Camp Cooking Tricks and Tips

**JohnB** · 03-11-2013, 08:23 PM

One of the best parts of camping for us, is camp cooking. There are so many ways to do it and tricks on how to do it. Figured I would start a thread were folks can post tricks and tips on how they do cooking.

Here is one of mine. I call it a camp cozy...

Adapted this from back packing where we lined a pot full of boiled water re-hydrating food. Except I use it from pan cakes to french toast etc. When your cooking for 2 or a group this is one way to keep everything hot camp style until you are ready to sit and eat.

Here is a french toast Cozy.

Start with a plate, any plate. This is a paper plate and holder and a piece of aluminum foil. I make the foil twice as long as the plate.

Then wrap part of the plate

Fold foil over

Notice I also have a terry towel or what ever kind of towel you have under the plate. In my case this is a towel pocket Cindy made to cover the griddle when stored. Fold towel over the top. This towel pocket is double thickness and works perfect.

Then start cooking. As you take things off the griddle, lift up the foil and put them under it. The foil keeps the hot steam from getting to the towel and the towel helps insulate the foil.

French toast!

When all done cooking, take them inside and they are still hot!

So anyone else have some tricks or tips?

John

ihsolutions · 03-12-2013, 08:15 AM

We frequent places along the west coast of Michigan, where we spend our days at the beach. Sometimes after a day at the beach I'll cook on the grill, but often I'm pretty tired by the time we get back and enjoy having a meal ready to go when we hit the campsite.

For this, we use the crock pot quite a bit. There's all kinds of simple recipes, and you can throw stuff in, in the morning before leaving, and dinner's ready when you return. We have lots of favorites like chicken and rice, or tacos, or pasta dishes.

To make things even simpler I spring for those crock pot liners, so there's absolutely no clean-up afterwards.

It's not really authentic "camping", but very little about our RV'ing experience is really "camping" anyhow.

bbnkansas · 03-30-2013, 09:29 PM

We enjoy cooking over a fire. So, at Dick's Sporting Goods we purchased a stand with a grate suspended on a chain which sits directly over the fire. The chain lowers and raises the grate allowing us to control the cooking temp. This grate is great for cooking steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers and simply putting a pan or dutch oven on it. It is one cool piece of equipment.

rebellious78 · 04-08-2013, 06:05 AM

Thanks for the tip John. That is always a issue because things get done at different times before you can eat...

Dave

DianeScraps · 04-08-2013, 08:35 AM

We also use the crock pot quite a bit . . . and if you put some chicken breasts in, you can toss them on the grill for a couple of minutes to get the 'grill' taste without having to wait for them to cook through (because the slow cooker already did that)

For the campfire to cook food on, we start with a bed of charcoal, getting them started in a chimney starter like this:
Chefmate® Chimney Starter : Target
then we put a couple of pieces of wood over the charcoal. We think it gives us more even cooking.

We also love our grill basket, similar to this:
Kenmore Oversized Basket Topper - Outdoor Living - Grills & Outdoor Cooking - Cooking Tools
We use it for all kinds of smaller foods

We also have 2 different grills that we use, depending on the campground set up
We have one like this:

and one like this:

**JohnB** · 04-08-2013, 07:23 PM

Diane and bbnkansas

I see you both use one of the hanging grates on the tripod over the fire. I see them often in the CG's. Never made it to one of them yet. The look like you can regulate the heat pretty good. Thanks for sharing.

John

**Sunline Fan** · 04-08-2013, 10:36 PM

Oh gosh John, you don't know what you're missing out on!

The key is to let the fire burn down to some decent coals, so get it going like an hour early or so. Otherwise you get charred food and raw centers.

**JohnB** · 04-09-2013, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Oh gosh John, you don't know what you're missing out on!

The key is to let the fire burn down to some decent coals, so get it going like an hour early or so. Otherwise you get charred food and raw centers.

Jon, LOL

I have camp fire cooked before, many times. I even have a grate in the Sunny that I use over the top of a few bricks/rocks. Remember the grate I lent to your Dad on the turkey holder at Gateway?

I have sucessfully burnt up enough food to know the pit falls and the postive outcome of camp fire cooking. It is all about the heat...

I just have not "yet" bought one of the tripods with the chain and grate...

Between Dutch oven, Weber grill, outdoor stove top, TT oven, micro wave, foil pack dinners, crock pot, charcoal grill, the grate it self, reflector oven... I have not made it to the tripod gizmo... I'm sure I will some day...

