Five Camp Cooking Tips For Beginners

August 22nd, 2023

When it comes to getting outdoors in your pickup truck, camping is a great way to spend the weekend. If you want to master your camping experience, putting some effort and research into camp cooking is a good idea, as it can definitely change your overall experience. Here are 5 tips to get you started on your journey to fantastic camp cuisine.

 

Packing the Best Camping Gear

One of the first things to consider when packing up your pickup truck to head out into the great outdoors is what type of camping you are going to be doing. There is going to be a fair difference between what camping cookware you want to bring if you are tent camping, car camping, rooftop tent camping, or using a small or even a large RV. No matter which type of camping trip you are headed out on, with the right planning, it’s not hard to do more than trail mix and make delicious meals.

The great thing about taking a pickup truck out on a camping trip is having the space in the bed of the truck for something like a gas burner, camping stove and diverse camping food. If your camp destination allows for camp fires and you want to go old school, a dutch oven can give you a rustic experience and take you above and beyond simple hot dogs.

We’re not knocking hot dogs, they’re a real classic! However, if you can’t have an open flame or want to make camping food on a more advanced level, bringing along something like the Blackstone On The Go Table Top Griddle would be a great way to grill corn, black beans, and sweet potatoes.

Finally, if you are looking to keep things super duper simple and packing absolutely light, you can look into some really neat camping recipes which use a foil packet method right on the fire. This is not necessarily the cleanest method, but is pretty much what it sounds like. You put foil packed with some good roasting meat or veggies and spices, and place it directly on the coals. A simple camping meal, without a lot to pack!

 

Remember the Basic Camp Cooking Supplies

 

As much as we like to think about the way we go about camp cooking, you should also think about storage and consumption. You don’t want to be caught out in the middle of mother nature, hours away from home, without the essentials. It’s a good idea to pick up a simple plastic tote at the hardware store to bring things like paper towels, forks, paper plates, cups, and hand soap or sanitizer. Being ready to cook food is great, but being able to serve and hold it makes for easy camping. Unless, of course, you want to go for the full caveman experience.

Offroad Refrigerators and Coolers

 

A vehicle refrigerator is an upgrade accessory that can absolutely change your adventure game. Coolers full of ice are a classic, legitimate way of transporting food, especially with some of today’s high quality and well-insulated coolers. That said, there’s no comparison with an off-road vehicle fridge that can actually freeze food you catch from a mountain stream while you are STILL out in the mountains.

Another great advantage of having an off-road vehicle fridge, like a SnoMaster EX90 Stainless Steel Fridge Freezer, is never having to worry about drinking warm water when you really want a cold drink. There’s no need to refill ice or drain the melted water inside. That means storing boxed foods is easier, and you don’t have to deal with soggy packages.

Camp Responsibly and Leave No Trace

 

One of the most simple supplies commonly forgotten by a lot of campers is a good quality trash bag. As campers, we want to enjoy the great outdoors, national parks, national forests, and BLM land – and we also want to leave the environments we visit better than when we found it. We recommend you always be sure to throw a pack of heavy duty trash bags in that supply tote.

If you want to check out some great initiatives and find some good advice, visit the official Leave No Trace website. You can even find educational material for children and stories that help inspire more outdoor greatness. Remember, you are part of a greater community of outdoor enthusiasts.

 

Bring the Best Camping Entertainment

 

Camping is a great way to relax and reconnect with nature to find your center after a long week, month, or maybe even year on the grind. That said, you may still want to bring along a few civilized entertainment essentials to help spark a certain mood or create an enjoyable environment. A corn hole set, chess board, archery gear or even a quality outdoor speaker can help you elevate your experience.

One such device worth considering is the rugged, waterproof, and multi-speake- linkable Turtlebox outdoor speaker system. We personally love the idea of setting one of these out on the edge of your BEDSLIDE deck to set the mood for your camp cooking and dining experience. Just be sure to be respectful of other campers – and the hour of day – before setting your volume.

There’s not a lot that can beat falling asleep under the stars in your own little home away from home listening to anything from the perfectly placed notes of Mozart to the unbeatable vocals of Freddy Mercury. Of course, a warm cooked meal and the company of friends makes it all come together. Get out there and enjoy the experience of creating unforgettable memories!

What do you think makes the perfect camp cooking meal?