All the Outdoors Goodness You Want in Quick, Easy Steps

Campfires have been traditionally used for cooking for as long as man discovered fire. Since it's such an old cooking technique, you'd think that campfire cooking would have been mastered by now. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. It is still as tricky as ever. Add to that the complication that some parks impose by banning campfires in some areas. But if you're lucky enough to get your chance at campfire cooking, here are tips you can use for your own safety and cooking enjoyment:

Bring the grill

Most campsites have onsite grills but it's always best to ask. Grilling is the best and simplest method you can use for campfire cooking. This method uses direct heat, so it's best utilized for smaller cuts of meat, hamburgers, sausages, toast and barbeques. It's important to pay close attention to the food while grilling it because this method employs direct heat. Food can get burned or catch fire easily.

Another type of cooking you can use with a campfire is roasting, perfect for skewered meats, chicken, hotdogs, sausages and marshmallows. Using skewers (preferably metal to avoid burning), you can cook food over your campfire. In a few minutes, you should be ready to eat.

Prepare the food

The secret to successful campfire cooking is to have the food prepared before going on your trip. This helps you enjoy your time more and saves you a lot of effort from trying to cut, chop or grind your ingredients. If the food is prepared beforehand, you can get cooking as soon as the campfire is ready.

Be practical

Some things that we associate with campfire cooking may not be plausible, such as a pot of soup that hangs over the flames. If set up using found wood, it might prove to be unstable and also difficult to build. If you truly want to use things like this for your campfire, make sure you know the right techniques to use for safe cooking. If all else fails, use a metal rigging to secure the pot in place or just avoid it entirely.

Use ingredients that are easy to cook

Campfire cooking shouldn’t take hours for just a piece of steak. Use recipes that are tried and tested. If you must experiment, have a backup plan. Choose recipes that you know will succeed with and make sure they will cook easily. Try stuffed fish, bacon wrapped steaks, buttered corn on the cob, sliced vegetables, roast beef or pork with prepared sauce and top with fresh fruits, pies or tarts.

CAMPFIRE COOKING

Going camping is always exciting. And among the most thrilling part of the great outdoors is cooking in it. Nothing compares being able to commune with nature as you savor the earths gifts. It may seem tricky for some, but outdoor cooking is easier than most people think.

Here are some great tips for outdoor cooking :

1. Poke holes in those burgers. To cook burgers on the grill perfectly, poke a hole the size of your pinky in the center of the patty. This will help cook the burger evenly. Don’t worry that you might end up with a meat donut, the hole will close up slowly as the meat cooks and you will end up with perfect burgers.
   
   
2. Perhaps the most incomparable tool you have for outdoor cooking is the Dutch oven. This deep pot made of cast iron does wonders in the great outdoors and can create the most wonderful dishes you can have outside your kitchen. You can make stews, casseroles and other things with the oven.
   
   
3. Cover your pots and pans while cooking outdoors. This helps prevent heat from escaping especially during those cold days and nights. It also keeps foreign objects from getting into your food. You don’t want crickets or grasshoppers in your stew, do you?
   
   
4. Make a garbage omelet on your last day camping. To easily clean up your cooler or portable fridge, make an omelet on your last day. Put in all the leftovers from your previous camping days and you’ll end up with a clean cooler without wasting anything.
   
   
5. Aluminum foil plays a great role in outdoor cooking. You can use it to wrap food such as fish, potatoes, meat, and vegetables.