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In recent years, more than seven million families have reported going camping for the first time. In total, approximately 80 million American households camp regularly.
If you’re a first-time camper, you likely are concerned about how to cook while camping. Although camp cooking is simple, you should know some tricks and tips before heading out into the wilderness.
This article is a brief guide to campfire cooking for beginners. The suggestions in it will make your experience much more enjoyable (and delicious)!
Plan Ahead
Campsite cooking has to be simple. You won’t have all the utensils and appliances you usually rely on in your kitchen.
Plus, if you are limited on space, you won’t be able to take several pots, pans, cutting boards, and different types of kitchen tools.
One of the most useful things you can do to make your campfire cooking successful is to plan in advance. If possible, do some of the prep work for your meals at home. Just remember to store all the ingredients in air-tight containers and pack them in your cooler.
If you don’t fancy cooking on your camping trip, prepare and freeze meals in advance. Later, you can store them in the cooler and let them defrost as you need them.
The best part about keeping frozen meals in the cooler is that they will act as ice packs, saving you space for more delicious snacks and drinks.
What to Cook While Camping
What you can cook while camping largely depends on how much food you can carry. If you are staying at a campsite near your car, you won’t have to worry about hauling all the equipment and food.
Thus, you can enjoy just about any meal you’d like. Here are some ideas:
- Potato and egg scramble
- Hot dogs and hamburgers
- French toast
- Fried fish
- Dutch oven pizzas
- Quesadillas
- Pineapple upside-down cake in foil
On the other hand, if you go backpacking, you will want to keep your load light. Since you won’t carry a cooler, you will likely need to pack freeze-dried meals and pasta.
In between meals, you can snack on beef jerky, trail mix, granola bars, or dried fruit. Just be sure to pack enough food to give you the energy you need, especially if you intend on spending the day hiking.
How to Cook While Camping With Minimal Equipment
When it comes to equipment, you don’t have to bring much to cook a fabulous outdoor meal. Here are some of the tools you should take along with you.
Cast-Iron Pan or Skillet
A pan is the most important cooking tool to bring with you while camping.
You can use it for just about anything- meats, eggs, vegetables, and more. Many people prefer to use a cast-iron skillet on the fire, but you can use a lightweight aluminum or titanium pan if you don’t want the heavy load.
Other Supplies
There are some other essential supplies that you will need, such as:
- lighter fluid
- matches
- aluminum foil
- pie iron
- dutch oven
- spatula/tongs
- charcoal
- firewood
In case the weather is rainy, you may also wish to bring a small stove. Most people prefer to bring a propane-operated stove, but you can also use an electric stove if you have a solar generator.
Campsite Cooking Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
With our helpful suggestions, you can learn how to cook while camping. The key is to prepare in advance and have the proper equipment. If you do, you can get creative and bring all sorts of foods to cook while camping!
Would you like to learn more exciting tips and tricks? If so, check out more of our content!
