11 Best Camping Skillet Choices in 2024

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CAMPING SKILLET?

You are in the right place because the 11 best camping skillets are all featured here. How do we know they are the best?  We have traveled in our RV since 2010 and bring you the best information, guides and products for your RV.

One of the most important parts of a family camping trip or your next solo trip in your camper van is your cookware. One of our largest expenses is food. If you are constantly eating out when you are traveling or living in your RV you will be spending a lot of extra money. At the end of the day, you are going to want the best camping skillet and cookware set.

This will make cooking so much easier and it will save you a ton of money in the long run. There are many different sizes and types you can choose from that will fit exactly your needs. If you are going to be cooking with a camping stove, hot coals, or even a small butane backpacking stove everyone needs a good working skillet for their cookware set.

A good skillet is a great way to save money and to make your trips much better. This cookware, with the proper care, will last you a lifetime and make everything you do in your travels stress-free. If you have a good skillet you will thank me on your next trip.

The Best Camping Skillet

Best Electric Skillet: Presto 16″ Skillet
Best Cast Iron Skillet: Victoria 10″ Skillet
Best Lightweight Skillet: Lodge Carbon Steel Skillet
Best Non-Stick Skillet: All-Clad D5
Best Large Skillet: Lodge Deep Skillet
Best Backpacking Skillet: Sea to Summit 10-inch Skillet
Best Dutch Oven/Skillet Combo: Barebones 10-inch Combo Skillet

1. Preston 16″ Skillet

If you are looking for the best camping skillet that is electric the best would be the Presto 16” Skillet. This is a great size skillet and is of good quality. This skillet has a heavy cast aluminum base. This helps keep the skillet stable and less likely to move or tip over.

It has removable handles for easy storage and the skillet detaches making for super easy serving. You can cook in your RV and once you are done you detach the skillet and head outside where everyone can eat.

With almost 13,000 five-star reviews this is your best electric skillet. You will be glad to have it.

Check Prices for the Preston 16″ Skillet on Amazon Here!

2. Victoria 10-Inch Skillet

The best cast iron skillet is definitely going to be the Victoria Cast Iron Skillet. This skillet has a great handle and is the best size. Cast iron is great for high heat and you will love the versatility and the performance of this pan.

If you are cooking on the fire, at high temperatures, open flame, in your motorhome, or using your outdoor grill, your wallet and whoever you are cooking for is going to be very happy.

Check Prices for the Victoria Skillet on Amazon Here!

Tip for Using Cast Iron: Don’t forget when cooking with cast iron frying pans and skillets you will want a few handle holders. The cast-iron handles will get hot so it is a good idea to have these handle holders or make sure you keep some hot pads close by.

Check Prices on Handle Holders on Amazon Here!

3. Lodge Carbon Steel Skillet

If you are looking for the best lightweight skillet that is not for backpacking and is made for cooking everywhere this Lodge carbon steel skillet is for you. It is not the lightest skillet possible but when you compare weight, durability, size options, and will work in your kitchen as well as your campsite, this is what you are looking for.

It comes in 8-inch up to 15-inch for cooking those large meals that require a lot of camping dishes. You will want to keep in mind that you will want to season this pan and just like cast iron you will not want to use soap to wash.

Check Prices for Lodge Carbon Steel Skillet on Amazon Here!

4. All-Clad D5 Skillet

Your best non-stick skillet is defiantly the All-Clad D5. This is also going to be on the more expensive skillets you might purchase. This is American-made in Pennsylvania and uses a 5-ply construction for warp-free cooking and great even heating.

You can use this as a nonstick camping frying pan but it might be best if used in your RV if you spend a lot of time on the road.

This would be a great skillet to use in your house and your RV. If you are not wanting to spend this much on a nonstick camping skillet we have some other great options that you will be very satisfied with.

Check Prices for the All-Clad D5 Skillet on Amazon Here!

