Outdoor Cooking

The first thing you’ll need is a camp stove, a grill, or a camp fire. You should always have at least one bottle of fuel for when you want to cook outside. In case you use charcoal, remember to keep it in a dry place.

A solar oven may be useful as well.

Cooking Supplies

Always make a list of the things you need before cooking outdoors. You’ll need:

· fuel and matches

· a medium to large lightweight pot

· aluminum foil

· a pan

· a spatula and

· tongs

These are the basics. Once you have them, there are almost no limits to what you can cook outside. You can try anything from eggs to pasta. And here’s exactly how you can do that:

Cooking Methods

Using direct heat is the easiest method to cook outside. For instance, you can wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and place them on hot coals. Feel free to use this method for any other food item that requires high heat. However, make sure to check on them frequently to avoid any accidents or overcooking.

Another easy method to cook outside is to grill your food by simply placing a grate over an open fire. It takes a bit longer, but it’s a good method for food that needs less heat to cook.

If you feel like cooking something more sophisticated like a soup, a stew or pastas you’ll need to build a fire and let it die down to hot coals. Place a pan or pot on them and your job is almost done.

Just remember to check the intensity of the fire. You don’t want to eat food that tastes like burnt tires, but you’ll want to stay away from uncooked food, too. So just check to see if your meal is cooking at the right pace.

Other Tips

1. Keep your food above the ground level to prevent animals from eating it.

2. Use fireproof cooking tools.

3. To remove odors from your cooking tools, use water and baking soda and wipe them.

4. Chop your vegetables before you go outside and cook. Put them in separate ziplock bags.

5. If you put oil on your camp grill, the food will not stick anymore.

6. Keep your raw food cool at all times to avoid spoilage. Use block ice, because it lasts longer than cube ice!

7. Use disposable water bottles as dispensers for oil, sauces or salad dressings.

8. To keep your soap clean, just hang it in a sock on a tree branch.

9. Use leftovers from meat and vegetables to make omelets.

10. To save some space, don’t bring plastic mixing bowls with you, just use the pots!

11. Replace your usual bread with pita bread. It stays fresh longer and it’s easier to pack.