Cooking when you’re camping can be a whole lot of fun, but it can also seem overwhelming when you consider the prep that needs to be done in a makeshift camp kitchen. Fortunately, you can facilitate easier camp cooking by simply preparing many of your ingredients ahead of time so all you have to do is show up and cook.
Doing as much meal prep at home as possible can help cut down on the number of items you have to bring on your camping trip and makes for much easier camp cooking. Prep all your vegetables at home by first washing, and then cutting according to the recipe’s specifications. Put chopped vegetables in zip-top plastic bags or sealable plastic containers, and place in your cooler to keep them cool.
Marinate your meat beforehand for optimal flavor and moisture — the longer, the better. Add steak or chicken (pre-cut if necessary) to a zip-top plastic bag with your marinade, seal, and place in the cooler until you’re ready to cook. This makes for easier camp cooking by eliminating the need to pack messy sauces or safely cut meat. If you do this step a few days ahead of time, your meats will be outstanding once you get them in the pan.
Some people prep entire meals before they head out on a camping trip. For example, if you’re going to be making foil packets on the grill or in your campfire — a great option for a tasty and healthy camping meal — you can assemble all the ingredients and seasonings in each pack. Just be sure to keep refrigerated until added to the cooler.
You should have a seasoning set that’s dedicated to your camping gear. You can purchase a ready-made kit, or a collection of small bottles to assemble your own. Although you will be seasoning foods at home as part of your meal prep, additional seasoning is sometimes required while cooking, and the lack of it can tank an otherwise good meal. Make sure you always have the seasonings you use at home in your camp kitchen for much easier camp cooking!
Featured Image from S’well/Unsplash
