Separate cooking, eating, and cleaning
A calm camp kitchen usually has zones, even if those zones are only corners of the same table. Keep raw ingredients, stove work, eating items, and cleanup tools from blending into one messy surface.
This makes the site easier to manage in low light and helps everyone understand where things belong after dinner.
Water planning is part of cooking
Many meals require more water than expected once you include drinking, boiling, rinsing, and hand cleaning. Before the stove comes out, confirm where clean water is stored and where used water should go.
A dedicated water container near the cooking area saves repeated trips and reduces the chance that someone uses the emergency reserve by accident.
Make cleanup boring
The best cleanup system is simple enough to happen while everyone is tired. Scrape food residue, use minimal soap where appropriate, and store scented items securely before leaving the kitchen area.
Boring cleanup is a compliment outdoors. It means the system works without drama.