travel cooking kit

Travel Kitchen Set: The Essentials for Cooking While Traveling

We’ve all been there before. The times before you packed a travel kitchen set.

After going to the supermarket and picking out some local ingredients, you return to your accommodations all excited to cook up a feast.

You set everything out on the table. Then you open the cupboards to find a bent fork, a warped pan, and a butter knife so dull it wouldn’t even cut butter.

Anger and frustration set in.

How will you boil that pasta?

How are you gonna chop those veggies?

There aren’t even any plates or bowls!

You sigh in defeat and polish off that loaf of bread you bought with some wine. You vow never to cook on the road again.

Cooking while traveling doesn’t need to be this way! We have found that by traveling with a few essential items (that we tweak depending on the trip), we can prepare great meals wherever we may be.

If, like us, you’re a long-term traveler, digital nomad, house sitter, or all of the above, unless you have unlimited funds, eating out every meal is incredibly unrealistic. Self-catering is essential for slow traveling .

We’ve prepared food in countless kitchens in houses we are house sitting, at campgrounds while we are road tripping , while couchsurfing, and even in budget motels. The key to successful cooking while traveling is a kick-ass travel kitchen set that’s actually mobile. We’re not talking about the surprisingly toted-as-convenient travel cooking equipment that requires a car trunk, or several baggage claims (you’d be amazed at what people insist they must travel with).

We’re talking about a portable travel kitchen that will fit into your backpack.

One would think that every kitchen comes equipped with the same essentials. But if there’s anything we’ve learned cooking in myriad kitchens, it’s that not one single home is ever alike. Whether you travel via house sitting , Airbnb, hosteling, or Couchsurfing, these items can help you budget, feel better, and enjoy quality food (like yummy produce) wherever you are.

Here’s what we usually pack in our travel kitchen kit. What you pack in yours will depend on length of trip and your food preferences/habits. Let this list guide you as you make your own travel kitchen set!

Travel Utensils

Titanium spoon/fork/knife.

Call us dweebs, but we are obsessed with this utensil. Not only is it incredibly lightweight, but it’s a spoon, a fork, AND a knife all in one, without being useless like most sporks. It even will get past airport security (so say the Amazon reviews, we have not had to test this yet). We literally cannot say enough good things about this handy little tool. It’s great not only when cooking and eating wherever you’re staying, but for places that’ll hand you a plastic fork or spoon with your meal. Use this guy and save some plastic!

Read thousands of reviews and pick one up here.

Not only do they double as weapons, chopsticks are lightweight and super reusable. We have ones that come in two parts, so they’re easier to pack than long chopsticks. They’re a great conversation piece and everyone loves them when we pull them out. We got ours at zero waste store Package Free in Brooklyn, New York, but these titanium two-part chopsticks are pretty much the same thing. We love all types of Asian food, so carrying chopsticks makes sense for us. If just carrying the above spork makes more sense for you, do it! Remember, this is your travel kitchen set to adapt for your needs.

If you prefer bamboo, non-folding chopsticks, click here to check out these bamboo chopsticks.

Vegetable Peeler

This veggie peeler is super small, entirely stainless steel, and hardly takes up any space. This set comes with a julienne peeler, as it allows you to get those great matchstick strips without the precision knife work. I’ve had it for years and still works great.

Find the best prices here .

Garlic Press

The most important thing I did when moving out on my own? Abscond with the greatest garlic press – aka this one:

Garlic presses are more uncommon than you’d think. And if you do find one wherever you’re staying, it’s some flimsy shit that auto disassembles during use. I use it for more than garlic – any fresh roots like ginger or turmeric, also with herbs, when you can’t be bothered to finely mince. I’ll press lemon peels in place of a zester. Get a lightweight aluminum one. I suggest the one piece, 3 movable parts, design by Zyliss, as mine still works great over 10 years later.

Click here to grab your garlic press.

Vegetable Grater

What for you say? So many veggies are grate-able. Some veggies, once grated, are undetectable (to the veggie-phobic) when mixed into other things like rice and couscous. A great way to sneak in some extra fiber, something that can easily go forgotten when traveling and eating out a lot.

Not only is it practically a few millimeters thick, it weighs hardly anything and has last us many years. Aluminum and flat, it’s super travel-friendly.

Click here to check out various flat graters.

Flexible Spatula

Again, not as common as you’d think, and this one is definitely optional depending on the kind of cooking you do. But if you like preparing creams and sauces, then you want to scrape every last drop. Get one where the end and the stick can separate so that you can pack it better. Rubber and wood are super light to keep your travel cooking equipment manageable and not like a rock in your suitcase.

