When looking for a quality camping kitchen to last a lifetime, the GCI is a solid, one-piece steel, beast of a kitchen.
When you don't want to break the bank, the Cuisinart is a great choice for an even better price.
The Coleman Pack-Away is the perfect option if you want to stay small, light and compact.
This is a guide to the best camping kitchens available so that you can find the perfect one for your next adventure!
Best Camping Kitchen (Top Picks)
Best Overall
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Best Compact
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Top Camping Kitchens
We reviewed over 15 camping kitchens for this article. Below are the best camping kitchens that made our short list.
- GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Outdoor Cook Station - Best Overall
- Camp Chef Sherpa Table
- 101010 Camping Kitchen
- Camco Deluxe Folding Grill and Camping Kitchen - Best Lightweight
- Coleman Pack-Away Portable Camping Kitchen - Best Compact
- Cuisinart CFGS-222 Take Along Grill Stand - Best Value
Read our complete buyers guide for camping kitchens.
Best Overall Camping Kitchens
The GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Outdoor Cook Station combines ease of use and portability with affordability, giving it the title of best overall camping kitchen. With the GCI patent-pending SLIM-FOLD technology, this one-piece cook station is quick to set up or dismantle without having to fuss with additional parts or tools.
Combining powder-coated black steel with silver aluminum, the GCI Easy-Fold not only looks good, it is also sturdy and strong.
The Easy-Fold camping kitchen folds up flat into a compact unit, which can be carried around or stored very easily - making it perfect for camping, tailgating, and any other outdoor activities.
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The Camp Chef Sherpa Table is a clever, compact, portable camping kitchen that can be taken with you on all your outdoor adventures.
At a glance, it looks like a large cooler bag, but by simply extending the telescopic legs and attaching the aluminum roll-top, you now have a work surface for cooking as well as an off-the-ground storage system.
The front of the Sherpa Table can be unzipped revealing four color-coded compartments. These compartments are removable so you can configure the space to suit your needs.
With a weight limit of 66 lbs, this portable organizer/camping kitchen is a great looking piece of gear that’s also very useful and practical.
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4/5 Overall Rating
If it is space you are after, you simply cannot go wrong with the No products found.. This portable camping kitchen provides three laminated particleboard tabletops and a cook table, along with three storage cupboards.
The two side cupboards have two shelves each, with additional storage pockets on the side for smaller utensils. The cooking table includes a windscreen, allowing for easier, faster and safer open fire cooking.
While this camping kitchen is heavy, weighing in at almost 36 lbs – it is easy to set up, and once up, it is perfect as a practical and functional outdoor kitchen space.
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At only 6 lbs, the Camco Deluxe Camping Kitchen is lightweight enough even for backpacking.
The Camco Folding Grill and Camping Kitchen has a high-strength steel frame, which you simply extend by pulling it out. The side tables are pre-attached for quick and easy setup.
This simple-setup, lightweight camping kitchen is ideal for people on the go who need something light, compact and easy to setup.
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4.5/5 Overall Rating
This portable camping kitchen from Coleman is a first rate camping accessory. With a good quality build, the Pack-Away Portable Camping Kitchen folds out into a sturdy camping kitchen with an aluminum frame and fiberboard tabletop.
It also features a small side table that can be used to hold your camping stove.
This table even has a lantern hook, making cooking while fumbling around with a torch or a headlamp a thing of the past.
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4.5/5 Overall Rating
For the budget conscious camper, the Cuisinart Grill Stand is a great option without compromising on features or space.
Lightweight and easy to carry with its attached nylon handle, you can take this grill stand with you anywhere. The Cuisinart Grill Stand folds flat for easy storage when not in use and it takes a matter of seconds to unfold and set up.
Weighing just over 17 lbs., this no-nonsense grill stand is practical and user friendly. All parts are pre-attached and there are no counter tops that need to be clipped into place.
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The Bottom Line
Ultimately, a camping kitchen is about providing a convenient area from which you can store and prepare food. It’s not always possible to have a large table so a compact, portable option is a great addition to your gear.
The GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Outdoor Cook Station gets top marks for its ease of use, from setting up and taking down to its cleaning and storage. While it is quite heavy, it does feature four side tables for extra table-top space.
