Cooking Equipment
Food is the fuel that is going to keep you going and although you might be able to survive for some time on pre-packaged selections, after a short time you are going to want something more substantial. Although you might not be able to create a chef’s delight, with the right equipment and recipes, you will be able to prepare something quite enjoyable.
The most basic way to go about preparing some warm food is to cook directly over the camp fire. This is however a skill that most people do not possess and the options are pretty limited. If you are not the type to catch a fish, put it on a stick, and start cooking, you might want to check into some of the cooking equipment options.
Directly over the fire
In addition to sticks, you can use some basic cookware to increase the selections available to you when cooking directly over the fire. The first option would be to place metal cookware directly over the fire. You could also use a grilling rack or tripod mounted stand to suspend a pot or other equipment over the fire. These options are the most simple and generally the lightest options.
Pots and Pans
The next level up in the cooking department is to go with pots and pans. Generally the ones that you have in your kitchen will be bulky and heavy and not the kind of item you want to try to put in your pack. Special camping pots and pans are available that are lighter weight and have features such as folding handles which make packing a breeze and will not weigh you down too much.
Camping Stoves and Ovens
At the highest level in cooking equipment, there is no need for an open fire, which might not even be permitted depending on the rules at your campsite. The stoves are powered by either liquid or gas fuel. The most popular type of stove is propane fueled. The more simple versions have one or two burners. If you prefer to prepare more elaborate meals, you might want to go for a stove with three or four burners. Bear in mind that you will be increasing the weight as you increase the burners. It is always a challenge to prepare your food in a manner that it will be evenly cooked but the stoves make that challenge quite a bit easier than cooking over an open flame. Propane tanks can be purchased at most camping stores.
Be careful when making use of the propane stoves because they can be quite dangerous in more ways than one. The actual cooking can present safety issues if you are not careful where and how you place the stove. And storing the tanks should be done with precaution. Avoid leaving any of this equipment within reach of children and do not expose the tanks to hot temperatures. If you are careful, you can make some delicious meals with a camping stove.