Comments on: What Is Ideal Camping Food? Help!?

By: Berderde

Berderde — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:46 +0000

hot dogs nd smores!

By: Love

Love — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:46 +0000

The types of food you will take on a camping trip will vary depending on the kind of trip you’re taking, personal preferences and the amount you can carry. For example, a family going on a weekend summer camping trip on a campground with a shop will take a vastly different food supply to a party of mountaineers on a 2 week expedition to the Arctic.
Usually, the major consideration that has to be made when looking at what food to take is the weight and keeping fresh meat, poultry and dairy produce fresh and, for those on far flung wilderness expeditions, there are a host of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods that reduce the weight you carry and can be used any time.
As a general overview, however, one idea in considering what kind of foods to take is to include something from each of the following food groups for each main meal – meat/protein, starch, vegetable and sauce. An example might be chicken, pasta, carrots and barbecue sauce. By following the group types model, the food you eat on your trip will sustain you very well. The ’sauce element’ shouldn’t be overlooked as it’s amazing how much it can make a bland meal seem very mouthwatering on a camping trip. Vegetarians can also look at the protein element from their own perspective.
Weight will always be one of the primary factors in determining what kinds of food you can take, especially if you’re travelling without a car.
Breakfast
For breakfast, there are many cereals which are light in weight and pre-packaged hot cereals like porridge work really well. If weight’s a real issue, you can work out how many portions you’ll need for the trip and put them in a plastic zip lock bag. Throw in a few extras like raisins, almonds and dried blueberries or cranberries. When you pour boiling water onto the mix, the fruit will rehydrate and a simple breakfast like this is a nice start to the day. Coffee also comes in bags these days, just like tea and milk powder cuts down on the need to bring large quantities of fresh milk.
Lunch
Lunches can be interesting. Substitute bread by using some variety of crackers or crispbread. These have the added advantage of not going stale as quickly as bread. There are many types of cheese which do not need refrigeration as well as small packs of pepperoni or salami. You can buy jams in squeezable tubes these days and chocolate always feels luxurious on a trip and can provide you with extra energy so be sure to pack a few bars. If you don’t mind carrying a little extra weight, take along a few small jars of salmon spread or chicken paste or even tins of tuna for lunchtimes.
Dinner
When it comes to dinner, you’ll get more chance to be creative. Things like dried rice and noodles which you might just regard as a side order at home, can form the starch element of your meal, are light to carry and easy to cook. Throw in a can of beef chunks and some sun-dried tomatoes and you’re away. If you add some ‘nibble’ items whilst you’re cooking, you should find that your meal is quite filling. Even something as simple as a packet cup of soup with a few crackers are warming and a good way to stave off hunger until the main meal is ready.
Obviously, the ideas here are just general in nature. What you cook will be a personal choice based on the amount of food you can carry, the ease by which you can store it and the length and nature of your trip. The important thing to remember even if you’re restricted by the amount and type of food you can take is that it’s not a ‘forever thing’. After a few days, you’ll be returning to ‘civilisation’ as you know it, and the opportunity to eat a ‘real’ meal. You’ll not die of malnutrition if you don’t get all your daily requirements for a couple of days. Camping in remote areas, especially if you have additional physical exertions to contend with like hiking or canoeing, makes it necessary to concentrate on calories for energy first and foremost. Just remember, that whatever it is you’re cooking, food tastes a whole lot better outdoors and is an integral part of enjoying the camping experience.

By: Brutally Honest

Brutally Honest — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

If you have a means to keep things cold (VERY important) then things like hamburger helper are excellent! You only have to brown the ground beef, follow the package instructions and poof! dinner.
This is something we used to do for camping all the time…kept cold, it would feed two of us for at least 2 days.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

you can wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and cook on the grill and saute chicken stips in the pan. Also you can cook hamburgers of hotdogs. Also if you know you are going camping in advance you can cook whatever food you want like spaghetti and vaccuum seal then freeze it. So when you are camping just take the frozen bag and put into a pot of simmering water to heat up.

By: Teresa M

Teresa M — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

i live in Idaho so i camp all the time go to the store and buy a lot of caned food it is easy to make you make a fire then you get a can (poke a hole in it with the can opener so it dosnt explode) then you just put it in the fire and take it out when its done. also you can can spagettios lil kide love them also you can make caned bake beans and put hot dogs on a sharp stick and cook them over the fire…mmm hot dogs and beans =) happy camping!!!