We love the clever design of the Camp Chef Sherpa Table. Unlike a traditional camp table, this looks like a large fabric trunk, but simply pull out the telescopic legs, attach the roll top table, and you've got yourself a camping kitchen.
If it's space you want, that’s what you'll get with the Happybuy Portable Camping Kitchen. With four counter surfaces and three storage units, this is an exceptional table and cupboard combination.
For the avid backpackers, the Camco Deluxe Camping Kitchen is worth consideration. It weighs just 6 lbs, making it lightweight and portable enough to carry with you if necessary.
The Coleman Pack-Away Portable Camping Kitchen offers good workspace and functionality in a neat, compact package. Easy to assemble with a counter top and an adjustable shelf to place a cooker, everything simply folds back into the versatile tabletop, which then cleverly doubles as a sleek carry case.
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good quality camping kitchen. The Cuisinart CFGS-222 Take Along Grill Stand is a simple to use, practical grill stand without additional bells and whistles, but it offers a good worktop space as well as storage compartments and hooks for hanging all your cooking utensils on for easy access.
Best Camping Kitchen - Buyer's Guide
What is a camping kitchen?
While the idea of camping and cooking outdoors might evoke images of pots dangling precariously over an open fire, with nothing more than a broken branch as a makeshift grid, it does not need to be quite that extreme.
You may enjoy ‘roughing’ it while you are exploring, but meal times needn’t be a battle.
A camping kitchen gives you ample space to cook and prepare your meals at a standing height, much like you would back home in your own kitchen.
With storage in the form of cupboards or shelves, everything is easily accessible and stored off the ground. You could opt for a normal fold up table but you lose the added benefits of additional shelves, cupboards for storing your cookware or hanging hooks for utensils like camping knives or lanterns.
Also, many camping kitchens have heat resistant surfaces allowing you to place your grill or stove straight onto the surface.
Do I need additional tools?
In most cases, a camping kitchen utilizes simple fold-up and fold-away technology. You do not require any additional tools or parts to set up.
Some tabletops may require to be clipped into clamps that are fixed on the frame but this can simply be done by hand.
The point of a camping kitchen is convenience, so with no additional assembly time or tools required, this is a definite plus!
Can I set up my camping kitchen anywhere?
If you are setting up a base camp, it’s a good idea to set up a kitchen area with a tarp to protect you and your gear from the rain. Include a windbreak as this will help when cooking with open fires.
Look for as flat a surface as possible to ensure a sturdy and level surface to work from. Some cooking kitchens have adjustable legs, which may allow you to level out the surface if the ground is not level, but if this is not available, you can lodge a small stone underneath a table foot. Just make sure that it is placed securely to avoid the table tipping over.
Weight and Portability
Consider how you are planning on using the camping kitchen. If you are setting up a base camp and won’t be moving it around again until it’s time to pack up, then weight and portability is not such a huge factor.
If you are backpacking, then how lightweight and compact a camping kitchen is should be at the top of your list of considerations.
Height
The height of the work surface in most cases will be manufactured to an “average” height – it is impossible to cater for all individuals. You should be able to stand comfortably at the table to cook.
Consider the height of shelves as well as how you plan to use it. If you have a large cooker and you place it on top of the shelf, are you still able to access the cooker safely?
Cooking / Surface Area
If you need a lot of space for preparation and cooking, opt for a camping kitchen with at least two work surfaces. This will also allow more than one person to cook at the same time.
If you are planning on placing a cooker on the counter or shelf, ensure that your cooker can fit and that it does not exceed the manufacturer's recommended weight limits.
Storage
Having additional storage in the form of cupboards is very useful. You can store things so that they are still easily accessible while being clean and organized too. Look for handy storage hooks and pockets for storing smaller utensils. Closable spaces are great for keeping critters out.
Materials
Powder coated aluminum is the most common material as it is strong yet lightweight. Surfaces that are heat resistant are usually steel.
Camping kitchens that include fabric components should be fire retardant for obvious safety reasons. A moisture repellent fabric is also preferable.
Ease of Setup
Look for a camping kitchen that is quick and easy to set up. In most cases, manufacturers create a frame to which counter-tops can be attached. A fully integrated unit means there’s less to fuss over.
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