5. Lodge Deep Cast Iron Skillet

If you are looking for the best large skillet, the Lodge Deep Skillet is the best choice. It has over 2,300 five-star reviews. This skillet is great for larger groups and will last for multiple generations. It is also made in the USA.

You will find the assist handle very useful as this large skillet can be heavy without food and once you get to cooking you will feel the weight. The assist handle makes it easy to remove from the stove by using two hands.

Check Prices for the Lodge Deep Skillet on Amazon Here!

6. Sea to Summit 10-Inch Skillet

If you do much backpacking at all you know REI delivers great products. This will come as no surprise that REI delivers the best backpacking skillet you will find. The Sea to Summit 10-inch skillet is a lightweight aluminum pot and the handle folds up to keep things compact.

If you are looking for the best camping skillet for your backpacking trip, you don’t need to take my word for it. Go check out the great reviews. This is the best option and is light weight. REI also has a great return policy for all the items you buy from them.

Check Prices for the Sea to Summit 10-Inch Skillet Here!

7. Barebones 10-Inch Skillet

If you are looking for the best Dutch oven skillet combo the Barebones 10-inch combo skillet from REI is your best option. Most of your other options are just two pans that are the same size that will fit on top of each other.

The Barebones from REI is a true combo that will do exactly what you need and will add the least amount of weight. Not only do you get a great skillet/Dutch oven combo, but you also get REI’s amazing warranty.

We also love making Dutch Oven chicken recipes while camping. If you want something that will allow you to do just about any type of cooking, you would imagine this is your best camping skillet.

Check Prices on the Barebones 10-Inch Combo Skillet Here!

8. Bella Electric Skillet

If you want the best value, electric skillet Bella has you covered. This skillet will work great for you, and it will not break the bank. The non-stick ceramic titanium is super easy to clean.

This is a very durable, no-frills skillet. It has a ton of great reviews and is going to be a good option if you are looking for an economical electric skillet.

Check Prices for the Bella Electric Skillet Here!

9. Amazon Basics Frying Pan

Another great basic frying pan that comes in multiple different handle colors is this Amazon Basics frying pan. It is not your cheapest option, but it is a really great option with a convenient nonstick coating. It is good to use on all stovetops except induction stovetops.

Check Prices on the Amazon Basics Frying Pan Here!

10. T-Fal Titanium Non-Stick Frying Pan

If you are looking for a good basic frying pan this T-Fal titanium non-stick frying pan is great. You get a wonderful product at a great price that will last for years.

There are three sizes to choose from and the thermo-spot indicator is made to make sure you know when your pan is at the optimal temperature to start cooking.

Check Prices on the T-Fal Titanium Frying Pan Here!

11. Magma Camping Cooking Set

If you decide you are in need of more than just a skillet or nonstick camping frying pan Magma is the high-quality cookware set you want. The stainless steel pots are a great cook set and are made for RV use.

It is the best camping cookware. They store very well saving a lot of space. They fit inside each other taking up only ½ cubic foot of space for easy transport.

The set is 7 pieces and will give you everything you need for cookware items in your camper, RV, motorhome, travel trailer, car camping, or camper van. The camping pots and pans are made for you and can be used on many different types of cooking surfaces. You will love this camp cookware and it will be a great addition to your RV kitchen accessories.

Check Prices for the Magma Camping Cooking Set Here!

Best Camping Skillet Accessories

If you are going to be doing a lot of cooking over an open fire, we highly recommend bringing a grate to set your best camping skillet on. This will help keep the bottom of your pan clean and out of the fire.

Check Prices for Grates on Amazon Here!

More Camping Skillet Accessories –

Lodge Lid Lifter: The lid lifter makes it really easy to remove the hot lid from your dutch oven/skillet combo.
Silicon Spatulas: Silicon spatulas will ensure you do not scratch the nonstick surface of your camping skillet.
Cast Iron Oil and Seasoning: Cleaning your cast iron with these two products helps clean your skillet and gets rid of odors.
Cast Iron Scrubber: This scrubber makes it really easy to clean your cast iron without losing your seasoning.
Grill Accessory Set: Stainless steel spatulas made for cast iron cooking.

