Camp cooking gives rise to thoughts of burnt food, cast iron pots and frustrated cooks attempting to make dinner for the evening. Finding food to cook while on a camping trip can be a hard task to accomplish. Cooking your food doesn't have to be difficult while enjoying the great outdoors; rather, it can be a very rewarding experience. Here are a few foods that you can cook while camping to make the most of your rustic culinary kitchen.
Soups for Lunch and Dinner
Soups are one of the easiest camp foods that you can take with you and cook. According to Love the Outdoors, an authority on camping, the easiest way to take soup with you on a camping trip is freezing or dehydrating it, then heating it up again or adding water at your campsite. Soup suitable for camping should have a variety of vegetables and legumes, such as black beans, carrots, potatoes and tomatoes, and a thick soup stock. Meat can be added, but extra care must be taken when storing it because it attracts unwanted "critters." Soup can also be made at the campsite, but will take you longer to make because of preparation time.
Easily Prepared Dried Foods
Dried foods, such as fruits, nuts and vegetables, are easy sources of nutrition, make perfect breakfasts, and don't usually need any preparation besides water. Whether you want to get on the trail faster, or are just too tired to cook up a full meal, dried food can provide something quicker than food like soups and casseroles. When picking out dried food, make sure that they are things you like. Try fruits, such as apples, pineapple, strawberries and bananas, for fast energy that can be mixed in with instant foods. Assorted nuts and vegetables, such as green beans, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, can also be added. You can either add these directly to dishes, or as (Urban Emergency Supply states) in its guide, "refresh" them by soaking the dried foods in water until they are fully hydrated.
Food on a Stick
Classic and timeless, roasted foods are always providing campers with a more interactive way to eat. Traditionally, hot dogs and S'mores are common foods at a campfire, but cooking with a stick can inspire creative ideas. Bread is an excellent campfire food, and very easy to prepare and cook. Choose a favorite bread dough recipe, prepare it, then wrap the dough on a stick and cook it slowly until it turns golden brown. This makes it easier for you to enjoy fresh bread without the need for an oven. You can also cook shish kebabs--meat and vegetables alternately skewered--or certain types of vegetables, like potatoes, corn and onion on a stick.
About The Author
Justin Chen is a freelance writer and photographer with 6 years of professional experience in outdoor activities, extreme sports, travel and marketing topics. His professional work experience includes publication with KOMO 4 News Seattle, Fisher Interactive Network, and Demand Studios. He is a current Pre-Med student at Walla Walla University.
