I have learned several things on my camping excursions. How to build a proper fire, how to cook over an open flame, how to pitch a proper tent, etc… the list goes on. I have also found that there is one common theme that runs through all my camping trips.
Preparation.
Preparation can be the determining factor between an epic camping trip and a miserable experience. I find the more preparation you can do before you leave, the greater the chance of having a great experience with your friends and family. Different styles of camping require different types of preparation.
I am primarily a truck/tent camper. I take more equipment than a backpacker camper would need, but I don’t have the luxuries of a mobile home.
This is the first in a series of posts, where I break down my camping prep work for a comfortable camping trip.
Camping is a great reason to enjoy some great food. However, you can’t enjoy that food if you don’t have the proper supplies to cook it.
This is where the organization and planning of my camping pantry are crucial. This is where that epic camping meal begins.
Ask yourself the following questions while planning and you will have a winning game plan for some delicious meals.
Disclosure: Adam’s Garden of Eatin’ participates in affiliate marketing programs. There are some affiliate links below and I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post, but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.
Why are you cooking?
Everyone has to eat. Duh.
Are you preparing for quick & simple meals or complex & elaborate feasts?
Are you planning to cook for sustenance or cook to impress?
Plan accordingly now.
I like to cook more elaborate meals when camping because I have the time to do so. I prefer a hearty meal around a campfire.
I find it more satisfying than a simple hot dog or sandwich, but your camping trip may not allow for such elaborate meal prep.
Who are you cooking for?
Yourself, spouse, family, or large group?
My campouts usually involve anywhere between 4-12 people, so I have to stock my pantry full before my trips. A solo camper will not need as many supplies as someone who is cooking for a family or group.
Does anyone have food allergies?
We don’t want anybody’s throat closing up in the middle of the woods from that peanut you decided to mix in with the trail-mix.
Where are you going to cook?
Since the majority of campers cook outside, it’s a good idea to know what’s around your kitchen area.
Bears, mountain lions, snakes, coyotes, wolves, etc… all exist and are dangerous. Don’t forget that.
I camp in the smokey mountains. As a result, I know the threat of bears is always there, so I cook with a gun close by.
Different areas will pose different threats and predators. The smell of frying skillet bacon is hypnotic to people, so you can’t blame a bear for wandering into your camp kitchen looking for a piece too. (Disclaimer: Don’t be that guy and feed wild animals please)
When are you going to cook?
Different seasons require different prep methods.
Will you be cooking in the heat of summer or the freezing temperature of winter?
If camping during the summer heat, regular and dry ice will be your best friends. Frozen water bottles make for great cooler ice. Keep your food out of the direct sun to prolong your ice and try to keep the lid closed as much as possible. Nobody wants to open up a cooler to the aroma of rotten eggs.
Cold weather camping instead?
Keep your food inside the cooler to keep it from freezing solid.
How many days are you camping?
Don’t go camping for a week and only take enough food for two days. Plan ahead.
What are you going to cook?
This is where the fun beings. You now know why you’re cooking, who you’re cooking for, where you’ll be cooking, and when you’ll be cooking.
This gives you a starting point to plan your menu.
This is all up to you.
This is an example of a 3-Day camping menu for me and my crew:
Breakfast 1 – Salmon, Eggs, Bacon, Toast, Coffee, Orange Juice
Breakfast 2 – Granola, Pancakes, Sausage, Coffee
Breakfast 3 – Biscuits, Gravy, Bacon
Lunch 1 – Summer sausage, zucchini relish, crackers, hot sauce
Lunch 2 – Sandwiches, chips, honey buns, cookies
Lunch 3 – Pizza subs (Pepperoni, mozzarella, marinara sauce)
Dinner 1 – Chili, cornbread, cobbler
Dinner 2 – Fresh Trout on cedar planks, carrots, cabbage, & onions
(Click Here for Cedar Plank Trout Recipe)
Dinner 3 – Mountain meatballs (a little complex but totally worth it), ribs, potatoes.
How are you going to cook it?
Now that you have your menu planned, It’s now time to think about how you’re going to cook it all. Think all the way through the meal. All equipment and seasonings have to be thought out thoroughly beforehand because you won’t have access to a kitchen. Nothing is as simple as it seems when you’re cooking in the backwoods. Even the act of grilling burgers or hotdogs requires a little more. You need the meat, buns, condiments, something to eat on, paper towels, & trash bags.
Are you grilling everything? Does your campsite have a stationary grill?
Bring a collapsible grate, aluminum foil, and cooking spray.
Frying some potatoes?
You’ll need a camping stove, a skillet, frying oil, a spatula, and seasonings.
Baking a cobbler?
You’ll need a dutch oven, cake mix, cobbler filling, cinnamon, sugar, oil, and butter.
It really does put a damper on things when you’re trying to prepare an awesome meal, only to find out you forgot that one key ingredient or vital piece of equipment or utensil.
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