I, honestly love a good old camping trip! Relaxing in the midst of nature, in a sweet bubble of my own, away from the hectic city life – sounds like heaven to me! Although, one thing that always worries me before any camping getaway is the meals! I’m a food lover through and through, and having warm and freshly prepared (and tasty) meals at all times is a must for me. A good meal isn’t always guaranteed though when you’re getting down and dirty in the outdoors, but we can always try our best! Hence, we’ve curated a collection of portable and functional kitchen appliances that will help you prepare delicious meals even when you’re surrounded by nothing but the wilderness! From a DHL-inspired briefcase-sized portable camping stove to a portable electric pot to cook the perfect soup while camping – we’ve collected a whole range of super cool and helpful outdoor cooking appliances that will deliver great food to you without fail.
1. The Ember
Called the Ember, this conceptual portable oven features a monolithic design and has a sleek and clever build to ensure it can be used on a stove’s flame – without electricity – to create that ideal condition for baking. You can use this space-saving oven on the kitchen counter, or as I said, pack it along on your way out for camping. But as the designer puts it, the oven is more specifically a solution designed to facilitate baking in small kitchens. Given its process of baking, Ember is able to bake healthier food in small domestic spaces faster as compared to conventional ways. The unit is more convenient to use as well – simply place it on the stove flame, fill Ember with its container for baking cupcakes, and close the glass lid.
2. Choi’s Electric Pot
Since camping restricts many of the different modes of cooking typically available to us, the menu is usually pretty limited too. Hoping to expand the culinary experience of camping, industrial designer Yunsoo Choi conceptualized an electric pot for camping that can even be used to make soup. Characterized by its triangular shape, Choi’s electric pot takes on the same form as tripods and table lamps that have similar silhouettes. While its shape is familiar, its operation slightly differs to be suitable for cooking stews and soups. Camping accessories and cookware keep a compact build to assume ultimate portability and Choi’s electric pot is no different. Through a telescopic layering system, the different modules of Choi’s electric pot can fit into one another and be carried by a raised, removable handlebar.
3. Shelf
Developed in the design language of DHL, PDF Haus aimed to give Shelf a simple box silhouette with a freewheeling attitude, taking inspiration from the color scheme, materials and finishes often chosen by DHL for their vehicles and brand aesthetic. The grill even comes with DHL decals and tags that can be adhered to the metallic grill’s front case that turns into its table extension. While most gas stoves come with a separate carrying case, Shelf’s entire grill has been turned into one that can be consolidated and carried away. Shaped and carried like a slim briefcase, two metal clasps open and slide out to reveal the Shelf’s grill and supplementary table space.
4. The Campo
The Campo, inspired by the curves of an Apple Watch and the concept of a portable EV battery, is made in nature-friendly colors. Its helmet-like design, where the visor (the lid in this case) can be rolled up with a handle. Inside you have a magnetically fastened plate, over which you can keep the item you want to cook or heat and set the timer (which is displayed on the handle you can roll back down to start the microwave). The ease of portability is ensured by a locking mechanism on the side of the unit, which locks in place when the handle is rolled up or pushed down flat. Given its appealing shape and design, the Campo could easily fit in the center console of your vehicle, so you can even enjoy a piping hot cup of joe while driving. In addition to its application in the outdoors, a microwave of this sort can come in handy during unexpected power outages or an uncalled backyard party, which turns a normal day into a surprising camping event.
5. The C3PO canteen and the R2D2 stainless steel travel cup
The year 2022 marks 45 years since Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope appeared on the silver screen, and nearly half a century since George Lucas introduced us to two of the most beloved robots to ever grace pop culture. To celebrate that momentous occasion (along with the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back), Corkcicle debuted an entire collection of Star Wars-inspired barware that’s sure to geek up your kitchen! While the collection spans all of Star Wars’ memorable characters, our eyes instantly fell in love with the C3PO canteen and the R2D2 stainless steel travel cup – two pieces of drinkware that don’t just go together functionally, but they even honor their references in size and proportion!
6. The G-cube
In my opinion, a genuinely smart refrigerator is one that adds value and presents more use cases than a regular option easily available. This is where the G-cube smart mini-fridge marches in with its impressive portability add-on. The conveniently sized mini-fridge is first up designed to help users manage food more conveniently. It can be wall-mounted in the kitchen to save you precious space in the apartment. Moreover, the G-cube can be clipped out of the wall mount to be stashed into the boot of the car – or added to your RV’s kitchen – when your adventurous life takes you far and away from home. In addition to managing the food and keeping your drinks cool when you’re traveling, the G-cube saves you the liability of carrying a speaker along. Yeah, that’s right! The G-cube when connected to a mobile device over Bluetooth can be used as a portable speaker.
7. The Oblic Dropper
Oblic Dropper is an immersion coffee brewer that’s designed with an angled silhouette and silicone covering for accurate pouring and coffee on the go. Following a similar build to conventional immersion coffee drippers, the Oblic Dropper allows users to brew pour-over sin record time across multiple coffee mugs. Equipped with an integrated stopper, transferring Oblic Dropper from one cup to the next can be a clean, seamless transition without any spillage. Constructed from glass, Oblic Dropper comes with an angled silhouette that brings a modern touch to the traditional design. The angled silhouette of Oblic Dropper allows users to tilt the glass cup to make sure hot water can be poured all around the edges, making for the perfect pour-over.
8. The 29-L Zarges case
This coffee kit has a full range of accessories and looks like it is ready to be air-dropped into a war zone and I just know it will survive with the 29-L Zarges case that protects it. The brewing range comes in a sturdy, custom foam-cushioned lightweight German aluminum box which is popular for Overlanding and can be neatly stacked over other similar-sized Zarges boxes or strapped to the outside of a vehicle if needed. It is designed to keep dust and moisture out, and it is also IGBC-certified bear-resistant according to Zarges USA – so no aggressive grizzlies will be stealing your coffee although, before coffee, some of us might be like angry bears ourselves! The kit includes a large 32-oz (946-ml) BruTrek French press with a more group-friendly option featuring a handle and a spout.
9. HAUL
Dubbed “HAUL”, the minimalist gas stove is perceived in an inviting color combination, has a brilliant overall design, which relies on the convenience of portability and eliminates the metal mesh from the heating surface. The highlight of the HAUL, as the designer mentions is its neat design. The stove is redesigned sans “protruding wire mesh,” which is a disadvantage with conventional gas stoves. In addition, the compact heater is designed to be lightweight and has an integrated stable stand and a carry handle. The interesting red and white gas stove has a rotating knob on the top for temperature control and ignites the stove or turns it off when not required.
10. The Forge 15 grill
This outdoor grill balances design aesthetics with the robustness of lightweight tubular frame construction to take on any abuse from the off-road environment coming it’s way. It has practically designed dual-zone, high-output BTU propane burners with easily cleanable aesthetics. The Forge 15 grill boasts a fold-out prep table for easy stowing, an easy-to-read temperature gauge, a big steel handle, a removable grease tray, a built-in bottle opener, and a weatherproof cover. While tucked in the vehicle’s tailgate while traveling, the pivoting swingarm moves the grill away from the car for cooking when it’s time to set up camp. The swivel grill can also be detached for tabletop grilling when required. Also, there is a strong maple cutting board to increase the prep surface – and it can be removed to carry meals to the table.