Camp Dinnerware

Camp dinnerware?  Yeah, right!   As if there is anything really to be said about it.  Well, actually, there is.  My all time favorite is paper plates, bowls, and cups.   I hate doing dishes when camping, either in my RV or in a tent.  While some eco-freaks will complain about the waste of natural resources, it isn't really as bad as they like to make it seem.  Using paper does consume some renewable resources, but consider the eco-impact of manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, and selling permanent dishes along with heating water and making and using detergents and disposing of the waste water.   The overall ecological footprint of disposable goods is actually rather favorable -- and it's more convenient and saves time, which are both significant advantages when camping .   A few years ago we had an eco-freak where I worked who was boycotting styrofoam cups and campaigning mightily for management to discontinue using them at the coffee machine -- until someone posted an article that described -- in accurate scientific detail -- the eco-impact of paper cups versus styrofoam.   While styrofoam cups are slow to deteriorate in land fills, it's manufacture and use has a LOT less impact on the environment and smaller overall carbon footprint than paper cups.  Net result: styrofoam wins!  Using disposable items is not frivolous or irresponsible.  It adds a great deal of convenience and saves a lot of time when camping, conserves propane and water, and reduces filling holding tanks,.

There may be times when paper plates won't cut it.  Sometimes they're too flimsy for hot, heavy foods like steaks and baked potatoes or maybe you just feel like being a little fancier.   Buffet style potluck dinners may demand larger and sturdier items. Y ou may be able to solve the flimsy problem by using plastic or wicker paper plate holders.  I like the plastic ones that have a built in groove on the bottom that grips the rim of a soda can, making the can a convenient handle to hold the plate and keep track of my drink.   The brand is Loc-a-plate but I think they are no longer being manufactured.  If  you happen to come on some anywhere, snag them up while you can!  My favorite permanent camp dinnerware is the blue enameled "speckleware" or graniteware.  It adds a kind of pioneer or Old West ambiance and it is easy to clean and pretty darn sturdy.  If you want REALLY sturdy, go for stainless steel plates or even cafeteria trays.  We've tried both stainless steel and plastic cafeteria trays.  I like the stainless steel ones best -- they're stronger and don't flex or break.  The cafeteria trays are especially handy for potluck dinners and make a good platform for eating around the campfire.   Resting a wide tray on your lap is a lot easier than balancing a skinny plate.   Again, they are easy to clean and practically indestructable.  I have cups and bowls to match both my speckleware and stainless steel plates and trays.  A speckleware coffee pot is a good way to heat water on the campfire for hot beverages.

Fancy dinnerware usually isn't necessary or even desirable for camping activities, but you may have a special occasion now like an anniversary or special birthday when you want to dress things up a bit.   China plates, bowls, and cups may not survive the vibration and bouncing in RV cupboards or tent camping transport tubs without special packing. Variations of plastic or Melmac dinnerware can be quite attractive and aren't as heavy or as+ fragile as china. Personally, I'll stick with my favorite speckleware or stainless steel dinnerware, but I do have some fancy acrylic glasses that can really dress up a table when wanted and yet are nearly unbreakable.  Some of them look almost as good as real crystal, even though they lack the resonance.  And, compared to paper cups, they're down right elegant!

Disposable plastic flatware also helps avoid the need for doing dishes.   If you want dressy stuff for a special occasion, there are really nice clear plastic and even shiny silver versions that are almost as nice as sterling silver, but for everyday use, ordinary plastic is cheaper and just as functional.  Even so, I do keep a set of stainless steel flatware in my RV in case I run out of plastic or want something sturdier for a nice steak dinner.  I find plastic flatware totally inadequate for steaks.  Of course, there are different grades (and prices) of plasticware.  I've seen forks so flimsy they melt when used on anything hot enough to eat but they're OK for baked beans, potato salad, and cake and ice cream at picnics.

Regardless of what kind of dinnerware you choose, you only need to bring along as much as you need for the number of people on that trip.   No sense hauling around complete service for 8 when there is only two of you.  When we camped regularly with 6 kids the service for 8 was necessary but now that we're retired, 3/4 of that stuff can stay at home most of the time, reducing weight and freeing up valuable space.

