Gerber elevates the humble camp kitchen with a premium full-size cook set that includes everything you need to prep, cook, and feed your campmates without sacrificing space or utility.
“There’s no reason to cook with bad cookware.” That’s what Travis Groves, the product manager of the ComplEAT Cookware project said as we listen to him go through Gerber’s latest release.
Gerber invited me to Napa Valley to see, and more importantly, cook with the new set. Travis is himself an avid camper and cook, and he was quick to point out that all the industrial designers who worked on these products also take food seriously. It’s clear that Gerber paid attention to the details. Gerber has been at the sharp end (ha) of the knife world for 85 years and their quality and excellence really shine throughout the whole range.
The ComplEAT Cookware Set
This 16-piece kit includes a 5.6-quart stock pot, a 10-inch saute pan, four bowls, four plates, a mixing/serving bowl, a hot pad/grabber, two lids, and a detachable pot handle. All the pieces cleverly nest into each other and pack into their own tote.
Both the pot and pan are crafted from 3-ply stainless steel for even heat distribution and are compatible with induction, electric and ceramic cooktops, and open flame. This is no backpacker set, these pots have heft. The whole set weighs 10 pounds. I don’t say that as a negative. Good kitchen equipment needs some weight to avoid hot spots and uneven cooking.
The silicone-coated pot handles lock in the upright position to keep them away from the heat of a flame. The lids feature fold-down grips with stay-cool silicone handles. Speaking of the lids, the saute pan’s lid is domed to create a nice braising action for your food, and both have drain holes in them, negating the need to bring an extra strainer. The removable handle locks securely and confidently, a welcome upgrade from those flimsy grabbers of the past.
The bowls and plates are food-safe polypropylene and are microwave and dishwasher safe. Remember those details I mentioned before? This is no ordinary tableware. The plates have grippy bottoms with extra material to separate hot food and your hands. Clever. The bowls have volumetric markings and oversized edges for one-hand grip. The large lip has a hole to hang it or even hold your utensil.
ComplEAT Utensil Set
The ComplEAT Utensil Set continues the theme of well-thought-out gear for camp chefs. Made from anodized aluminum, and in the case of the spatula, glass-filled nylon. They’re safe for high temps and corrosion resistant. The fork has real tines, not those super-short spork-like things that can’t stab a slab of beef. The spoon is nice and deep, perfect for oatmeal on a cool morning or chili by the fire.
The spatula is dual sided: one side has a serrated edge for light cutting and the other features a silicon edge to scrape and clean. Best of all, if you put the spatula and one of the fork or spoons together, you get a pair of tongs. The kit is rounded out with a 4-function multi-tool: a package opener, can opener, bottle opener, and veggie peeler. The whole set slides neatly together to keep things organized and rattle-free.
ComplEAT Cutting Board Set
If Gerber was going to make a camp cookware set, they’d never ignore the knife part. As expected, the knives are well balanced, feel great in your hand, and razor sharp. Made from 4116 German stainless steel, they’re tough, corrosion resistant, and hold an edge for a long time. This set includes the two most important knives any cook can have: the 6-inch chef’s and a 3.25-inch paring knife.
The six-piece set includes a double-sided cutting board, one bamboo, one polypro, an inner and outer tray and the two knives. All the surfaces are food-safe and, aside from the bamboo, are
ComplEAT Griddle
The ComplEAT Griddle is made from carbon steel. It’s tough, nonstick, and has good weight to it. The square shape gives you some space back on your camp stove, perfect for cooking a couple of things at once. The lip on the edge holds sauces and juices as well, that’s the good stuff.
It uses the same detachable handle as the rest of the cookset so you can mix and match and makes packing easy.
Since acquiring a set, it’s fully replaced my old cookware. The performance, the ease with which it packs into itself and the quality has won me over. Good equipment makes cooking an absolute joy, and Gerber nailed it here. I can always find something I would tweak or improve, but I have nothing. If you take your cooking seriously, you owe it to yourself to check out the Gerber ComplEat cookware, you’ll be glad you did.
