice amount of countertop space.  The main table (for your stove) is about 26 x 13 inches.  A fold-out second countertop is about 24 x 13 inches.  I love that the legs are adjustable so you can actually use this kitchen on uneven ground.

There’s a water-resistant “cabinet” that hangs underneath the side table.  It gives you two shelving units for storing food.  I personally find it annoying to zip and unzip the unit, but it’s good for keeping items when you leave camp.  There’s also a sturdier shelf plus a side table and lantern hooks.

One big downside which needs to be mentioned is that the second countertop isn’t very sturdy.  It should be fine for chopping soft foods like tomatoes but I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on it. Maybe it’s best to chop up food on a sturdier table… There’s a built-in windscreen for the stove area but it’s pretty flimsy and I wouldn’t trust it in bad weather.

Pros
  • Built in stove windscreen
  • Adjustable height
  • Good for uneven surfaces
  • Zipped storage cabinet
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Table too weak for serious food prep
  • Flimsy materials
7
Alpine Mountain Gear Roll Top Kitchen

Alpine Mountain Gear Roll Top Kitchen

Verdict: Lightweight yet still lots of counterspace, but is a bit flimsy and lacks storage

Features:

  • Total Counter Size: 49 x 14 inches
  • One shelf
  • Folded size: 31.5 x 20 x 4.3 inches
  • Product Weight: 10.2lbs
  • Frame material: Aluminum
  • Other: Adjustable legs
Read More

Review:

This roll-top kitchen by Alpine Mountain Gear (also called Mountain Summit Gear over at REI) is a simple but effective solution for cooking while camping.  I love that it has two separate countertop surfaces: one for your stove and another for food prep.  The first counter is approximately 26 x 14 inches and the other is just under 23 x 16 inches.  This gives you a total working space of 49 inches.

You can set up the tables in under two minutes.  A nice feature is that the legs on the fold-out counter are adjustable so it actually works well on uneven ground. The shelf underneath the main table provides some sturdiness as well as storage.  There isn’t anything else for storage though, so you’ll have to bring your own organizers.

The big downside of this camp kitchen is how flimsy it is.  You especially need to be careful with the latches on the legs.  It’s not too surprising that the materials are so weak considering that the kitchen station only weighs about 10lbs.

Pros
  • Decent counterspace
  • Adjustable legs
  • Simple, easy setup
  • Very lightweight
Cons
  • Flimsy
  • No weight limit given
  • Lacks storage

 


Camp Kitchens Comparison Table

ProductCountertop
Size
Folded
Size
WeightSinkShelves &
Tables
Weight
Limit
GCI Outdoor Master Kitchen56x22"35x22x6"22.4lbsYes4173lbs
Coleman Pack-Away Portable Kitchen31.5x21.3"31.5x11"13.8lbsNo2300lbs
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Kitchen24x16"35x21x4"19lbsNo5203lbs
SylvanSport Over Easy Camp Kitchen70x18"40x19x7"44lbsYes2N/G
CampSherpa Kitchen27x17"27x18x16"14lbsNo2N/G
Vevor Folding Camp Kitchen49x13"31x20x619lbsNo466lbs
Alpine Mountain Gear Roll-Top Kitchen49x14"31.5x20x4.3"10.2lbsNo1N/G


 

Buying Guide – How to Choose a Portable Camp Kitchen

Not sure what portable camping kitchen you need? Here are some guidelines to make sure you get the right size and features you need.

 

It Must Have a Heat Resistant Tabletop

No, you can’t use just any folding table as your camp kitchen.  It must have a heat-resistant surface or the countertop can melt!  Also check whether side tables are heat-resistant so you can set hot pots down directly without melting them.

 

How Large Does a Camp Kitchen Need to Be?

Your camp kitchen should be large enough to hold your stove and ideally also have space for food prep. For a double burner stove and  medium-sized cutting board, you need at least 52 inches of countertop space.

If you are making simple meals which don’t require a lot of prep, then you can opt for a smaller camp kitchen.  If you have a lot of food prep, you will need something much larger.

