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The cookware makes all the difference!

posted by AlumCreek @ 9:27am, Tuesday 9 August 2011.

Just because you're out camping, it doesn't mean that you have to eat crappy food! In fact, it's possible to eat just as well, or even better than you do at home. It just takes some patience, some know-how, and the proper cookware for the job. If you're one of those folks who loves everything about camping except the food part, then pull up a chair, grab a snack and read on.

            One of the best kept secrets about making food is all about the cookware. If you have ever prepared anything at home then you probably know the difference between high quality cookware and the cheap stuff. The same thing applies to outdoor cooking as well. If you're cooking over a campfire then the best cookware is usually made out of cast iron. The fire you cook over should have plenty of hot coals in it and minimal flame (unless you're going to be using the tripod mentioned below), so be sure to get the fire going about an hour before you plan to cook on it. Let's have a closer look at how to create a decent camp cooking kit.

CAMP GRILL

            This is pretty much a necessity. You can cook directly on the surface for making steaks, hamburgers, chicken and the like. This unit also provides a surface to put your cooking skillets, pots, as well as anything you cook in aluminum foil. Think of this as your outdoor grill. You can't make those yummy steaks without a nice grill to cook them on! Click here to see one.

CAST IRON SKILLET

            Another necessity, the cast iron skillet will heat much more evenly over an open fire than any other kind of skillet. These things are great for fish, blackened chicken, and all sorts of other delicious skillet foods. They stand up to the most intense fires without suffering any kind of wear. They can be somewhat difficult to clean though. Don't use anything abrasive like steel wool or wire brushes. Clean them while they are still warm and use some kosher salt to get the stubborn stuff off. Click here for a look at these.

CAST IRON PIE IRON

            This item comes in two styles, square and round. The square style is used to make delicious hot sandwiches. Make your sandwich of choice, spread some butter on the top and bottom of the sandwich, place it into the pie iron then cook it over the fire. You may have to experiment a little to perfect cooking with this but the learning curve isn't bad. The round style is used to make sandwich pockets similar to Hot Pockets. This are great for making pizza pockets and dessert pies (mmm, apple and cherry!). You should get at lease one of each style of pie iron. Click here see the square style and here the round style.

CAMPFIRE TRIPOD

            This item is often over-looked but it's terrific! Hang a dutch oven from it and you have one of the best ways to cook up recipes that have a lot of raw ingredients in them. Soups, stews, chowders, and chili are just some of the great things you can make with this. You can also put a grill directly on the dutch oven which may eliminate your need to purchase the grill mentioned above. Click here  to see a campfire tripod.

            Cookware really is one the most important investments to making better camping food. Once you have used some of the items listed here, you will likely sell or 'donate' your old cookware to somebody else...maybe even your enemies! Now you can enjoy all the aspects of being in the great outdoors, including the cooking! Happy camping!