The kitchen is the heart of the home, so the outdoor camp kitchen is the heart of the campsite. The camp kitchen is the source of food, warmth and socializing. Whether your camp kitchen is the large fold-up type that a pack horse carries for you, a small one-burner camp stove or an open campfire, certain rules apply for outdoor campsite cooking.
Safety First
The American Bear Association suggests a 100 foot rule if you are camping in bear country. Do your cooking 100 feet from your tent site. The smell of food remains long after you have eaten. You will sleep safer in your tent if animals are drawn to lingering food smells at a distant cooking area.
Never cook inside your tent. Use cooking utensils and pots with fireproof handles because plastics melt. Situate your campfire where it can’t spread, and never leave a fire or stove unattended. Be sure your campfire is completely extinguished.
Food Safety
When you use a cooler as a source of refrigeration, keep plenty of ice in it. Store the cooler in the shade to minimize solar heat so the ice lasts longer.
You won’t have coolers if you hike and camp in back country. You will have bears or other wild animals trying to get into your food. Use bear canisters to store food and nonfood items, such as food wrappers, scraps, dishes your stove and even dish towels. Some parks recommend hanging food from a tree where animals can’t reach it. Bear canisters or a hanging food pack should be 100 feet downwind of your tent area.
Hygiene
Dishwashing should be done 100 feet from your tent area, and 100 feet from a natural water source. Whenever possible, use hot water only to wash dishes. Choose an environmentally safe, natural soap if you need soap. Pour used dishwater where it will not contaminate the area, and where it will not run back into the water source. If your water source is natural and unpurified, treat the dishwater with purification tablets before using it, or boil the water to kill pathogens.
Strain out any food particles in the used dishwater, and dispose of them as directed by the park rules. Food particles poured out with waste water will attract wild animals.
Multi-Use Items
Whether you are camping in a traditional camp area, or going ultra-light in the back country, carry as few items as possible. Think of as many uses for an item as you can before you decide to pack it, and avoid duplicating purposes. For instance, heavy duty aluminum foil can be used to wrap food and cook it in hot coals, or you can fold together three or four layers of heavy foil for a makeshift pan. Foil can often be saved and reused, and it weighs next to nothing.
Use nesting camp pots, pans and dishes so you can carry everything in one pot. Pot holders are a must. Leather work gloves for wood gathering and fire tending chores will double as pot holders.
About this Author
Fern Fischer writes about quilting and sewing, and she professionally restores antique quilts to preserve these historical pieces of women’s art. She also covers topics of organic gardening, health, rural lifestyle, home and family. For over 35 years, her work has been published in print and online.