Click here to browse spatulas.

Swiss Army Knife

Sometimes classic is best. If you want to save even more space and weight, you could go for a Swiss army knife designed for cooking while traveling. Getting a Swiss army knife can be quite handy as they come with a can opener, corkscrew, and other utensils. Be careful not to bring it in your carry-on though, or you’ll get it taken away as happened to us. =(

Shop classic Swiss Army knives.

Containers for Your Travel Kitchen Set

Collapsible salad spinner.

Whether it’s leafy greens or veggies that need washing, we (mostly Veren) find this indispensable. Not being able to wash and properly dry your greens is one reason (other than the required effort) why so many people aren’t in the habit of making a salad. Don’t make excuses – make the salad.

Bonus: doubles as a mixing bowl and the basket as a strainer. You can also use it when you’re not traveling – we’ve seen quite a few homes with these collapsible salad spinners instead of the normal giant ones that take up tons of space.

Click here for more details on the collapsible salad spinner.

Stasher Bags

What do you do with those leftovers? Stash ‘em! These silicone storage bags are endlessly reusable and can be used to store anything from cooked pasta to sandwiches. Bring them on the go to enjoy a snack in a newly discovered park. Shoutout to RTWGirl for telling us about these!

Read more about Stasher bags and check out different sizes/colors.

Reusable Wrap

Another way to store leftover food is with a reusable wrap. These are best for sandwiches, cookies, and bread.

Learn more about using reusable wraps.

Reusable Mesh Produce Bags

Produce bags are a great alternative to all the plastic bags you’d normally use grocery shopping. You can use them for much more than storing produce, such as for bulk shopping. Although my favorite use is for them is – you guessed it – storing lettuce. These bags will keep your leafy greens from rotting by allowing them to breathe.

The worst that happens is that they wilt over time – but don’t toss them greens away yet. All that means is that they have lost water content and are still perfectly edible. Just put them in cold water (iced even better) for a bit and they’ll crisp back up. If you can’t be bothered with that and grimace at the thought of chewing wilted greens – toss them in a smoothie.

Click here for more types of reusable produce bags .

Travel Kitchen Coffee Corner

Calling all coffee drinkers! Depending on where you’re traveling, having a daily coffee out might really eat (or drink heh) into your budget. Or maybe you just love savoring a coffee inside before greeting each day. We (Sam mostly) like coffee every morning. The ritual makes us feel at home. Whatever the case, there are a few ways you can make your own coffee while traveling.

Steel Mesh Coffee/Tea Brewing Basket

There may be portable French presses out there, but this steel basket coffee filter is perfectly tiny and fits easily into any mug. Not only is it super durable, but this size can easily accommodate two servings of coffee grounds. It’s actually a tea basket, so if you’re a tea drinker, this one is for you too!

Click here to find the best prices .

Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker

We first came across the magic of the Aeropress while traveling with friends in Portland, Oregon. It makes a mean espresso, it is super-fast, it’s lightweight and easy to pack. All you have to do is boil water, pack the coffee grounds in, and press down.

If you’re an avid coffee drinker, an Aeropress is well-worth the minimal space it takes up (it packs into a little bag) as well as the price – besides, they are quite cheap, generally around the price of 10 cups of coffee out! Bonus: morning arm workout.

Check out Aeropress models and prices here.

Reusable and Collapsible Coffee Cup

On the subject of coffee, if you’re an avid coffee drinker that travels a lot, chances are you’ll be getting your coffee to go on many occasions, whether its in an airport, train station, or coffee shop that only has takeaway cups. Takeaway cups are extremely wasteful and unnecessary when you can bring your own cup! We use a 12 oz collapsible silicone coffee cup that packs into nothing when we’re not using it.

There are also non-collapsible ones like the stylish glass KeepCup . The collapsible one does retain the taste of coffee a bit if you forget to wash it out immediately, so keep that in mind. A quick vinegar soak will take out the taste.

Bonus: sometimes you’ll get a discount of 10-20 cents off for bringing your own cup. While it doesn’t seem like that much, it adds up and eventually pays off the cost of the cup.

Click here for more info on the collapsible coffee cup and to see latest prices.

Optional: Appliances in Your Travel Kitchen Kit

Most people won’t want to travel with appliances. But if you’re traveling long-term and are checking a bag, you might want to consider some of these depending on your food habits and preferences.

Bella Blender / Immersion Blender

We try to incorporate as much raw food into our diet as possible. Every morning we have a smoothie.

