YJ GIS Industrial Limited

The choice of utensils for camping holds the key to "having a good meal" - plastic utensils are prone to deformation, disposable utensils are not environmentally friendly, while a set of stainless steel plates + portable utensils can withstand outdoor bumps and can be reused. They can also be paired with a cooking set to achieve a "cooking + serving + eating" one-stop solution. However, choosing the wrong stainless steel utensils can lead to problems such as insufficient capacity for grilled meat, taking up too much space for storage, and being uncomfortable to use, thus becoming a burden. The core lies in "adaptation to the camping scenario, details of stainless steel material, and the practicality of the set". Selecting the right equipment that is truly suitable for outdoor use.

Let's first understand: What are the core advantages of choosing stainless steel utensils for camping?

Compared to plastic and ceramic utensils, stainless steel plates and portable utensils are naturally suitable for camping:

Durable and resistant: They are not prone to deformation from outdoor bumps (such as falling on grass or gravel roads, unlike ceramics which break easily or plastic which cracks), and they do not release harmful substances at high temperatures (when holding freshly grilled meat);

Easy to clean: Oil stains can be wiped off with a simple rinse, no need for complex cleaning agents, and even can be simply washed with the campsite's stream water (followed by deep cleaning at home);

Lightweight and environmentally friendly: High-quality stainless steel utensils are 50% lighter than the same capacity ceramic ones and slightly heavier than plastic ones but are durable (a set can be used for 3-5 years), avoiding the waste caused by frequent changes of utensils;

Suitable for cooking equipment: Stainless steel plates can directly hold grilled meat (able to withstand high temperatures), and the forks and spoons of the portable utensils can easily pick up grilled skewers and vegetables, and perfectly match with the camping grill set.

Part One: How to choose a stainless steel plate set?

When choosing a stainless steel plate set for camping, don't just focus on the "appearance level", but pay attention to "capacity, compartment design, and storage method", which are suitable for different numbers of people and camping types:

1. Capacity: Choose based on "number of people + purpose"

1-2 person camping: Select "single-person serving plate (diameter 18-20cm) + mini soup bowl (capacity 300ml)" combination, the plate can hold 1 piece of steak + 1 serving of grilled vegetables, and the soup bowl can hold hot soup or fruits, the total weight is controlled within 200g and does not take up backpack space;

3-5 person family camping: Select "multi-person sharing plate (diameter 25-28cm) + 1 serving plate per person (diameter 16cm)", the sharing plate is used to hold the grilled whole meat (such as grilled chicken, grilled ribs), the serving plates avoid direct contact with food with hands, being hygienic and convenient, the total weight is approximately 500g, and it can be easily carried in a car camping.

2. Compartment design: "With compartments" is more practical than "all open"

Recommend choosing "2-3 compartment plates": such as "1 large compartment (for main food / grilled meat) + 1 small compartment (for vegetables) + 1 mini compartment (for sauce)", avoiding the oil from grilled meat mixing into vegetables, and the sauce doesn't need to be brought in a small box separately;

Avoiding the pitfall of "all open plates": when there is no table during camping, holding the plate while walking around can cause food to mix together and even spill; also, don't choose "with too many compartments (more than 4)", the compartments are too small to hold large pieces of grilled meat, and they are rather useless.

3. Storage: "Stackable + with storage bag" is a must-have

Single-person set: Choose "plates that can fit into the soup bowl" design, the volume reduces by 40% when stacked, and a lightweight canvas storage bag is also included to avoid scratches from the utensils in the backpack;

Multi-person set: Prefer to choose "with separate storage boxes" style, the serving plates, sharing plates, and soup bowls are each placed in their own position, not afraid of scratches when stacking, and the storage box can also be used as a temporary small table, convenient for placing the sauce bottle.

Part Two: How to choose stainless steel portable utensils?

Camping portable utensils are not "just buying a set of forks and spoons", they need to be suitable for the "easy grip and can handle various foods" requirements of outdoor use: Material thickness: Choose "304 stainless steel with a thickness of 1.2-1.5mm". Too thin will deform easily, while too thick will be too heavy (increasing the burden on the backpack);

Edge treatment: The edges of the plates and utensils should be "smooth without burrs" to avoid scraping the lips when eating;

Accessory combination: For 1-2 people camping, choose "fork + spoon + chopstick" as a three-piece set. For 3 or more people, add a "mini stainless steel scissors" (useful for cutting skewers and opening food packaging);

4 types of camping scenarios: Stainless steel dinnerware + portable tableware matching solutions

1. Hiking light camping (1 person): Minimalist combination

Dinnerware set: 1 18cm divided dinner plate (2 compartments) + 1 300ml mini soup bowl (can fit inside the dinner plate);

Portable tableware: 1 set of folding fork, spoon, and chopstick (folded length 10cm);

Storage: Share 1 canvas storage bag, total weight about 180g, can be easily stuffed into the backpack side pocket, suitable for a single-day hike, just enough for holding grilled small pieces of meat and vegetables.

2. Family camping by car (3-4 people): Practical combination

Dinnerware set: 1 28cm shared dinner plate (for the entire grilled meal) + 4 16cm individual plates (1 plate per person, 3 compartments design) + 4 350ml soup bowls;

Portable tableware: 4 sets of fork, spoon, and chopstick (not folding, handle with anti-slip texture) + 1 mini stainless steel scissors;

Storage: With a layered storage box, the volume is approximately the size of a shoebox, placed in the trunk, the shared dinner plate can directly connect to the grill for grilled chicken, the individual plates are convenient for children to use, hygienic and convenient.

3. Multi-person camping party (5 people or more): Efficient combination

Dinnerware set: 2 28cm shared dinner plates (separately for grilled meat and grilled vegetables) + 6 16cm individual plates + 2 500ml large soup bowls (for soup, packaging of fruits);

Portable tableware: 6 sets of fork, spoon, and chopstick + 1 mini scissors + 1 stainless steel seasoning dish (for cumin, chili powder);

Advantages: The shared dinner plates are large enough to hold the batch of ingredients grilled by the grill, the seasoning dish avoids using plastic bags for seasonings, more environmentally friendly, suitable for camping with friends, easy to divide and take, very convenient.

4. Minimalist one-person camping (cycling / hiking): Ultra-light combination

Dinnerware set: 1 "dinner plate + soup bowl combined" style (bottom of the dinner plate is deep, can be used as a soup bowl, diameter 16cm);

Portable tableware: 1 set of "fork and spoon integrated" folding style (folded size like a lighter);

Total weight: About 120g, not heavy even when hung on the backpack shoulder strap, suitable for those who pursue the most lightweight camping, grill 1 single-person portion of grilled meat, use the combined dinner plate, no need to bring additional tableware.

Last 2 tips for use and maintenance

Cleaning: Outdoor use warm water to wash off oil stains, at home use neutral detergent + sponge to clean, do not use steel wool (will scratch the stainless steel surface, easily accumulate oil stains);

Maintenance: Dry after each use and store, avoid long-term dampness causing rust on the surface (304 stainless steel has strong rust resistance, but long-term contact with water may also have rust marks, rust marks can be removed by soaking in white vinegar for 10 minutes and then wiping off).

Choosing the right stainless steel dinnerware set and portable tableware can make camping meals more "convenient" - no worries about broken tableware, no need to worry about storage, and can perfectly match with the grill set, from grilling to eating and serving, all in one set, both environmentally friendly and durable, this is the best choice for outdoor dining.