The Best Foods to Cook When Camping
If you’re an experienced camper or a first-time outdoor adventurer, you’ll quickly realize that cooking food over a fire pit isn’t as daunting as it’s often made out to be. Campfires provide the perfect canvases to cook up lots of delicious meals accompanied by stories and great company. As a father of three kids who has been camping for years, I have learned the importance of bringing the right ingredients and tools when it comes to cooking while out in the wild. Here’s a quick guide about the best things to cook when camping.
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Planning Ahead
When it comes to camping, planning ahead is always key. Be sure to plan out what snacks, entrees, and desserts you plan on making. This way, you won’t have any surprises when you get to the campsite and realize something you need wasn’t brought. In order to make sure the food is cooked properly and the meals don’t get cold in the time it takes to prepare them, it’s essential to prep all the food at home first, like slicing vegetables or marinating the meat.
When packing for the camping trip, you need to be mindful of the amount of space and available coolers. Carefully portion out ingredients and pack them tightly on top of each other to save space for other items. Make sure to protect the food against spoilage, even in cooler weather, with lots of ice packs to make sure your food stays safe and fresh.
Simple Snacks and Meals
To keep camping meals simple and easy, you may want to bring ingredients that can be cooked and eaten in one shot and don’t take too much time to cook. Below are some items to add to your list:
- Hot dogs and sausages
- Lunch meat
- Kebabs
- Quesadillas
- Grilled cheese
- Sandwiches
- Beef, chicken, and sausage burgers
- Campfire pies (like pizza)
- Pancakes, French toast, or waffles
- Wraps
- Veggie skewers
- Foil packets
Depending on what type of meals you’d like to make, you may need to bring items that cannot be cooked over an open fire. If this is the case, you’ll need to bring a small stove or camp cook set with you. Some things that require special cooking equipment or implement include pizza, paella, steak, or pancakes.
Utensils Needed to Cook
In addition to what you’re cooking, you’ll also need to take into consideration the types of tools, utensils, and supplies needed for your camping meals. Some important items that you should always bring include:
- Long-handled metal tongs
- Long-handled spoons and spatulas
- Food thermometers
- Plates and bowls
- Cups
- Sharp knives
- Foil and wax paper
- Can/bottle openers
- Cooking lighters
- Matches
- Garbage bags
- Aluminium foil
Desserts to Cook
Camping isn’t complete without some delicious desserts to accompany the meals. Desserts not only makes the experience memorable but also helps to fuel everyone when the sun comes out the next day. Some of the most popular desserts to make when camping are:
- S’mores
- Banana boats
- Skillet cookies
- Cobbler
- Spiced apples
- Fruit crisp
- Grilled pineapple
- Fruit pies
- Grilled doughnuts
- Mug cakes
Cooking can be an enjoyable experience for all when out in the wilderness. From simple snacks to deliciously-cooked steak, camping can provide a great way of bringing people together while also being able to eat the food you’ve prepared yourself. What are some of your favourite recipes or snacks to make while camping? Let us know in the comments below!