If you are truly a “nature lover” such that you spend a lot of time outdoors, outdoor cooking is going to become a necessity at some point. Why not invest in some outdoor cooking accessories that are truly going to let you enjoy cooking (not to mention some really good food) that goes far beyond some hot dogs or marshmallows impaled on sticks and held over a campfire?

You need a few is outdoor cooking accessories to really put on a good “spread” with your outdoor cooking, so to speak, but it can be done relatively easily.

The basics

*Hot dog forks or sticks

Some of the more basic outdoor cooking accessories are campfire forks or hotdog sticks. Again, although you certainly want your culinary efforts to go beyond this if you spend a lot of time outdoors, these are essential cooking utensils regardless — and good for the odd hotdog fix now and then too, if you wish. One of the best is Coghlan’s Safety Fork, which instead of using straight prongs has prongs bent downward so that they’re not as hazardous.

*Cast iron sandwich maker

A sandwich maker is made of cast iron lets you put together a lot of “meals in pie format” very easily. Choose from a number of different recipes by searching the Internet, and then make toasty ready-to-eat hot “sandwiches” or meal “pies” that will easily cook over hot coals.

*Coffee pot

If you drink coffee, you’ll also want something to provide you with your morning cup of joe; you can bring along instant coffee, of course, but if you want to brew coffee, you’ll need a stainless steel or in animal coffee pot or coffee press so that you can brew your coffee right over the campfire.

*Cast iron skillet

Finally, a cast iron skillet (just like the one your grandma had) is the perfect adjunct to outdoor cooking accessories that you simply can’t do without. You can buy them in a number of sizes, to meet your needs. Place them right on top of hot coals to do things as diverse as make scrambled eggs and pancakes to campfire “stir-fry.”

*Cast iron Dutch oven and/or jambalaya pot

Like the cast-iron skillet, the cast-iron Dutch oven or jambalaya pot lets you cook right over the open fire. These are perfect ways to make stews or other dishes that need a deeper receptacle than the cast-iron frying pan or sandwich maker can provide for you.

What to eat on?

Of course, if you don’t camp a lot, paper plates and plastic forks make suitable and very portable dishware. If you’re environmentally responsible, however, and you camp a lot, it’s a good idea to invest in some sturdy dishware that’s going to hold up to the test of time. Invest in stainless steel plates, forks, knives and spoons, so that they’ll last as outdoor cooking accessories for years.

More than just a campfire for cooking?

Certainly, nothing beats cooking over an open fire when you’re out camping. However, if you want to be able to control your heat a little more readily and you think it’s a good investment, you can also invest in a portable outdoor camp stove or grill to take with you. Again, these aren’t absolutely necessary, but they do make cooking a little bit easier since you can control temperature more easily on these devices than you can on a campfire. To go truly rustic, this isn’t something you should need, but if you do want a little more control over your cooking, one of these may be a good investment for you.

Article by Nicole Roberts