Camping Cooking

When you go camping, eating can make or break the trip. The first meal is especially important for setting the tone of the trip, so make sure you have something tasty and simple planned to make the meal run smoothly. There are many options as far as cookware and foods that you can serve.

Plan your meals in advance and bring back up food if you are planning on fishing or hunting for any of your food. Nobody wants to go hungry because it was a bad catch that day. In this instance a can of beans is better than nothing. If you want to bring frozen foods along, check with your local grocery store about buying some dry ice to use in your cooler. Just be sure to handle it properly as dry ice can cause frost bite if you touch it.

Cookware for camping is normally smaller in size than traditional cookware, and this is definitely an advantage if you are backpacking to your campsite. Even if you are driving to the campsite, smaller cookware will take up less space that you can use for other equipment. The types of cookware available range from a simple cook pot to many pots and skillet that nest together to save space. How long you are going to be gone and what you plan on cooking will determine what types of cookware you should bring.

One of the main choices when it comes to cookware for camping is the type of material that the pots and pans are made of. You can choose from aluminum, stainless steel, titanium or cast iron. Aluminum, stainless steel and titanium are going to be the lightest choices and are excellent choices for backpackers. Cast iron is very heavy, but with proper care it will last a lifetime. It is a good choice if you are driving to your campsite or if you only want to purchase camp cookware once.

Pots and pans are only half of the story. You are also going to need cooking utensils. If you are not going to cook anything elaborate you may be able to get away with just a knife and spoon. Depending on how fancy you plan to get with your campfire cuisine, and you can get very fancy, you will also need a spatula, tongs, forks and measuring cups.

You can purchase folding utensils to conserve on space and keep everything neat and tidy. If you are really short on space you can buy wooden spoons and spatulas and cut most of the handle off. Be careful of splinters when you do this and make sure you sand down the rough edges. You can also use plastic utensils to eat. This will save you money, but do not leave them at the campsite or on the ground. Make sure you dispose of all of your trash properly.

Speaking of plasticware, if you are planning on using paper plates to eat off of, make sure to get the heavy-duty kind. It's difficult enough to balance your plate and drink while sitting in your camp chairs without having to worry about a flimsy plate dropping your meal in your lap. You can also buy camping chairs with drink holders, or even trays, to make the whole process easier.

If you bring a vehicle it is a good idea to keep your food and waste in the car. The food and garbage will attract animals. When keeping food in the campsite use bear proof containers and never keep any food or garbage in your tent. Immediately clean up your campsite after a meal. When you are eating while hiking do not throw your refuse on the ground because this forms a trail that can lead animals, including bears, right to you; instead keep all of your wrappers and other garbage in your pack until you get somewhere to safely dispose of them.

When you are new to cooking at a campsite it is best to keep the recipes simple and keep ingredients to a minimum. You should do as much prepping before you go camping as possible. Wash and chop as many of the vegetables as you can before you leave for your trip. One easy recipe is to put the meat of your choice into aluminum foil along with vegetables and spices or canned soup. You wrap the ingredients up in packets and then cook them over a fire. You would be surprised at how many things you can successfully cook with just a roll of aluminum foil.

There is one other item of camping cookware that is worth mentioning: the Dutch oven. This is a large cast iron skillet with a lid. You can use it just like a cast iron skillet to make eggs or bacon; and you can use it to slow cook a meal all day while you are out hiking trails. You simply put the food that you want to slow cook in the Dutch oven and then bury it in the coals when you leave. A true Dutch oven is made of cast iron with three legs and a tight fitting lid. These are the features you should look for when purchasing one. A wire handle on the lid is also nice to have (as it will stay cool to the touch), but not necessary.

Whatever cookware you choose and what meals you choose to prepare, cooking can make a camping trip a wonderful experience. You have to eat while you are out camping and you do not want to eat nothing but granola bars and beef jerky. Get the right equipment and take some time to learn some tasty and simple recipes and you can have a great meal even in the woods.

For more information on camping topics, check out the links to my other Hubs below.

• Camping in Vendee, a beautiful region on the coast of France
  
• Buying a camping table
• Finding a quality camping toilet
• Information on cheap tents