FAQs About the Best Camping Skillet

Do I Need a Skillet when Camping?

If you are going to be cooking while camping, having the best camping skillet is a camping kitchen must. You can cook everything and anything in them and they can last for a really long time. We highly recommend keeping a skillet in your camping cookware.

What materials are best for camping cookware?

Every cookware material has different pros and cons. We will discuss some of the more popular options so you can decide what might work best for you.

Aluminum

Pros – It is very light, economical, and it is a great conductor of heat.

Cons – Aluminum is not super durable as it can get scratches and dents easier than other pan materials. Aluminum is a common option when backpacking because it is so light.

Stainless Steel

Pros – It is a pretty tough metal and does not scratch as easily as aluminum. You will find many economical cookware options are stainless steel and used in many kitchens.

Cons – It is not as light as aluminum and is not great at cooking evenly. You might notice hot spots can arise more frequently when cooking with stainless steel.

Titanium

Pros – Titanium is a great product for cookware. It will be your lightest option and is very strong. It will heat up fast and will work great when cooking at lower temperatures.

Cons – Titanium is very expensive. It can also have hot spots and you don’t want to overheat it.

Cast Iron

Pros – Cast iron is very strong and works great for any heating surface. You can cook and bake with cast iron and it will last for many lifetimes.

Cons – Cast iron is heavy and takes more maintenance than the other options.

Nonstick Coatings

Pros – Nonstick is great for clean-up and is used in many households.

Cons – Nonstick can scratch easily and get into your food. It is a lot less durable than your normal metal pot or pan.

How to Take Care of Your Skillet

When it comes to taking care of your skillet most skillets are pretty easy to maintain. If you have a cast-iron skillet you will need to do a little more maintenance.

For those who do not use a cast iron skillet the most important thing to be aware of is making sure you use utensils that will not damage your pan. Most nonstick pots require you not to use anything that can scratch. An example would be using a fork to flip what you are cooking or a metal whisk could also damage your pan.

You will want to make sure you use rubber products that are made for cooking. This will ensure you do not scratch the non-stick coating. If you scratch the nonstick pot coating your pan will not work as well and can leave residue on your food.

Is a cast iron skillet good for camping?

A cast-iron skillet is great for camping. They are very sturdy and do not require a lot of water to clean. We love using a cast-iron skillet. The only downside is they weigh a lot more than other skillets. Some people are also worried about how to clean them since you don’t use soap on them.

How to take care of my cast iron skillet

Cast iron cooking is amazing and can be super forgiving but it can be very picky if you want it to work at peak performance. This means you will need to do some maintenance before you start cooking, while you are cooking, and after you are done cooking.

You will first need to season your skillet.

It is not uncommon that cast iron pans will come already seasoned and ready to use out of the box. If your skillet is not already seasoned, you will want to season it. If you have a used or rusted cast iron skillet, you will want to re-season it.

How to season a cast-iron skillet

You will first want to scrub with warm soapy water. This will be the only time you use soap on your skillet. After you season your skillet you should not need to season it again unless you start to see rust or other issues.

Second, you will want to dry the cast-iron skillet extensively. Third, you will wipe oil on it. This can be the oil of your choice such as olive, canola, or vegetable oil. You will do this on the entire skillet including the handle and bottom sides.

Fourth, you will place it in the oven and heat the oven to 400 degrees with the pan face down. You will want to put foil or a pan under it to catch any oil that might drip off. Don’t preheat the oven first. Let the pan gradually heat up with the oven.

Something to be aware of is the temperature you set the oven at depends on the type of oil you used. In general, you will probably need to be around 400 but for some oils, you might need to be higher. You will want to do a search for the smoking point of your particular oil and set the oven to that temperature.

Fifth, you will want to bake the skillet for about 60 minutes. Then you will turn off the oven and let the cast iron cool inside the oven.

It is best to cook food that is fatty the first time you use your cast iron. This helps finish the seasoning process. It is also best to pre-heat our pan before you use it. This will keep things from sticking to it.

