Ever since covered wagons the Chuck Box has been a common term. Before that, I am sure migrating people had a means to transport some of their precious spice items that were not easily obtained foraging natures surrounding supplies.
If you have camped many years you have probably changed out your own method of carrying your own staples. Having your items with you, rather than being dependent on an inconvenient source to purchase (forage) your own items while camping.
My current method is below. We hope people viewing our blog take the time to forward us photos of your own “tried and true” method. We want to add them to this article. So tell us a little about yours and about yourself. Ours does not have the “coolness ” factor of a handcrafted wood Chuck Box, but ours is highly functional. The boxes have been along on multi-day canoe trips, Dutch Oven Cooking events, and regular campground camping. We have ours loaded so we are not wanting of anything.
We use 2 Stanley Fat Max plastic tool boxes. They have a rubber seal, and latches. We leave them on the picnic table at all times (unless in bear country) and have never had the critters get in them. They also sit out getting rained on at times. When we return home the used items are replenished and kept inside so they are always ready to go for the next trip. Dry Ingredients such as flour, pancake mix, etc is rotated when we replenish. We dump the unused portion out on foil. Refill the used portion from new supply in the house, then dump the older ingredient now on the foil, back in on top to fill our camp container.
The cooking ingredient box has individual screw lid containers that contain flour, sugar, coffee, etc arranged in the bottom. Cheap containers found at your local dollar store. The tool tray sits on top of those and contains all the spices. The larger containers in the bottom have all their lids labeled with what is inside.
The utensil box holds all of our cooking tools. Knives, Sifters, Mini Cutting Board, Mixing Bowls, Whisks, Serving Spoons.
Here is a list of items in my two boxes. I cook with large groups and can cook or bake anything with what I carry. Adjust your items to suit your needs.
Spice/Flour Box
(2) Containers of Flour
Sugar
Coffee
Brown Sugar
Vanilla Coffee Powder
Buttermilk powder
Oatmeal
Cornmeal
(8) 1/4 Cup containers of Crisco
Spray oil
Salt
Pepper
Cilantro Flakes
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Italian Seasoning
Paprika
Corn Starch
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Ginger ground/powder
Nutmeg ground/powder
Clove ground/powder
Burger Seasoning
Chili Powder
Cumin Powder
Vanilla Extract
Sage
Dry Milk
Cayenne Pepper
Bay Leaves
Vegetable Oil
Dry Yeast
Recipes on index cards in a small plastic zip lock bag
Utensil Box
Mixing Bowl
Cutting Boards
Hand Mixer
Tongs
Serving Spoons
Several sets of Knife, Spoon, Fork
Oval Metal Plate
Butcher knife
Bread knife
Paring knife
Can opener
Wine/Bottle Opener
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons
Whisk
Scissors
Pot holders
Ladles
Wooden Spoons
Spatula
Biscuit cutters
Rubber Batter Scrapers
Butane Lighter Sticks
Spare Lantern Mantels
Aluminum Foil
Plastic Wrap
Sifter