Cooking Gear

Cooking Stoves

The oldest method for outdoor cooking is by means of a campfire.
Campfires can be used for cooking food by a number of techniques.
The techniques for cooking on a campfire are no different from
those used for everyday cooking before the invention of cooking
stoves. Cooking food using a campfire can be tricky for those not
accustomed to it; also, due to risk of fire damage, campfires are
illegal in many forest camping areas, so many campers prefer to
use a portable camping stove instead.

Portable camping stoves with flamed heat using special camp stove
fuel or propane fired camp stoves are self contained so there is
no need for natural gas or electric utilities hook_up. The classic
Coleman 2 burner camp stove is still available on the market and
used by many campers with success. I prefer the propane gas fired
camp stove for ease of use and quick start up. Just have to haul
the propane gas canisters or propane bottles with you instead of a
can of liquid camp stove fuel.


                            
                     2 burner propane stove

Propane Outdoor grill

Pots and Pans

Frying

Frying is not always necessary, but is often used for fish or wild
game caught while on the trip, as well as certain kinds of bread
and desserts made on the trail. Camp frying pans often lack handles
for easy packing, with the camp cook using a clamp-like device to
pick up and move the pan. As a general rule, the frying medium used
in camp cooking is usually either vegetable oil or margarine, since
most animal fats such as butter or lard are not sufficiently
shelf-stable for camp use.

Camp frying pans are generally made out of very thin metal (though
some campers do use cast iron pans for this purpose as well), so
extra care must be taken to evenly cook the food, especially over
the small-diameter flame of a portable stove. A "round the clock"
technique, where the frying pan is moved repeatedly to expose
different parts of its base to the flame, is the most commonly
recommended solution to the problem, though it is also possible to
use a flame diffuser to achieve the same effect. For campfire use,
on the other hand, some camp cooks prefer a legged cast-iron pan
called a "spider", which is elevated to allow a small fire directly
beneath it.


Dutch Ovens


Dutch ovens, once called "bake kettles," originated in the early
18th century. By the mid-1700s, nearly all American families were
cooking in Dutch ovens on home hearths and campfires.

Today's Dutch ovens differ little from early models. Each is a
large deep pot with a tight-fitting lid. Three short legs
support the whole affair over coals. The lid has a raised rim to
retain coals placed on the lid. With this arrangement- coals on
top and coals beneath-the oven can be evenly heated. Old-time
ovens were heavy cast iron, but now you can purchase lighter
aluminum ones, too.

Pots

Many campers use ordinary aluminum sauce pans for boiling and
simmering vegatables, potatoes, or heating up anything that comes
in a can. Aluminum pots and pans acquired from garage sales or
flea markets work well because they can handle rough service
they might get at a campsite. If you prefer you can purchase the
campers  cooking set.

Stainless Steel Family Camping Cookware Set 

                                               






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