Enthusiast I
What is your must cook meal or must have food for camping.
- Thread starter Red Beard
- Start date
Traveler III
Cold cuts are a must. Perfect for a quick pit stop on the way or for a quick pack up in the morning. No cleanup to speak of. Keeps plenty long enough in a decent cooler.
For cooking, I never hit the trail without Chorizo. Its impossible to have a shite day if you had Chorizo in your breakfast.
For cooking, I never hit the trail without Chorizo. Its impossible to have a shite day if you had Chorizo in your breakfast.
Traveler III
- 1,747
- First Name
- Chris
- Last Name
- March
- Member #
-
22057
- Service Branch
- Army Airborne Ranger
We like Tommy's chili over a baked potato :D AMAZING!!! Sadly, you folks outside of CA or NV can't get this stuff :(
We leave tomorrow morning for our favorite spot...will be making a stop at Tommy's on the way to get a Qt lol
We leave tomorrow morning for our favorite spot...will be making a stop at Tommy's on the way to get a Qt lol
Last edited:
Contributor I
Standard smores, campfire apples, bacon pancakes, or bratwursts (or cheddarbrats) with sauerkraut.
Enthusiast II
Has to be a breakfast fritatta, eggs, bacon, potatoes, peppers, onion, mushrooms, tomato, cheese and a dash of cream. om nom nom nom !
Traveler III
- 1,747
- First Name
- Chris
- Last Name
- March
- Member #
-
22057
- Service Branch
- Army Airborne Ranger
Chili Quelles (sp?) was our favorite breakfast this past trip. For lunch we made a cold cut, cheese and fruit platter, and then for dinner, a Tomahawk rib eye and baked potato with brussel sprouts :D After 4 days and 3 nights out in the mtns, we ate well and are always ready for another trip, just so we can eat like that again lol
Attachments
Member III
As a single going on a 60 day overlanding adventure I am curious about cooking for 1. I tend to eat 1 bigger meal a day and snacks or a sandwich for other meals. I do use leftovers for other meals but making a big cooking project was too much work for me on my last 30 day trip. In the morning I just wanted to hit the road and if it was late when I got camp set up It just didn't seem worth the effort. I also find it hard to get small packages of things like meat, chicken and other things. What suggestions do you have? Prepackaged / precooked foods?
For small packages a vacuum sealer is the way to go! buy in bulk, portion, seal and freeze. We used to use a Seal-A-Meal kit form the 70's/80's to make boil in bag meals. Say 6-8 oz of seasoned Chicken on the left and greenbeans or mixed veggies on the right. Boil 1/2 pot of water, toss in and cook Sou-vie in the back country. Nesco or Foodsaver are current brands that come to mind.
If you don't want the extra appliance and you like meat look into Omaha Steaks they used to sell prepackaged single Steaks, pork chops and chicken.
Since you are mentioning multiple week trips I'm assuming that you have a way to keep food cold/frozen.
A a few of suggestions for breakfast:
1) Frozen breakfast burritos Either made at home before the trip or buy from Costco/Sams/Kroger etc. Wrap in 2 layers of heavy gauge Aluminum foil. Can be heated in coals of last nights fire while braking down camp or in a pan on a backpacking stove. Take about 5-10 mins to heat depending on how defrosted they are. (You want them thin and long not like The Chipolte Burrito bombs; Fat ones take too long to heat = burnt outside and cold middles.) Same can be done for foil wrapping Breakfast Hotpockets.
2) Hardboiled eggs, add a little salt and pepper or favorite hot sauce and 2 can keep you going for hours. Cook 6 and the cool for 3-4 days of breakfasts. Slice them throw them on bagged salad greens with a bit of lemon juice for a quick for lunch.
3) Cold Morning, Instant Oatmeal. Heat your water for morning Coffee/Tea an extra cup for your oatmeal. Toss in some fresh fruit, honey, or chocolate to mix it up.
Boort
Member III
Thanks, Fridge, No freezer. Clearly I will shop often. I use lot's of ziplock bags but I have no room for an appliance like a seal a meal.
Ziploc used to sell a battery powered hand held vacuum sealer that took zipper bags. Looks like it's no longer sold but continues to work with other zipper bags. I think other makers may have similar more portable units.
With no freezer look to backpackers for more options. Check out Dave Morrow on Youtube or on his site at Dave Morrow Photography – Landscape, Night Sky & Wilderness Photography He is an engineer turned photographer who spends most of his time on the road switching between backpacking and overlanding for his photography. He has had a few videos over the last few years on his methods for food prep and storage for his adventures. Last I saw he was also w/o a fridge. the video that comes to mind is :
Boort
I like to bake some cinnamon rolls on my trips.
Attachments
For a quick and easy meal, I baked a frozen burrito one night and it was awesome.
Attachments
Enthusiast III
Biscuits and gravy needs to be on the menu always! But I’m more of a breakfast guy than a dinner guy.
Attachments
Member III
It's been a while but I've done cinnamon rolls from a tube in the cast-iron dutch oven nestled into a depression in the coals. Takes ~30 mins. Besure to have a stiff nylon bristle brush for cleanup.
Boort
Enthusiast III
Have to agree with some of you. Gotta have my hot links (we've done bear sausages, Laosian sausages, and traditional hot links). All are a must have. On top of that, gotta have my carne asada for the street tacos. The leftovers I throw into next morning's omelet/breakfast burrito.
Advocate III
Front country or overlanding with access, definitely steak, potatoes, and assorted veggies.
Backcountry with ultralight gear, we’re talking good old Chili Mac MREs.
Backcountry with ultralight gear, we’re talking good old Chili Mac MREs.
Yes, I have the Coleman Camp Oven and they work great. Bake time varies based on the outside temperature, but the cinnamon rolls took about 10 minutes to bake with an outside temp of 80 degrees. Next time, I’ll try cookies or brownies.
Member III
Sounds great if making for a group. As I recall they have no preservatives and go stale quickly. I can eat 1 or 2.