By: koolaidk

koolaidk — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

Hobo pies, you have to buy the cast-iron makers to hold over the fire but all you need to make a myriad of different meals is to bring along some bread and butter or a can of biscuitts and whatever fillings you want. Our favorites as kids were pizza hobo pies and also ones with cherry pie filling for desert.
We also used to make something called “dowlings”. All you need are wooden dowles about 1/2 inch in diameter. Wrap a canned buiscutt around the end of it so that it also covers the end about 3-4 inches up the stick. toast it slowly over the fire and pull off carefully when done. Then roast a smokey link over the fire. When both things are done the smokey link fits right into the crust you’ve created, add ketchup or mustard and enjoy.
If you would rather used the stove you have they have these nifty griddles that will fit on the camp stove and then you can make grilled cheese sandwiches, hamburgers, all kinds of stuff.
I hope you have fun! We just got back from camping

By: Sonoran Sweetheart

Sonoran Sweetheart — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

you are obviously new to this. Years ago when I was a nipper my mum used to have a 4 tier steamer (which you can still buy) in that steamer (using one gas ring) she would steam chicken and veg and a pudding all in one go. It was fantastic. As i got older I tbecame a scout and then a leader and i used to use the same steamer and cook 3 and 4 course meals. On the bottom tier went meat or fish ( you can boil chicken and beef, add a packet sauce once browned off) on top i used to have veggies and then on the top tear i used to put fruit or a suet pudding in and we had syrup sponges or apple cakes.
Any pasta dish is good and you can use 1 pan to do a spag bol or a carbonara, gnocci can be done easily with one. Chicken risotto with added rice is a one pan option.
If you think about what you cook at home and then work out how easy it would be to use 1 pan and 2 burners to cook – it is the most easiest task ever. Use your imagination and when you have mastered fresh rabbit stew with dumplins over a bed of rice with hoe made dupatis, then I know that you have cracked it

By: Dark Crusader

Dark Crusader — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

I just had 4 can chili for my dinner…
1 can chili; 1 can red beans; 1 can corn; 1 can diced tomatoes.
Open cans.
Dump cans in pot.
Heat.
Main reason I made this tonite was the bag of tortilla chips that needed to get used.. I took a small handful, and crumbled it into the bowl, then topped that with the chili. Also had grated cheese, but except for the cheese, all the rest is not refridgerator stuff.
Double the # of cans if you have lots of people. At home, you could boil macaroni, add to the chili and extend it big time.

By: wendy c

wendy c — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

I find SALT COD rocks if you are going camping, especially for a long time. It wont go bad as long as it is kept dry (very easy to do in a doubled up zip=loc bag) not only is it safe to leave unrfigerated, it also makes great fish bait or animal bait in a pinch. It’s very versatile I use it in a camp setting mostly for soups/stews or rice. But you can also add it to mashed potatoes which is my favorite way to use it. The only 2 things you have to do is soak it before you use it. and don’t buy the salt cod that some markets carry in their freezer sections. this is salted for flavour more than for preservation.

By: archimed

archimed — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:24:45 +0000

This always works, is cheap, easy and delicious.
Make it up ahead of time and vacuum seal or use ziplock bags. Flatten out the bag full of meat and freeze it. This acts as a cold pack in your cooler. When you get hungry simply open it up and reheat. Only 1 empty bag to dispose of.
CHOPPED PORK SANDWICHES
1 6-7 lb Pork Roast (Boston Butt/Shoulder)
Demon Pig BBQ Rub
2 bottles “Demon Pig BBQ Sauce”
Trim Excess fat from roast. Sprinkle with Demon Pig BBQ Rub.
Cook on grill with indirect heat at 225/250 degrees for 6 hours to an internal temp of 160 degrees. (This can be done in an oven or bbq smoker.)
Place in pan with 1/2 cup water, cover and place back on heat for one hour to finish. Remove from heat, let stand 30 minutes. Careful uncover. Let stand an additional 15 minutes.
Pull and chop meat to just under bite size pieces.
Warm “Demon Pig BBQ Sauce” slightly and mix thoroughly until lightly covered throughout meat. Serve additional sauce warm on the side.
Serve on buns with your favorite sides.