Creating a comfortable campsite at each stop is critical to any overland adventure. You can maximize comfort in many ways, and having the right kitchen gear is an essential step. One key detail to think about when journeying into the great outdoors is how you will eat meals. Eating nutritious meals on your trip is a vital part of staying healthy and energetic. Preparing those meals requires packing the right gear before departing on your trip. Ironman4x4 America have prepared a comprehensive guide below to showcase the best equipment for creating an accommodating kitchen setup when you’re away from home.
Just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a warm, welcoming, home-like experience when you journey into the great outdoors. Make sure you pack these kitchen essentials for your next overland adventure.
Overland Refrigerator
One of the best kitchen essentials to have on your overland outing is a fridge. Bringing a portable fridge for the ride expands the list of food and drinks you can bring along. Having a fridge means you can keep water and other drinks cool during the whole trip. This equipment will also hold fresh ingredients that you can cook with, ensuring you can enjoy meals that feel home-cooked. If you have leftovers, the fridge will keep them safe until you’re ready to dig into them again.
However, bringing a fridge along for an overland adventure isn’t as easy as choosing the first one you see online or at a local store. Find a model that is durable enough to withstand off-road travel. A durable overland fridge will withstand the bumpy, uneven terrain you encounter. Plus, the right overland fridge will combat the elements. For example, we have durable overland refrigerators at Ironman 4×4. Our M-Series IceCube fridge freezers include a protective cover that keeps the fridge free of dirt, dust, and other debris.
Essential Utensils
An overland kitchen setup requires the right utensils. Safely storing forks, knives, plates, bowls, and other common kitchen supplies ensures you can comfortably eat a wide range of meals. Trail mix may get you through an afternoon hike, but a full overland adventure requires you to consistently indulge in nutritious, satisfying meals. Don’t forget to pack the right utensils for preparing your meals, too. At Ironman 4×4, we offer kitchen kits that contain utensils such as steak knives, carving knives, spoons, tongs, bottle openers, and more.
Must-Have Drink Accessories
Some kitchen items are so commonplace in the daily lives of many people that it’s easy to forget about them when packing for a trip. For instance, remember to pack for an overland trip with your ideal drinking choices in mind. The fridge will keep water, soda, and other drinks cool, but what about hot beverages? You can still enjoy your morning tea or coffee with a portable kettle.
Among our many overland accessories available at Ironman 4×4 is the collapsible silicone kettle. The collapsible design makes these kettles incredibly easy to store when you’re done without taking up valuable storage space. You have limited storage space during overland adventures, but collapsible supplies will help you take full advantage of the space you have available. Our accessories for overland enthusiasts also include mugs and other types of cups that allow you to enjoy your drinks comfortably whenever you’d like.
Dishwashing Equipment
As mentioned above, bringing a fridge on an overland trip means you can store many types of food and drinks without worrying about them going bad. However, once you finish your meal, you need a way to dispose of your leftover scraps. After all, keeping dirty dishes in the bed of your 4×4 during the whole duration of an overland trip is far from ideal. Much like the collapsible silicone kettle, you can pack your 4×4 with many different supplies that are easy to store.
The Ironman 4×4 collapsible container camping kit features items that will make your outdoor experience easier. Our collapsible buckets and washing tubs make it as simple as possible to thoroughly wash and rinse your plates, bowls, and beyond. Plus, the collapsible container camping kit includes a dish rack tray for easy storage when you finish washing your dishes. The kits also include a trash can, making garbage disposal as easy as it is at home. The collapsible design is particularly important for overland trips because, when you’re not using the supplies, you can collapse them to ensure they take up less room in your truck.
Portable Fire Pit
Now that you know how to store leftovers and pack ingredients, let’s discuss the must-have tools for preparing meals. One of the top kitchen essentials for your next overland adventure is a portable fire pit. Cooking meals over a fire pit makes it easy to heat up ingredients while maintaining the classic campsite aesthetic. Warming up smores and other food over a fire is an iconic camping experience, and the right fire pit will help you do so safely. At Ironman 4×4, our portable fire pits also feature a collapsible design so that you can bring this big kitchen essential without taking up excessive space in the truck. Our fire pits will handle firewood, lump charcoal, and other fuel options.
Camp Ovens
Another convenient way to prepare meals during an overland trip is with portable camp ovens. A portable oven helps you heat up tasty meals and snacks wherever you are on your adventure. The Ironman 4×4 kitchen supplies for sale include portable camp ovens perfect for various types of food. For starters, this compact oven is a fantastic tool for warming up delicious pies for dessert. You can also use the oven to fire up a burrito or hot pocket on a cold evening around the campsite. The more supplies you have in your 4×4, the greater your opportunities are for preparing delicious meals, snacks, and drinks.
The kitchen supplies available for overland adventures span a wide range of options. From choosing convenient storage options to investing in essential utensils, you can find many ways to upgrade your portable kitchen without taking up excessive space in the truck. Use the guide above to stock up on the supplies you need to create the best overland kitchen experience today.
Other essentials to consider that we believe help keep campers smiling are the Jetboil and Ridgemonkey Range.