Too many meals to cook, too many campsites yet to see, not enough time...

Cook on!

John

**Sunline Fan** · 04-09-2013, 08:23 PM

Ah, I forgot he did the turkey that time! The nice thing about the tripod is you can pull it away from the direct heat if it looks like it's starting to burn. It's definitely more flexible.

My favorite is the Coghlan's brand. It's lightweight, compact, and easy to use. I find it's easiest to adjust with a pair of pliers though, because the parts get really hot after a while. It also helps to hold the grill grate with those pliers when taking food on/off in order to prevent the grill from rocking around.

My dad has the Lodge brand one, specifically for doing the turkey, because it's smaller than the large wood one he made. It's very heavy duty, but the chain link just hooks on a hook and has no easy adjustment without grabbing the chain and hooking it on a different link. It also didn't come with a grill grate, unfortunately.

**Tweety** · 04-10-2013, 05:29 AM

We use the crock pot a lot as well. Not only is it nice to come home from a long hike to dinner all done, the enticing aroma keeps our aging dog happy to stay at the camper now that he's to old to go hiking!
Hamburger makes such a mess cooking it on the stove. I fry it at home ahead of time and freeze in 1/2 pound quantities, so all we have to do is toss it into our chili or spaghetti. (Or Peppers dog dish)

TurtleBax · 04-12-2013, 06:22 PM

Hello Everyone,

Is any one familar with or have used a Thermal Cooker? It's basically a large glorifed Thermos, albeit an expensive one. I think it would be great for times when you can't hook up to power. I'm still researching before I take the plunge.
Comments and suggesstions welcome.

Tweety, Good tip on the hamburger preparation.

Best Regards,
TurtleBax

**JohnB** · 04-14-2013, 07:45 PM

Do you mean one of these?

Another Kitchen Must-Have: The Thermal Cooker

I have never seen that system yet.

awellis3 · 04-15-2013, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

Hamburger makes such a mess cooking it on the stove. I fry it at home ahead of time and freeze in 1/2 pound quantities, so all we have to do is toss it into our chili or spaghetti. (Or Peppers dog dish)

I'm with you on that. Canoe camping, I took it an extra step. After browning the ground beef, I thouroughly drained the fat then put it in my dehydrator. Cooked, dried and put in a Ziplock = no refrigeration necessary for weeks. Vacuum seal it and go for 6 mo.

Bone appetite,
Teach

**Tweety** · 04-15-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurtleBax

Hello Everyone,

Is any one familar with or have used a Thermal Cooker? It's basically a large glorifed Thermos, albeit an expensive one. I think it would be great for times when you can't hook up to power. I'm still researching before I take the plunge.
Comments and suggesstions welcome.

Tweety, Good tip on the hamburger preparation.

Best Regards,
TurtleBax

That looks awesome for boondocking. If you get one be sure to report back.

**Janet H** · 04-17-2013, 02:50 PM

How about some dessert? These are easy to make in the oven and totally decadent.

Oreo Brownies 350 oven

You need:

Box of Brownie mix
24 oreos
Creamy peanut butter or almond butter

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions.
Place a spoonful of brownie mix in a cupcake paper.
Butter (1 tsp ea.) two oreos and stack - place in the cupcake paper, then cover with more brownie mix.

Bake for about 18 minutes and cool.

I think you could adapt this for a dutch oven and then just cut into squares. In either case it will be yummy and dirt-easy.

rebellious78 · 04-17-2013, 03:26 PM

That looks awsome... Have to try that

**JohnB** · 04-17-2013, 07:46 PM

A dutch oven treat.

Have to try this one. Thanks Janet

Anita1 · 07-17-2013, 06:42 PM

When I am interested in a product and unsure if I wish to purchase it, I check out online at Amazon.com. The reviewers are ruthless and will let you know if the item is a rip off. Amazon.com: Zojirushi SN-XAE80XA Stainless Steel Thermal Vacuum Cooking Pot, 2-Gallon: Kitchen & Dining

dtstanton · 07-21-2013, 12:37 PM

Since we've never boondocked and burn bans are kind of normal in the panhandle, we've had to forego campfire cooking - as much as we'd love to. We have a 3-holer crock pot we got from JC Penney that has allowed us to even do Thanksgiving dinner while camping. That, a toaster oven, Coleman stove and microwave, and we can do full-course meals and not worry about timing. We also have the 3-burner stove top that works perfectly well, too.

I really like the "French Toast Cozy" idea! Thanks, John!