Keep Your Camping Cookware Neatly Organized! Tips on Storage and How to Choose

Tips for Storing Camping Cookware

Are you struggling with how to store all your various camping cookware?

While we generally refer to them as “cooking utensils,” they come in all shapes and sizes—from items used for cooking, like frying pans and cookers, to kettles for boiling water, knives, and spatulas.

It’s easy to get confused about how to pack and transport all the cooking utensils you normally use in your kitchen to the campsite.

Basically, the key to avoiding confusion at the campsite is to sort your necessary cooking gear by category and store them together.

There are several types of storage cases available, each with its own unique features.

• Box
• Basket
• Wire baskets
• Bags
• Mesh

In this article, we’ll share tips for neatly organizing your camping cookware, key points to consider when choosing items, and recommended storage solutions.

Tip 1: Storage with Dividers Makes It Easy to Organize by Category

Choose a storage case with internal dividers. If it has movable dividers, pockets, or slits, you can organize your cooking utensils by category.

This also prevents items from shifting and getting jumbled up during transport, and helps avoid scratches caused by utensils bumping into each other.

Tip 2: Store easily soiled gear in separate cases

Items like frying pans and cookers can get stained with grease that won’t come off, burnt-on residue that’s impossible to remove, or soot that won’t wash away—stains that can’t be dealt with at the campsite.

While you can clean them once you get home, you probably don’t want to store them with other cooking utensils that have been thoroughly cleaned and dried. There’s also a risk of dirt transferring from one item to another as they rub against each other inside the storage case…

We recommend preparing a dedicated storage case specifically for packing and transporting dirty cookware.

Tip 3: Box-shaped storage cases make it easy to see and access items

Box-shaped storage cases are probably the easiest to see into and take things out of.

If you sort and store items by category, you’ll know exactly what’s inside just by opening the lid. You can smoothly retrieve what you need without having to rummage through the box.

Tip 4: Choose stackable cookware

Instead of buying cookware like pots, milk pans, and frying pans separately, we recommend purchasing a “set” that stacks together and fits into a storage bag.

Also, choose mixing bowls, serving dishes, and mess kits that are all stackable. This allows you to fit them efficiently into your storage case.

How to Choose Camping Cookware

We’ll explain the basic types of camping cookware storage, their features, and key selection tips.

Understand the differences and choose the options that best suit your needs.

Selection Tip #1: Types of Storage

As mentioned at the beginning, cases used for storing cooking utensils generally include boxes (containers), baskets, wire baskets, bags, and nets, each with different characteristics and suitable uses.

－Hard Containers

These are box-shaped storage solutions, available in two types: hard and soft.

As the name suggests, hard containers are made of sturdy, rigid materials (primarily resin or metal). They protect the items inside from external impacts during transport or when setting up a campsite.

They are ideal for use in outdoor environments where items are prone to getting dirty.

Additionally, because the lids are flat and sturdy, they can be conveniently used as makeshift tables or even as seats.

With many stylish designs available, they look great, so simply stacking them at your campsite creates a stylish setup. They are popular among campers looking to capture Instagram-worthy photos.

However, there are some drawbacks: they can be difficult to store when not in use, take up a lot of space in the car, and become heavy and cumbersome to carry once packed.

－Soft Containers

Unlike hard-sided containers, these are made from soft materials such as fabric or vinyl.

Because the material itself is flexible, you can pack items into any empty spaces. They’re also lightweight, making them easy to carry.

Many models can be folded up for compact storage when not in use, making them easy to keep at home.

However, compared to hard containers, they are more susceptible to impact, mud, and dirt, and are prone to wear and tear over time.

－Basket

Basket-type containers are

• stainless steel wire baskets
• natural rattan picnic baskets
• plastic baskets with handles

There are 3 types.

[Stainless Steel Wire Basket]

Made of durable stainless steel, this water-resistant and rust-resistant wire basket can also be used as a dish drainer after washing. However, the basket itself is somewhat heavy.

[Rattan Basket]

Rattan baskets with handles are convenient for storing stacked dishes. They also have a charming appearance, making them popular as picnic baskets.

Additionally, baskets made from seagrass are attractive because they are affordable.

They have a soft texture but aren’t very durable against impacts.

【Plastic Shopping Basket-Style Baskets】

These resin baskets are shaped like supermarket shopping baskets and come with handles. Many of these products are relatively affordable.

