As the weather heats up, people are heading in droves to the great outdoors to enjoy all Australia offers. Unfortunately, many of these people neglect to plan properly and end up eating poor-quality food that doesn’t hit the spot in terms of taste or nutrition. Make sure you plan and don’t head outdoors this summer without the proper camping gear to cook well.
Eating heartily while in the great outdoors hinges to a large extent on having the right equipment in your camping kitchen. Today, we’ll look at what you need to eat well when you are out in the wild. We’ll cover some of the best camping gear and then give you some handy tips to ensure you get the most out of your experience while still eating like a king.
Camping Food Storage
Whenever we set up camp or spend time in the wild, we need to try and remember we are in the habitat of animals. Wherever you camp, animals can and will get into the food you bring. Rodents like mice and larger creatures won’t think twice before ripping into your tent for a tasty snack.
In addition to keeping your food out of the paws of ravenous beasts, proper food handling and prep is crucial for your health and those camping with you. To make your camping experience enjoyable, you must adhere to sensible safety procedures. Follow all campsite rules for food storage. Never leave your food unattended where animals can take or contaminate it, and never store food or waste inside your tent.
Even if you are only going to be away from the campsite for a short while, ensure your food is secure in your camping coolers and that these coolers are securely stored in a car, or somewhere else animals can’t get into. Some animals are sneaky and can easily break into camping coolers, so be sure you buy one that’s animal-proof. Failing that, make sure that, at a minimum, you can lock it to deter any thieves.
Some camp areas have metal food lockers you can take advantage of. You might sometimes need to use canisters with lids you can screw on and off. Humans can get these lids off, but most animals would struggle. If you’ve got loads of non-perishable food in plastic bins and totes, be sure not to overfill these containers, or you’ll end up overburdened
Prevent Spoilage of Food With the Right Camping Food Storage
If you’ve got a camping cooler rammed with food, you’ll want to ensure it doesn’t spoil, so no one in your group gets sick. Keep all raw meat and dairy products properly cooled. Stock up on reusable ice packs as well.
Chill your camping coolers before packing them if at all possible. Add bottles of frozen water or milk that will get consumed, so you don’t waste anything. These frozen drinks will stay colder for longer than ice cubes, and you can drink them when they’ve melted.
Be smart when packing your camping coolers. Pack the things that will get used first on top, so you aren’t digging aimlessly to find what you want. If you’ve got the room and budget, a camping fridge is not a bad idea either.
Cookware for Camping
After eating nuts and dried fruits on the trails, you’ll likely want a hearty meal in the evening. For this, you’ll need the right supplies. When looking at cookware, don’t be overwhelmed by all the options. Whether you go for individual pieces or sets of cookware depends on your needs. A great deal depends on the number of people you’re catering for and, to some extent, your budget.
Cookware Sets
Cookware sets have multiple pieces that almost always nest together to save space. You can use individual pieces to make up your personalised cook set for your camping meals. Consider the number of pots you will need to create the meals you have in mind. If you’ve got a larger group, one small saucepan won’t fly, but if you’re cooking for just yourself and one other camper, that should do just fine.
Be sure to get pots with lids. Not only do lids cut down on the time it takes your food to cook, but they also reduce the mess and can even double as a makeshift plate if you have an unexpected guest.
Cookware comes in many different materials as well. You can expect lightweight aluminium and hard-anodized aluminium pieces, cookware made from titanium or stainless steel, the old faithful cast iron, and even plastic ware. Some of these materials will be far more durable than others, so while you might spend a little more, you can consider it a reusable investment.
Plates and Utensils
As far as plates and utensils go, you can find sets or individual pieces here as well. When you buy a camping gear cook set, it will often include pots, lids, mugs, plates, and utensils. If you’d instead piece together your own, focusing on precisely what you need, that’s down to you.
Make sure you pick out multi-purpose cookware. Your pack will be heavy enough without adding twenty different things for mealtime. Quality knives, cutting boards and other accessories will be worth their weight in gold once you are out in the wild. Be sure to pack everything you need without going overboard.
Cooking With The Campfire
To cook your food, you have a few different methods at your disposal. The most traditional way to cook food when camping is, of course, over the campfire. There are not many things better than a hunk of meat cooked on a stick over an open flame under a vast sky.
However, many people aren’t comfortable cooking over an open flame, especially not when it’s as large and uncontrolled as a campfire. Beyond this, getting the campfire started or keeping the flames burning can sometimes be difficult. With the dry seasons and risk of fires in the Australian summertime, open fires are banned everywhere. You don’t want to go hungry, so you’ll need a reliable and legal cooking method since you won’t be able to call up for pizza delivery.
For this reason, many people like to cook their camping food on a camping stove or a camping cooker. A good camping stove is easy to set up and simple to use. Look for solid build quality and at least two burners. Some stoves sit on a tabletop, while others have extendable legs for convenience and stability combined.
Some camping stoves are wood-fuelled, so you’ll still enjoy cooking over a campfire without the risk and unreliability. Other camping stoves use gas to cook the food, so you’ll feel like you’re cooking in the kitchen at home.
Cooking camping food doesn’t have to be intimidating; it should be part of the fun. You just need to think about your requirements and buy accordingly rather than expecting a one-size-fits-all solution.
Camping Beverages
When participating in any physical activity, you must stay fully hydrated. Hauling yourself and a bunch of gear when camping in Western Australia during the hot summer makes this even more important.
No one likes warm drinks, so be sure you have a way to keep them chilled when camping. Ice you purchase along the way won’t last too long in a small water cooler, even if it’s equipped with top-notch insulation. If you’ve got drinks like milk or juice that need to stay cold, you should consider getting a camping fridge to add to your arsenal.
Also, think about bringing along insulated mugs and cups. These will keep your drinks cold or warm, giving you maximum bang for your buck and lightening your load by lowering the need for ice.
If you’re a coffee drinker, bring along your coffee setup. A traditional drip brewer is out of the question when you’re roughing it in the wild, but there are other options for making your morning drink, too. You can use a French press or buy a kettle to place over the campfire or on the camping stove.
Do You Need Cookware for Your Perth Camping Trip?
There is a lot to choose from when it comes to camping gear, and it can be easy to go over the top and overload the pack. Focus on the essentials and pack to best use the available space.
Remember that while you’ll certainly need enough cookware to heat those nutritious meals, that’s not all you need when it comes to camping food. Your food storage, camping stove, camping cooler, and other supplies will be equally invaluable to staying well-fed while enjoying Australia’s wild.