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Campfire Cooking on a Budget 🔥
Purple Star emoji 25 items
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
Anastasia Kessler
I got tired of hauling heavy gear on camping trips just to cook a decent meal. These are the stainless steel pieces I actually use now. All lightweight, all cheap, all tested over real fires.
Sections
5
 
Starter Grill Setups
 
Backpacking Favorites 🎒
 
Small Tools That Matter
 
Fire Management Gear 🪵
 
Worth Doubling Up On

Starter Grill Setups

If you're just getting into campfire cooking, start here. I wish someone had pointed me to these before I spent $80 on a grill I used once.

 
Anastasia Kessler profile picture
folds flat and fits in my pack. perfect for car camping weekends
Portable Campfire Grate Stainless Steel Firewood Rack
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
the tripod design is surprisingly stable over uneven ground 🏕️
Foldable Campfire Stand Hiking Camping Bonfire Cooking
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
cheapest grill I've found that actually holds up over coals
92ME Campings Pit Folding Campfire Grill Outdoor Cooking
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
hung a dutch oven from this one last fall. solid setup for the price
Portable Detachable Outdoor Barbecue Tripod Hanging Rack
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
you NEED a good pair of tongs for moving coals around. these work great
1PC Barbecue Charcoal Tong Charcoal Grill Poker Fire Tongs
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Backpacking Favorites 🎒

These are the ones I grab when weight matters. Every ounce counts on trail and these pull their weight without adding much.

 
Anastasia Kessler profile picture
super light grate. tossed it in my bag for a three day hike no problem
U1JC Stainless Grate Barbeque Grills Portable Camping
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
another tripod option. I like this one for hanging pots over the fire
Portable Detachable Outdoor Barbecue Tripod Hanging Rack
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
this wood burner stove is the splurge pick but honestly worth every penny
Folding Campfire Grill Wood Burner Stove Stand for
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
keeps your hands way back from the flames. much better than kitchen tongs
Barbecue Charcoal Tong Charcoal Grill Poker Fire Tongs
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
the hook style pliers are clutch for adjusting logs without burning yourself 🔥
Stainless Steel Heavy-Duty Rust-Resistant Wrought Fireplace
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Small Tools That Matter

Nobody talks about the little accessories but they make or break a campfire meal. Learned that the hard way.

 
Anastasia Kessler profile picture
great for poking around hot coals and moving charcoal exactly where you want it
1Pcs Outdoor Stainless Steel Fire Awl Heavy Duty Barbecue
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
marshmallow forks with wooden handles. my kids fight over these every trip 😂
F26C 4pcs Extendable Stainless Steel BBQ Forks Marshmallows
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
paid under two bucks and it still works fine after a full summer of use
Folding Outdoor Camping Stove Grill Stainless Steel
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
tiny tripod. folds down to almost nothing
Portable Campfire Tripod Steel Cooking Rack BBQ Grill
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
grabbed a second one of these as a backup. at this price why not
1Pcs Outdoor Stainless Steel Fire Awl Heavy Duty Barbecue
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Fire Management Gear 🪵

Getting the fire right is half the battle. I burned so many burgers before I figured out you need the right tools to control your coals.

 
Anastasia Kessler profile picture
solid tongs. I keep a pair at camp and one at home by the fireplace
1PC Charcoal Grill Poker Fire Tongs Barbecue Charcoal Tong
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
mesh grill pad sits right over the fire. works for veggies and smaller stuff
Stainless Steel Camping Grill Grate Mesh Pads Square Round
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
these pliers grip logs really well. way safer than kicking them around
Grilling Tongs Charcoal Tong Pliers For Carbon Fire
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
the blowpipe is tiny but gets coals going fast on windy mornings
Fire Blower Tube Stainless Steel Telescoping Air Pipe
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
chimney starter changed everything. coals ready in like 15 minutes flat
Outdoor Cooking Charcoal Can Chimney Starter with Wooden
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Worth Doubling Up On

Some of this stuff is so cheap and useful that I bought extras. One set lives in the truck, one in the garage.

 
Anastasia Kessler profile picture
another set of tongs because you always need more than one
Charcoal Grill Poker Fire Tongs Barbecue Charcoal Tong
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
the heavy duty folding grill. handles high heat without warping
High Temperature Folding Campfire Grill Stainless Steel
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
fire awl for about two bucks. just throw one in every bag you own
1Pcs Outdoor Stainless Steel Fire Awl Heavy Duty Barbecue
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
I literally have three of these now. lost one on a river trip lol
1Pcs Outdoor Stainless Steel Fire Awl Heavy Duty Barbecue
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Anastasia Kessler profile picture
bigger mesh pad for when I'm cooking for the whole group
Stainless Steel Camping Grill Rack Grate Mesh Pads Portable
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