Paper table cloths, especially red and white checkered ones, are traditional on picnic tables.  For a fancier dinner, use a lacy white paper or plastic table covering.  Real cloth table cloths take up a lot of room and have to be taken home and laundered.  Paper or plastic create an attractive, sanitary surface and can be disposed of after use.  Plastic coated table cloths provide an easy to clean surface that invites multiple uses.  Table cloths tend to blow up or even blow away when the breeze kicks up.  Pick up a set of table cloth clamps or table cloth weights to secure your table cloth -- or make sure it is anchored by ice chests and "Round-a-bouts" or rocks.

Of course, if you REALLY want real china, crystal, and sterling silver for a special event, go ahead.   Just take appropriate precautions packing it to survive the bumpy ride and allow enough time to wash it properly and re-pack it when you're done using it.  You might even use real cloth table cloths and napkins to pack and pad the fragile items.  Hey, you could even bring along some silver candlesticks to highlight the meal and add a romantic touch for special occasions.  You might recall the elegant setting in the movie Hildalgo when the English lady invites Frank to tea in her tent.   It rivaled service in any royal court.   Of course she had servants to do all the heavy lifting.

Serving.  At home you probably don't serve your meals right out of the pan, but when camping that makes perfect sense -- takes less time and there are fewer dishes to do.  Condiments are most convenient served right out of the original containers.  Lest you think that is too crass, that's the way they were served at Hearst Castle in its hay day entertaining high level politicians and celebrities. Have your dinner guests bring their plates to the camp fire or BBQ for their burgers or steaks instead of dirtying an extra plate just to bring them to the table.  I like over-sized serving spoons.  I found some speckleware serving spoons and forks I like to use.  Of course, stainless steel utensils are sturdy and easy to clean and are ideal for camp use.   Plastic versions may be less expensive, but might melt if used around the campfire and they don't stand up to the rather rambunctious use they often get around camp.  You can usually find both plastic and stainless steel utensils at your local dollar store so they don't have to be expensive.  Of course you can get professional grade utensils at a restaurant supply store that will most likely last forever -- if you don't lose them.   Really nice ones sometimes have a tendency to be "acquired" by envious campers.   I've found the dollar store versions quite adequate for camping and they're inexpensive to replace if they get lost or damaged..

Glassware is often too fragile for camping, but there are lots of acrylic and plastic options that are quite attractive and will survive travel better.  You can also serve soft drinks and other beverages right out of the can or bottle, unless you need or prefer them over ice.   Then you might use paper or plastic cups, which are convenient and save water and time you would spend washing permanent items.  If you prefer something sturdier, plastic tumblers are lighter weight and less fragile than glass.  Porcelain cups are often preferred for hot beverage, but again, they are fairly breakable.  If you must use porcelain cups, be sure to store them safely where the sometimes violent maneuvers of travel won't break them.  Stainless steel, tin, or enameled cups are sturdy and stand up better to the rigors of camping while adding a pioneer ambiance.  They are sturdy and are easy to clean and store.

Sometimes you can avoid using any dinnerware at all.   Simple hot dogs can be cooked over the campfire on a stick or wire coat hanger then slipped directly into a bun and garnished with your favorite condiments with out dirtying a single plate.  Pre-packaged meals, like MREs and TV dinners, can be eaten directly from the disposable containers they come in which can then be disposed of in the trash or the campfire.

Some camp cook sets include plates, bowls, and cups.  The plastic plates and cups are usually kind of light weight, sometimes even bordering on flimsy, but they are convenient and get the job done.  These camp cook sets can conserve weight and space in your RV or camp set.  They are usually designed so everything stacks together for storage and transport and usually come in a carry bag.

Military mess kits are designed for field use and so are ideal for camping.  Boy Scout and other camp mess kits are usually lighter weight and less durable but quite convenient, functional, and reasonably priced.  You can get mess kits at military surplus stores and in most camping departments.  A one-person mess kit is usually well under $10.   Military kits are usually made of stainless steel while camping kits are often made of aluminum.   The stainless steel will hold up better but will be heavier if you are back packing or have to carry it very far.

The right dinnerware will be fun and easy to use, durable, and easy to clean and store.   It may even be festive, like the cowboy themed enameled set I inherited from my Grandfather.

Eat up!