Cooking Outdoors

THE CAMP KITCHEN

For car camping, cabin camping, and sites with a short walk-in, you probably will want a two-burner, propane fueled stove with wind deflector.

 

Cookware with nonstick surfaces is convenient, and Lexan utensils are virtually indestructible, withstanding temperatures from -200°F to +265°F.

 

Remember to always operate your stove outside, never inside a tent, cabin, or anywhere else with poor ventilation which could lead to fire or asphyxiation. Make sure the stove is on a level, solid base. For more information, pleas read our Camp Stove Advice page.  (Shop Camp Stoves)

 

POTS AND PANS do not have to be purchased specifically for camping, but if you are backpacking, aluminum or stainless steel nesting pots give you an efficient, compact, lightweight setup that can often store your stove, nested in the middle.Pot and pans from your home kitchen might not seem too heavy, but with food, gear and such, you might wish you had gone for camping cookware. There are also convenient, lightweight, nesting sets for family campers.  (Shop Camp Cookware)

 

CAMP OVENS can be made from everyday kitchen items, and can work surprisingly well. For example, an angel food pan, fitting a tight lid on the top and cooking over a small stove on very low heat. Cakes, bisquits, and other treats can be baked this way.

 

When cooking over an open fire, the classic cast iron pot with a lid can bake quite well. Let the fire burn down a bit and just rake some coals out to one side away from the hottest part of the fire and shovel coals on top of the cast iron lid. Trial and error will refine this traditional technique.

 

FOOD AND COOKING

HAPPY MEALS - Snacks are important to head off the almost-constant hunger attacks. Good trail munchies include: fat-free fruit bars, nuts, dry cereal, gorp, hard cheese, bagels, and fresh or dried fruit. The traditional favorite, trail mix, is still an excellent staple - tasty, packed with nutrition, and easy to store, carry and eat.

 

When in the backcountry, store your food in bear resistant containers. Many parks require their use, so plan ahead.  (Shop Bear Resistant Containers)

 

Keep meals simple by sticking to one pot dinners. Provide food with universal appeal, pasta, black beans and rice, pizzas, and brownies (make them in a camp oven). The current generation of freeze-dried backpacking foods are amazingly good. The freeze-dried ice cream is a real crowd pleaser - try it right out of the package for a crunchy reward after a day hiking the trails. Bring marshmallows for s'mores to over a campfire or your campstove.  (Shop Freeze-Dried Meals)

 

For treats such as camp bisquits, pancakes and such, measure the ingredients into baggies at home, writing the directions with a sharpie right on the bag, so you carry exactly what you need, and don't have to worry about measuring, hauling back a partially used box and such. In colder weather, warm-up drinks like tea, instant cocoa and soups are truly appreciated.

 

Practice at the beach or in your backyard before camping. Kids love the magic of cooking cakes and such over the fire. Google recipes and you will be amazed at the variety and taste! Pizza, cakes, brownies, breads etc. can all be made (dry mixes are available) while camping.

 

 

Coffee lovers don't have to leave their favorite wake-up beverage at home - camp espresso makers can produce that morning punch without a lot of extra weight. Try the newish idea of ground coffee that comes in bags similar to tea bags - they weigh practically nothing and brew up a pretty satisfying cuppa Joe.  (Shop Coffee and Tea Makers)

 

WATER

Do everything you can to protect water sources from contamination. Even when biodegradable, soap is a stress on the environment so keep it away from water sources. Boil, chemically treat, or filter your drinking water any time you are not sure of water purity. Consider most backcountry water to be potentially contaminated even though it appears clean and may be running rapidly.  (Shop Waterfilters)

 

FIRE

Best is no campfire, but if you must have one (and it's allowed), keep it small, and make sure ashes are cold to the touch when you leave. Collect only dead wood, up to as big as your arm in circumference. Leave axes at home. When using a stove, try not to spill fuel. Clear the ground of duff to avoid wildfires. Smoke only where it is safe; around a fire or in a cleared area. Make sure your ashes are cool, then scatter them. If you do smoke, carry out all your cigarette filters.

 

GARBAGE

Carry it out! Scour your campsite thoroughly before you leave because even the smallest bit of human debris adds up. Pick up litter as you encounter it. If local land managers give you the go-ahead, consider cleaning up a trashy area and caching the garbage for later removal by a ranger.

 

 

RULES OF THE TRAIL

• Carry out all garbage.
• Hike on marked trails, not across fragile alpine growth.
• Use existing campsites or sites away from water and trails.
• Respect and protect the wilderness.
• Tread lightly and only carry home photographs and memories.