Camping Hack; The Pocket-Sized Spice Rack

Our Favourite Foodie Camping Hacks: The Ultimate Pocket-Sized Spice Rack for Camping

There’s nothing quite like a delicious, well-seasoned meal cooked outdoors. But let’s be honest, lugging a heavy box of full-sized spice jars is a nightmare, especially when you're trying to maximise space for car camping. We’ve found the ultimate solution to keep your camp cooking exciting, hassle-free, and most importantly, super light! The Pocket-Sized Spice Rack.

Forget heavy glass jars! Our favourite hack for a portable camping pantry uses an item you likely already have lying around: a simple, reusable pill case. This compact container is the perfect size for an entire week's worth of seasonings. It completely eliminates the need to lug lots of heavy spice jars. The individual compartments allow you to organise your spices perfectly. We use them for everything from coarse salt and whole cloves to dried herbs and powdered spices like paprika and curry. You can fill up at home and be ready to go! When you arrive at the campsite, simply open a lid and sprinkle your flavour into any campsite meal. It’s easy camping at its tastiest!

How To: Build Your Own Pocket-Sized portable camping pantry!

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

To create this easy camping spice kit, you'll need just a few things:

A Clean Pill Case: Look for a 7-day pill organiser (the kind with individual lids). The rectangular, narrow style works best as it fits easily into a small pocket or cooking kit.

Your Favourite Spices and Herbs: Think about the meals you plan to cook. Don't forget the essentials like salt, pepper, and garlic powder, along with your signature favourites!

Small Funnel or Teaspoon: This will help you keep the process mess-free.

Step 2: Prepare the Pill Case

Before filling, it’s critical to ensure your container is food-safe and moisture-free.

Clean and Dry: Thoroughly wash the pill case with warm, soapy water. Rinse well.

The Crucial Step: Keep them nice and clean and dry so any moisture doesn't go mouldy! Allow the case to air-dry completely for several hours, or dry it gently with a paper towel. Any residual moisture will ruin your spices.

Step 3: Fill Your Mini Pantry

This is where you stock up your portable spice arsenal and avoid the need to lug lots of heavy spice jars.

Select Your Spices: Choose a mix of ground spices and whole seasonings.

Tip: Use the days of the week labels (TUE, WED, etc.) to help you remember what's inside, or choose the best spice for that day's meal plan!

Fill Carefully: Use a tiny funnel or the tip of a teaspoon to pour your spices into each compartment. Fill each section almost completely to reduce the amount of air, which helps keep them fresh.

In the pictures, we used: Paprika, Curry Powder, Dried Oregano, Whole Cloves, and Coarse Flake Salt.

Secure the Lids: Snap the lids shut firmly. The secure lids are key to preventing a disaster (nobody wants a hassle-free camp cooking plan to turn into a cumin explosion!).

Step 4: Ready for Camp Cooking

Your personalised, space-saving spice rack is now ready to go!

Pack It Smart: Thanks to its compact size, you can clip the pill case to the outside of your cooking bag or tuck it into a utensil roll.

Sprinkle Your Flavour: When your food is hot, simply open the corresponding lid, and sprinkle your flavour into any campsite meal!

Enjoy our video guide showing us taking our spice rack to a campsite.

What's the first spice you're going to put in your new camping spice kit? Let us know in the comments!