Someone has probably already done this and done it better but i often see people asking what can i cook when camping or i see comments from people who think they can only warm up canned food. canned food is fine if you like it but there is lots of other things you can do. I now use a halogen hob and a mini oven when camping but for many years used gas camping cooker with 2 rings and a grill and cooked for us no problem. I will assume most families will be using the 2 ring + grill and have some sort of cool box. useful things to have but not essential are a steamer pan and some sort of metal plate that will sit on top of a pan and can be used to keep cooked food warm when using the ring to warm something else like you could cook bacon and keep warm when warming beans in a pan and use other ring to fry eggs with sausage under the grill. If you have electric in your tent and have room in car trailer an electric kettle and toaster are very useful but again you don't have to have them the ones I have are a small 2 slice toaster and a travel kettle so dont take up much room both bought at car boot sales for a couple of £.
When we go camping i always take something cooked at home for the first night and something made at home and frozen for the second the frozen meal will help keep the cool box cold and it means you don't have to worry about shopping for a couple of days.
Things like curry chilly bolognese are great for making at home and reheating or making fresh when camping as they go in one pan and and rice or pasta can be cooked on the other ring. stir fry with veg noodles and some meat either bought cooked or cooked under grill or on a bbq things like chicken breast spicy sausages are good for these dishes also fried rice dishes using similar ingredients. Things like sausages steak chops can all be cooked on grill or using bbq and served with salad or potatoes and veg if you don't have a steamer cook potatoes on one ring and a fresh veg like cabbage cauliflower on the other ring and then for an extra veg use a tined one like peas or sweetcorn that will warm up in a couple of minutes when everything else is cooked put fresh veg on top of metal plate on top of pan of potatoes to keep warm when heating tinned veg. If you have a supermarket close most sell cooked chickens again serve with salad or potatoes and veg. Fish can be cooked in a steamer pan if you have one or wrapped in foil and cooked on bbq. add some fried onion chopped grilled sausage and a spoon of mixed herds to a carton of tomato passata, for a quick pasta sauce or fry some bought or home made made meatballs instead of sausage. quick things like egg or beans on toast or hot dogs are good for lighter meals.
I love cooking, whether at home or when I go camping.
For the first evening after setting up, I am usually too tired to cook a proper meal, usually take something like a sandwich, or some cold meat, or heat up a tin of soup to eat with some toasts, or whatever I may have pre-cooked in the freezer such as soup, stew, curry etc...
I prefer to bring all my provisions with me to the site, so that I do not have to worry about when and what my next meal is going to be, and can better enjoy myself once I have completed my set up.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I'm another one like DK who enjoys a spot of guyrope gourmet fare. I quite enjoy the challenge and ever since I saw a clip of Keith Floyd cooking up a storm on a Coleman Dual Fuel by an Italian harbour I feel I need to keep up standards!
Oh, and don't forget TV chefs have used the suitcase stoves to deliver amazing fodder: if they can do it, so can we. If inclined...
I take a couple of enamel plates for impromptu lids or to keep food warm until serving (just insulate with tea towels etc).
I quite enjoy making Courgettes Provencal (fried up onions, peppers, courgettes, tomatoes and garlic/herbs) to serve with French bread and maybe melt some cheese on top. Delicious cold as well as hot.
Also for some posh nosh, Beef Stroganoff. Fry shallots/onions, add steak sliced into strips, then some mushrooms, flambe if you dare with brandy, then add sour cream, lots of black pepper and a bit of sage. Serve with rice (if you're lazy and only want a one-pot-wonder, use the pre-cooked stuff and just stir in to warm through at the end). Lovely with green beans or just a salad.
Your post was full of detail and no doubt will inspire a few people
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
I've just been to asda and found in the freezer isle bags of chicken fajitas mix. All nicely chopped and good pieces of chicken peppers and onions and only £2 . I looked along a little more and found chilly mince with onions and kidney beans already seasoned also spag bol.
Well at just £2 pound each and up set to go away Friday morning I got one of each. Just add rice or spaghetti and they will keep thing cool in the cool boxes for a few days.
------------- HI DE HI.
Unity- March 29-31.
Warner Farm July 25-30.
Lots of weekend tripsat Unity.
Summer breeze festival-July
unity- august
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Cooking when camping
