If your family packs for camping like mine did, you’re likely bringing the whole kitchen with you — prepping station and all. Fortunately through research and a fair amount of trial and error, I’ve managed to simplify the cooking experience with a few of these tips.
Prep before you go
I’m naturally a planner so meal prep is a must in our house. But to all of our non-planners out there — if you spend an hour prepping your meals in the comfort and familiarity of your home — that’s an hour (or more) saved at the campsite.
Use this time to cut up veggies, marinate and/or pre-cook your meat, and divide snacks into individual baggies for ease of distribution. Trust me, this is clutch when the kids (or yourself) are hangrily demanding chex-mix.
Water Bottles as Ice
We recently purchased a Yeti Hopper and I do not regret that purchase in any form. The way it kept everything cold on our 2-week road trip, blew my mind. The thing I wasn’t a fan of (and never have been honestly) — placing my hand in freezing cold ice water to dig around for that specific can of beer someone wants.
My suggestion, do your hand a favor and save some money by freezing a few jugs and bottles of water the night before your trip. Not only are you avoiding a frozen hand, but you’re also increasing your water supply when they melt – which isn’t a bad thing to have on hand.
Boiling System for Boiling Water
In a world of instant gratification, stove systems hit the mark for people who need their pick-me-up sooner than later in the morning. We predominantly use ours Jetboil to boil water for coffee, but integrated stove systems are great for going beyond a boiled water or a piping bowl of instant ramen.
Not sure what coffee-making method is best for your camping experience – check out these 10 methods from Gear Junkie.
Foil is Your Best Friend
Whether you’re packing them on site or re-heating previously prepped and cooked meals from the house — foil packets are tiny disposable ovens that help get dinner done with ease and minimal clean-up. The best part is that they work great with pretty much any heat source (stove system and pan, campfire, camp grill, etc).
My go-to foil packet is a simple collection of chopped veggies with olive oil, salt and pepper drizzled over the top before sealing it up and placing it near the fire. If that isn’t doing it for ya, check out these recipes from Brit+Co.
Tortillas & Grains
I’m convinced you can put almost anything in a tortilla and call it a meal. Chicken sausage wraps, egg tacos, grilled veggie fajitas, peanut butter and banana rollups — the possibilities are endless.
Not a tortilla lover? Try a batch of quinoa or brown rice that you prep at home or make on site with your canister cooking stove.
Tortillas and grains (both available in gluten free options) are a great alternative to the traditional hotdog on a stick that have the ability to be made as healthy (or unhealthy) as you so choose.
Eggs in a Bottle
There’s nothing wrong with bringing along a carton of eggs or purchasing a hard egg carrying case. We have one with zero complaints with it. However, just because something works doesn’t mean there isn’t a more efficient or pack friendly alternative.
Compact, pre-scrambled and generally mess-free — eggs in a bottle are a must for morning breakfast efficiency.
Fudge Stripe Smores
S’mores are a camping staple and must — unless of course you don’t like marshmallows, chocolate, cookies or fun.
This time around, try a condensed version by replacing the chocolate bar and graham cracker with a Keebler Fudge Stripe.
…Or get fancy and take your pick from this list Buzzfeed rolled out a few years back.
Written by Active Crew Member: Ashleigh Brady | Camper, Hiker, Traveler
