Did you know that cooking your food over a campfire can add some amazing bold flavors to your dish? Additionally, the sound of crackling wood and the aroma spreading across your campsite is usually an evening highlight for most campers especially after a busy day filled with camping activities. We can assure you that campfire cooking will make your Queensland camping trip very special plus it tends to feel natural cooking and eating around a campfire. Cooking over a fire definitely has a skill to it or you may end up with either completely burnt food or an undercooked meal. With that being said, here are some over the fire cooking tips you need to know before you try it out.
Build your fire the right way
For you to prepare an over the fire meal, you need to build your campfire the right way and safely. When building a campfire, it’s important that you find a safe spot. At Murphy’s Creek Escape, we have unique fire drum stands that can be moved anywhere on your site and are large enough to hold the biggest of camp ovens. We also sell firewood and kindling. Note that it is important to build fires in designated areas. After that, set a layer of tinder. Tinder consists of small twigs or dry leaves. Ensure you use enough tinder so that your fire doesn’t die out quickly.
Then add the kindling on top of the tinder which includes small sticks that are less than one inch long. Lastly, add your firewood which consists of any large wood as this is what will keep your fire going. After that, light the tinder with a match or lighter. Blow lightly at the base at the base of the fire which will help increase the intensity of the flame and further ignite the wood. Once the fire is going strong and the temperature increases, you can add logs as needed. A log cabin fire is perfect for cooking.
Get the right open fire cookware
Having the right tools will help in creating delicious dishes. Cast iron cooking equipment is a must have when camping in South East Queensland as it is recommended for campfire cooking because it retains heat better. Also materials such as titanium, steel and aluminum are also common in camping cookware. The first cookware item you will need is a surface. You could use a grill grate, cast-iron cooking tripod or a dutch oven stand. For a grill grate, you can use it to grill meat and vegetables or use it as a stand to hold pots and pans for boiling water, frying or slow cooking. Last but not least, you need utensils like stainless steel tongs and long handled spoons for staring together with grill gloves, steel log grabber and stainless steel wire grill brush for cleaning.
Bring aluminum foil with you
Aluminum foil can be used for various purposes hence why it’s a must have when camping. You can use it to line cookware, wrap fruits and vegetables for cooking directly in the coals plus you can also use them to wrap and store some food neatly. Aluminum foil can also be cleaned up easily.
Prep the food beforehand
Prepping your food at home before coming out to the campsite will save you plenty of time. Prepare as many ingredients as you can at home and store them neatly in clear BPA- Free plastic containers. Dicing up your meat, vegetables or fruits at home is so much easier and faster at home as compared to doing it at the campsite. Store cold and perishable produce in cooler boxes to maintain their freshness. In addition, you can purchase and carry the food in odor-proof bags which will help reduce the chances of your food attracting animals. The Loksak odor-proof bags are a good example as they are zip-top and come in various sizes. They are made of heavy duty plastic, lightweight, tough, durable and are also airtight and waterproof as well.
Read more: Camping Food Storage Tips You Should Know About
Do not cook over naked flames
Cooking over naked flame will only help you achieve burnt food hence why we advise you to use either a grill grate or cast-iron cooking tripod. The intense heat will cause your dish to cook unevenly which could end up causing a serious case of food poisoning. Also note that there are many ways to cook over a campfire and the recipe you use will determine the method you use. Some recipes will require you to directly immerse the ingredients in the coals such as campfire baked potatoes or stuffed roasted apples.
In conclusion, over the fire cooking is a great way of bonding and enjoying quality time with your friends and family. If you love being outdoors and are a fan of cooking, then we believe that you may enjoy it. Join us at Murphy’s Creek Escape for this and much more.