The GCI Outdoor Master Kitchen is large enough for serious cooking and staying organized.

 

Number of Countertops

Ideally, your camp kitchen should have three sturdy countertops. This allows you to create three stations:

  1. Prep station
  2. Cooking station
  3. Serving station

If you have another table at camp (such as a picnic table), then you can get by with a portable kitchen with only 1 or 2 countertops.

how to choose a portable camping kitchen

 

Storage

Storage is a huge plus with camping kitchen since it will help the kitchen stay clean and organized.  Camp kitchen storage comes in many forms, including:

  • Shelves
  • Covered “cabinets”
  • Mesh storage under the table
  • Hooks for utensils, pots, and pans
  • Paper towel holder

Note that the weight limit on these can be pretty low.  If you have heavy items to put in your kitchen, such as the cooler, make sure you check the weight limit!

Important Notes about Kitchen Station Cabinets:

While they seem great, cabinets on a kitchen station usually aren’t all they are cracked to be.  They make it hard to find things inside, and you can only access the cabinets from the front. If something spills inside, it is difficult to clean and you can end up with ants crawling inside the cabinets.

Wind can also be an issue when the kitchen station has cabinets. With open-backed cabinets, the wind goes through the setup so it isn’t an issue.

Also remember that you shoudn’t leave food or scented items out overnight.  Critters will chew through the cabinets  to get to them.  So, don’t get a kitchen station with the plan of having everything out all the time.

Because of this, I only really recommend kitchen cabinets in places where sand or dust is an issue. Storing items inside the cabinets will keep them cleaner.

Pro tip: Keep food and scented items in plastic totes so you can quickly put them in your vehicle at night.

 

Don’t leave your food items in the cupboards unless you want to invite critters to have a party the moment you go to sleep!

 

Stability and Weight Limit

You don’t want your camp kitchen to topple over with a lit stove on it.  The ground at campsites isn’t always level or very sturdy, so you’ll need to make sure you choose a very stable camp kitchen.  Look for:

  • High weight limit
  • Sturdy materials like aluminum frames or steel, not plastic
  • Legs which lock in place
  • Four individual feet instead of two; the individual feet rest better on unsteady ground

 

Portability

For portability, you’ll want to look at the weight of the camping kitchen and how small it folds down. A carrying case with  handles is also a big plus.

Unfortunately, most good camp kitchens weigh at least 20lbs. Any kitchen lighter than this is probably going to be  flimsy.  Likewise, the more storage and countertop space the kitchen has, the less portable it will be.

 

Ease Of Setup

If you are staying at one camping spot for a longer time, then it isn’t a big deal to spend some time setting up your camp kitchen.  But you don’t want to waste a hour setting up and taking down the kitchen for an overnight camping trip.

 

Is There A Sink?

The best camping kitchens have built-in sinks, some with even a faucet for bringing water to the sink.  Others have an area where you can put a bin for holding your dirty dishes until you take them to be cleaned.  It’s a nice feature but not always necessary, especially if you just want to use a few plastic bins for cleaning up your dishes.

Read: How to Wash Dishes Camping

 

Height

Most camping kitchens are made so you can use them while standing up.  There are some shorter camp kitchens though.  The benefit of these is that they take up less space, are lighter and more portable.  However, you will probably want a chair to sit in while using them or be prepared to hunch over while cooking.

 

Lantern Pole

This is one really nice extra feature to have on a camp kitchen (nicer than you’d expect!), especially if you don’t want to set up your kitchen near a tree where you can secure a lantern.  You’ll appreciate the extra visibility when doing dishes in the dark!

 

Need more help getting your camping kitchen setup right?  Read: Camping Kitchen Essentials List: How to Set Up Your Kitchen Like a Pro


Image credit: “Outdoor Kitchen” (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Anne Bennett
IMG_2618” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Atutu

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About the author /


Diane Vukovic grew up camping and backpacking in upstate New York. Now, she takes her own daughters on wilderness adventures so they can connect with nature and learn resiliency. With dozens of trips under her belt, Diane is an expert in minimalist camping, going lightweight, planning, and keeping her kids entertained without screens.

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