Hands down the easiest way to keep this habit is to always have a blender. In the States, the Bella Rocket Pro was our favorite. Spain has the best immersion blenders, so that’s what we use when we are there. While the personal blender is more powerful, it’s hard to beat the portability of a hand stick blender. They’re not as affordable in the U.S. (we got an 800-watt immersion blender in Spain for 30 euros, while one with the same power will cost you about three times as much in the U.S.).

**Keep in mind that blenders are checked baggage only!**

Click here to read more reviews and learn more about the Bella Rocket Extract Pro blender .

Our Mobile Travel Kitchen - 10 essential items to have in your bag as a Long-term and self-catering traveler.

And that’s it – everything in our travel kitchen kit. Budget slow sustainable travel in a nutshell.

We make travel affordable because otherwise, we couldn’t do it. Eating out every meal just isn’t an option for us, as much as we do enjoy trying all the vegan food wherever we end up.

Veren Ferrera

Veren is a creative pursuit enthusiast, a self-professed reluctant traveler, and the other half of the team behind alternativetravelers.com. Reared in central California and cultivated in New York City, this blustering blogger loves to talk about eating while sharing his general disdain for consumerist travel. He used to teach, tutor, and mentor to support himself and this blog, but now the blog supports him and his partner Sam as full-time travelers via house sitting.

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Portable Camping Kitchen Utensil Set-27 Piece Cookware Kit, Stainless Steel Outdoor Cooking and Grilling Utensil Organizer Travel Set Perfect for Travel, Picnics, RVs, Camping, BBQs, Parties and More

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About this item.

✅ Freehiker brings you the ultimate outdoor utensil set, It is a complete and professional BBQ grill kit that will satisfy all your needs for cooking, perfect for travel, picnics, RVs, camping, hiking, backyard BBQ-ing, parties, concerts, sporting events, boat rides, mountaineering and more. BAG SPECS: 14.5” length, 9” width, 2” thick.
✅ A mini kitchen on the go- Our portable utensil organizer fits all the essential kitchenware for the comfiest outdoors dining experience: 1*storage bag, 1*cutting board, 1*barbecue fork, 1*slotted tongs, 1*paring knife, 1*chef's knife, 1*wine opener, 1*can opener, 1*ladle, 1*scissors, 1*scraper, 1*slotted turner, 2*barbecue skewers, 2*extendable BBQ forks, 4*flatware cutlery set(3pcs). - Plus, the bag has additional space so you can personalize your kit.
✅ Your grilling experience is our main design purpose, The perfect lightweight and ergonomic grips ensure avoiding getting burns and skids when the grilling action. Besides, the end hanging rings design enables easy to hang on everywhere when drying or not in use to save space and keep tidy. Meanwhile, these camping cooking utensils are lightweight, so you can turn or stir with ease and won't get tired quickly.
✅ Robust cookware made for the outdoors, When outside of your home’s comfort zone, you need camping accessories you can count on, our outdoor cooking kit features cutlery 100% made with high-end Stainless Steel for enhanced durability & reliability. Our utensils are also dishwasher-safe and are made to withstand years of constant use.
✅ A gift that keeps on giving- Make any Birthday, Father’s/ Mother’s Day, Anniversary, College Graduation, and Christmas memorable! If you have any problems, please feel free to contact us and we will try our best to solve your problem as soon as possible.

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Product Description

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Portable Outdoor Utensil Kit by Freehiker- Enjoy the Outdoors on Your Own Terms.

Enjoy barbecuing, grilling, smoking meats, or simply cooking during your outings, camping, trekking, picnics, hiking, tailgating, road trips, events, BBQ gatherings and never find yourself unprepared!

Our Portable Cutlery Set Includes:

1*storage bag, 1*cutting board, 1*barbecue fork,

1*scissors, 1*paring knife, 1*chef's knife,

1*wine opener, 1*can opener, 1*ladle,

1*slotted tongs, 1*scraper, 1*slotted turner,

2*barbecue skewers, 2*extendable BBQ forks, 4*flatware cutlery set(3pcs)

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Robust, Reliable & Packed with Utility, the Freehiker Cookware Set Delivers in All Fronts.

Our camp cookware set can satisfy four people dining at the same time, Slice veggies, mushrooms, flip and serve meats, open wine, sodas or beer bottles, cut open packaging peel potatoes, cut or carve steaks- our cookware kit features all the essentials you need.

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A Gift That Steals the Show

Whether you need to treat yourself to a high-end portable kitchen utensil set or you know someone dear who is crazy about the outdoors, our set was made to leave the best impressions.

