How To Cook Over A Campfire (5 Step Guide)

What could be better than the aroma, taste, and experience of cooking your favourite dish over the campfire? 

Campfire cooking is not only fun, but it also makes your camping trip unique and memorable.

Interestingly, with the right kitchen tools, ingredients, and skills, anyone can prepare delicious food over a fire. 

Here are some helpful tips on how to cook over a campfire...

1. Prepare Adequately While at Home

It is easier to do much of the food preparation at home than when at the camping site (though camp kitchens are available, see the best here).

Any ingredient you will need to measure, chop, slice, or combine should be made ready in advance. 

Prepare as many components as you can and pack or store the ingredients in distinguished containers.

For example, if you plan to make scrambled eggs over the campfire, do the cracking and scrambling while at home and have them stored in separate containers.

You can use plastic containers or ball jars for storage.

For dairy and meat lovers, consider storing them in a cooler to maintain freshness. For baking, measure your wet and dry ingredients in advance and have them in batches.

2. Build the Right Fire

Unlike your home kitchen, where food is cooked under controlled heat, making meals in a camping site requires you to build and regulate your own fire.

Building the perfect fire involves burning wood or tree logs until they are primarily red coals.

Using burning coals makes it easy for you to control the temperatures while getting even cooking.

You can also create multiple heat zones by spreading your hot coals beneath the fire grate.

This way, you can have a hotter zone around the centre and cooler regions towards the edges.

When building your campfire, you will need dry logs or wood for clean burning and a safe location to start your fire. Building fire on a windy hour is highly discouraged.

3. Bring the Right Equipment and Gear

Whether you are cooking from a modern kitchen or over a campfire, having the right gear and equipment is fundamental.

For example, if you plan to make pies, quick bread, or cook wild game, cast-iron cookware will be the perfect equipment.

However, you must be knowledgeable about how to cook over a campfire with cast iron. A large sauté pan has also proven to be quite useful for most campers.

Additionally, remember to carry a portable fire grate with you, unless you are planning to do all your cooking in tin foils.

For your safety, consider packing tools such as a silicone sleeve, potholder, or grill gloves. Aluminium foil is also a must-have for your campfire cooking.

4. Select Your Cooking Technique

There are plenty of campfire cooking techniques depending on your recipes and food choices.

Swinging a metal grill grate over the campfire is a perfect choice for your barbecue. If you are worried about how to cook over a campfire without a grill, then a Dutch oven will serve you best.

This is because Dutch ovens give you as much flexibility to cook over the campfire as kitchen ovens.

Some recipes may require techniques as simple as burying the ingredients in the hot coals. For instance, stuffed roasted apples and campfire baked potatoes.

5. Do Not Forget to Secure Your Site

Campfires can be quite destructive if left unattended.

It is essential to always have sand and a bucket of water to put out the fire once you are done with your cooking.

Pour the sand and water on the fire until all the flames are completely extinguished.

To Wrap Up

Campfire cooking is such an incredible way to spend time with family and friends.

You also get an opportunity to enjoy a real meal instead of having snacks and fast foods throughout your trip. 

For the best experience, you might want to be acquainted with the right recipes, skills, and campfire cooking tips.

Whatever cooking techniques and recipes you choose, remember to keep yourself, your loved ones, and nature safe from the destructive effects of fire.