Camping is a pastime that is enjoyed by families and those who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. While much consideration is taken into what to pack, what clothes to bring and where to camp, attention also needs to be given to what food you are going to bring along on your camping trip and when and how you will prepare it.
When considering what type of food to pack for a camping trip, you need to keep in mind that bringing as many non-perishable food items as possible on the trip will help cut back on wasted or rotting food items. Due to there likely being limited resources of ice and coolers, if non-perishable items are brought along such as canned goods or dried foods with a long shelf life, there is less likely a chance of food spoilage. While it may be impossible not to include some perishable foods, you should plan out meals accordingly so that the meat and dairy is consumed first or within 24 hours. Food items that are easy to fix and ready to eat are also essential items that will make the food preparation process easier on the campers and also the cook.
The best types of foods for camping are ones that easy to fix, store and prepare while running a decreased risk of spoiling at the same time. Pre-made foods such as pies and cookies, cold salads and casseroles that include potato salad, coleslaw and pasta mixtures as well as soups prepared in advance are an easy way to have meals readily available while camping. Keeping them stored in airtight plastic containers so they can easily be reheated later on is a great way to implement ready made food into camping food. Raw meats and dairy products can be conveniently packed in plastic sealed bags or plastic containers and can be stored in coolers until they are cooked, but should be kept under ice or in a cooler until ready to use.Canned foods are also popular for camping trips. Beans, corn and other vegetables and soups can be opened with a can opener and heated over an open fire both conveniently and easily.
Allow yourself to plan the meals for your trip up to two weeks prior to departure to assure no food is missed. If the recipes you will be creating happen to call specifically for dairy or meat products, take into consideration the time frame in which the food will spoil or remain fresh and implement this into when the food will be served. For example, a fresh head of lettuce may only last a few days if exposed to different weather conditions.
Taking the right food camping functions as way to maintain freshness, portability and also convenience. Being able to grab items quickly and then cook them over a heat source is an easy way to be time efficient and also less wasteful with food while camping. Packing adequate storage containers to keep food and leftovers airtight is a good way to keep food fresh before and after cooking at camp. Packing portable foods such as granola bars, trail mixes and snack bags of pretzels are also great ways for campers to provide food and snacks that are fresh, taste good and provide energy. The convenience of having food pre-made such as hamburger into hamburger patties or having other meat pre-cooked is also a time saving way to curb food preparation when camping while making meals more portable and easier to fix with limited amenities and resources than with what can be found at home.
Bringing food camping turns into a cost effective and productive way to enjoy a vacation while having a home cooked meal at the same time. Rustic camping that doesn't involve any electricity or water requires food to be brought from home or the store that can be cooked easily and properly prepared over an open fire or grill which is a popular method of camping that is still being carried out today.