Some resin baskets can be folded for compact storage. They can be used for purposes other than storage, such as carrying dishes to the sink or gathering small items to take to the car when packing up.

－Large Bags

There are also tote-style storage bags made of durable canvas or nylon, featuring shoulder straps or handles. Since the bags themselves are lightweight yet sturdy, they are ideal for carrying cooking equipment such as burners and grills.

They’re convenient because you can easily wash them off even if they get dirty from the grill.

Additionally, they are designed for organized storage, featuring loops on the outside and pockets or slits on the inside.

When not in use, they can be folded up for storage, so you won’t have trouble finding a place to keep them.

－Mesh

Mesh bags come in various shapes—such as drawstring, bucket, rectangular, cylindrical, and triangular—and in a range of sizes.

Smaller sizes are convenient for sorting and storing small items. With the rectangular type, you can store cutlery and chopsticks together before placing them in a container to keep them from getting scattered.

They’re also great for grouping seasonings or storing kitchen scissors and knives, which can be dangerous if left loose.

Additionally, larger hanging types allow you to stack washed dishes inside and hang them up to dry.

Tip #2: Choose a Size That Fits Your Cooking Gear

When purchasing storage items, first assess the amount of cooking gear you take camping.

We recommend laying out everything you own—cookware, frying pans, kettles, dishes, mess kits, cutlery, utensils like ladles and spatulas, and equipment like stoves and grills—to get a sense of the total volume.

Once you’ve done that, you can determine the appropriate size and shape of the storage case you need, ensuring you make the right choice.

Tip 3: It’s convenient to choose items with extra features

As mentioned earlier, storage solutions are more convenient when they come with “extra features.”

For example, for container-type storage, movable dividers; for bag-type storage, zippered pockets or sleeves; or webbing loops for hanging small items.

We recommend checking the entire product—not just the exterior, but also the interior and the underside of the lid—to ensure it meets your functional needs.

TOKYO CRAFTS Products Specializing in Storage

"TOKYO CRAFTS" is a camping gear brand that combines high design and functionality. Here, we introduce some convenient storage items from their popular camping gear lineup.

Bucket Shelf Mesh

The Bucket Shelf Mesh is a set consisting of a box-shaped storage basket made of mesh material that can be washed whole, and removable, foldable stainless steel legs.

You can place dishes and other items in the basket and use it with the legs set up, or use the legs as handles to carry tools like a basket.

You can also stack two baskets with legs attached on top of each other. It’s versatile and convenient.

Light Soft Container

This lightweight, rectangular soft container features a wide opening and is easy to carry.

It features a drawstring closure instead of a lid, making it convenient for storing larger items.

(The TOKYO CRAFTS Blaze Box fire pit fits inside perfectly.)

It has handles like a bag, making it easy to carry.

Float Case

The Float Case is designed to keep items that tend to get scattered neatly organized in one place. When you open the rectangular, zippered lid, you’ll find webbing loops and slits on the inside.

Additionally, the main body features various design elements for organizing small items, such as pocket-style pouches and mesh pockets.

The exterior of the case also features mesh pockets and D-rings, allowing it to be hung using hooks or carabiners. When the included frame is set up, it acts as legs, allowing the case to be placed at your feet without touching the ground.

Cord Unit Multi-Bag

This is a multi-bag that attaches to the Cord Unit (a set consisting of a stainless steel tabletop and foldable legs that can be used as a mini-table or stacked as a shelf).

It comes with a hook for hanging, so you can attach it to the Cord Unit and use it as a storage bag for small items. Additionally, there is a snap button inside the bag, allowing you to attach a trash bag.

It comes with a handle, so you can use it as a storage bag on its own.

Organize your gear to keep your campsite tidy!

Cooking utensils and dining items come in all shapes and sizes, from large to small. If you don’t organize and bundle them together, things will get messy and chaotic.

Use storage cases that match the number of items you bring to keep everything organized and your campsite tidy.

TOKYO CRAFTS offers a wide variety of outdoor camping tables, including the Zika Table, Zika Manai, COORDUNIT, MFT, and Coside Table, so you can choose the one that best suits your camping style. In particular, the MFT Multi-Frame Table—a folding camping table released in 2025 that complies with IGT standards (allowing the use of flat burners)—has received an overwhelmingly positive response for its innovative design.Whether for barbecues, as a campfire table for solo camping, or for family camping, its compact storage makes it incredibly convenient to use.