Cleaning Your Cast-Iron Skillet

Now that your skillet is ready to go and you have cooked with it after each time you cook you will want to clean it with water, oil, salt or you can boil water in it.

You will not want to use any type of cleaner that has chemicals, do not use it in the dishwasher or use soap. The reason for seasoning is that cast iron will hold that oil and taste. This is what makes cast iron awesome.

Some people will have different cast iron pots depending on what they are cooking because it keeps that taste. For example a separate set for deserts and dinners.

Once your pan is clean and dry spread a thin layer of oil over the whole pan. You will not want to store food in your cast iron pot and you do not want to put it in the freezer.

Other Tips for Using a Cast-Iron Camping Skillet

You don’t want to cook with highly acidic food and if you are going to cook foods that stick to pans easily like camping breakfast foods (eggs, pancakes) or fried rice you want to use your cast iron multiple times first.

After you have used your cast iron multiple times and you have added oil multiple times it will become nonstick. It just takes a few uses to get there.

Another important thing to remember is you don’t want to cook food that requires long periods of boiling, simmering, or steaming. If you cook those foods in your skillet it will remove the seasoning you created.

After the first seasoning, you will keep your cast iron seasoned by wiping it with oils after each use. This seasoning will make your pan become non-stick. This hard work is taken out when you boil, steam or simmer.

This probably makes you think cast iron is not for you but we just want to be detailed. It is not that complicated to maintain cast iron and here is the short version.

1)   Season your cast iron or if it comes pre-seasoned, you are ready to go.

2)   Clean your cast iron using water and salt (to keep it gritty and help remove food), and finish by wiping with oil.

3)   Store in a dry place and you are ready for years of use.

What Are The Benefits of a Cast-Iron Skillet?

There are a ton of benefits to cooking with cast iron. Cast iron can last forever. It is super hard to ruin. You can use any type of cooking utensil when using it because you are not going to scratch it. If you do neglect your cast iron you can season it again and start over from the beginning.

Cast iron is a great conductor of heat with low heat loss and great heat distribution. The weight of cast iron keeps food warm for hours and is the best cookware. It makes it great for searing meat, making pie, baking, and sautéing. It also is great for keeping food warm as you are ready to serve it.

Cast iron is healthy to cook with. You don’t end up with nonstick Teflon coating getting into your food. Cast iron becomes naturally nonstick and gives off trace amounts of iron that your body needs.

You can use a cast iron pan anywhere. Campers can easily cook with it on an open fire, camp stove, gas, charcoal, or electric stovetop. You can use it in the oven. It is one of the most versatile large pots and pans you will find. No matter the heat source cast iron is for you.

Conclusion: Best Camping Skillet

There are a lot of different options when looking for a camping skillet. The best camping skillet could be different for many people. You might even want to have a couple of different types if you have the room and if you don’t, you should try a few and keep what you like best or what will be most versatile for you.

When you are camping or traveling in an RV cast iron is so versatile it is a great and commonly used option. Its weight and the little bit of extra maintenance can be a deterrence but if you have not used it you might want to give it a try. It takes a little bit of getting used to but once you start using it you might not want to go back.

Don’t forget to bring a well insulated cooler or the BougeRV fridge to help preserve your food before and after cooking!

If you’re looking for great places to go camping, we highly recommend checking out The Dyrt, the #1 Camping App. The Dyrt Pro has amazing resources that really simplify trip planning:

• Take advantage of PRO Membership discounts to save up to 40% on campground costs
• Plan camping road trips with the Trip Planner
• Find free dispersed camping locations
• Use The Dyrt app anywhere with offline access

We have arranged with The Dyrt to give the CS Ginger viewers a FREE-30 Day Trial using the code “csginger.” Normally the trial is 7 days!

More RV Resources

6 Best Deep Cycle Batteries for an RV
10 Best RV Sealant Options for Roofs and Windows
12 Best TV Mounts for RVs
8 Best RV Step Stool Options