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Full Review And Demo Of This Complete BBQ Kit

Spencer Mecham

A Closer Look at the Freehiker Camping Kitchen Utensil Set

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the appearance, sharpness, organization, and ease of cleaning of the mess kit. For example, they mention that it's very nice, stylish, and easy to keep organized. That said, they're satisfied with portability, and quality. Opinions are mixed on sturdiness and value.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the camping set. They mention that it has everything they need for truck camping, including handy utensils. Some say that the set is complete and totally sufficient for camping.

"...utensils made them easy to carry, and they proved to be essential for preparing meals in the great outdoors...." Read more

"Nice quality! Heavy duty. Comes with everything you need from cutting board to can opener! Perfect for the motorhome!" Read more

"It’s 50 bucks for a whole set, not that bad. Everything u need is included . I took out some of the stuff since some I don’t really need that much...." Read more

" Perfect for camping " Read more

Customers find the mess kit portable, with a slim backpack and sturdy utensils. They say it's easy to carry and store in a camper.

"...The sturdy and compact design of the utensils made them easy to carry , and they proved to be essential for preparing meals in the great outdoors...." Read more

"... Pretty lightweight for its contents ." Read more

"...Forks, spoons, knife set of four very stylish and lightweight . Will be using the set for car camping and picnics as too heavy for backpacking." Read more

"...This is great for $50- the knives are sharp and a good size . The variety of tools is quite epics...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the mess kit. They mention it's very nice, stylish, and well-thought-out. Some say that the bag is nice, but it'll not hang up. Overall, most are happy with the quality and quantity of the product.

" Do outdoor cooking with style . Awesome price/quality range. All most important things are in one bag with you all the time...." Read more

" Aesthetically appropriate & cooperative company for sustainable portable cookware. I also love the capacity to store my utilities...." Read more

"...Forks, spoons, knife set of four very stylish and lightweight. Will be using the set for car camping and picnics as too heavy for backpacking." Read more

"...And it all zips in a neat little bag. Totally worth the price. The pieces are nice and sturdy and clean up easily." Read more

Customers find the organization of the mess kit to be super organized, easy to keep organized, and well thought out.

"...Bag is great, very organized , but cookwares are not that high quality. Mostly cheap stuff. Overall, 4 stars." Read more

"This kits seems very well thought out . It seems to have everything needed for truck camping...." Read more

" Everything in one is amazing . Only down fall is I wish the utensils where made better ." Read more

"...our RV, which is small and this takes up very little room and is super organized . Best part, is we can hang it up for easy access while cooking." Read more

Customers are impressed with the sharpness of the knives in the mess kit.

"...I’m especially impressed with the knifes . The overall quality exceeds my expectations and I’m buying another as a birthday gift for my sister." Read more

"...I was very impressed with the sharpness of the knives . I would recommend this kit." Read more

"...This is great for $50- the knives are sharp and a good size. The variety of tools is quite epics...." Read more

"...them to be, the tongs are kind of weak, but they work, the knives are sharp enough to cut and the scissors will work for opening packages and..." Read more

Customers find the metal parts of the mess kit easy to clean.

"...The utensils are sturdy and easy to wash . The carry bag is a sturdy material and you'll never fear something falling out." Read more

"...Totally worth the price. The pieces are nice and sturdy and clean up easily ." Read more

"Came with everything I needed. Is very lightweight and easy to clean . Super happy!" Read more

"...and we used all of the components in the set and they were easy to clean after use ...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the sturdiness of the mess kit. Some mention it's heavy duty and the stainless steel utensils are sturdy, while others say the silverware is a tad flimsy and the cookwares are not that high quality.

"...The sturdy and compact design of the utensils made them easy to carry, and they proved to be essential for preparing meals in the great outdoors...." Read more

"Nice quality! Heavy duty . Comes with everything you need from cutting board to can opener! Perfect for the motorhome!" Read more

"... Bag is great , very organized, but cookwares are not that high quality. Mostly cheap stuff. Overall, 4 stars." Read more

"...utensils are what I expected them to be, the tongs are kind of weak , but they work, the knives are sharp enough to cut and the scissors will work..." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the value of the mess kit. Some find it totally worth the price, with sturdy pieces that clean up easily. Others say that it's very cheap and flimsy.

"Do outdoor cooking with style. Awesome price/quality range . All most important things are in one bag with you all the time...." Read more

"Definitely worth what you pay for . It basically has all your camping needs in one spot...." Read more

"... Mostly cheap stuff . Overall, 4 stars." Read more

"...Silverware as well. And it all zips in a neat little bag. Totally worth the price . The pieces are nice and sturdy and clean up easily." Read more

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