Hiking and Cooking

Some people only go hiking for a day, and are content with snacks such as trail mix. There are others who attempt to go hiking for multiple days. While some people want to hike and completely “rough it” on small snacks, others are going to want to actually cook while they are hiking. While it may be inconvenient to carry these around while hiking, anyone who has a stationary campground for hiking can find multiple benefits in cooking while out on a hike trip. There are a few things to think about when thinking about cooking while hiking. Thinking of all of this in advance is the best way to make sure you have everything that you need.

Having the Right Equipment

If you are trying to cook while you are hiking, you are going to want to make sure that you have all of the right equipment to actually do so. You want to make sure that you have the right cast iron pots, pans, or Dutch ovens to keep at your stationary site. You do not want to carry these around with you as you hike, but they are crucial to being able to cook everything you want. You also want to make sure that you have the basic utensils for cooking (spatula, tongs, oil) as well as the basic utensils for eating (plates, knives, forks, spoons).

How to Cook

If you have cast iron pots and pans, you will find that there are a seemingly endless amounts of ways for you to cook. The strength of your fire will determine how hot your pan is. How high off of the flame you keep it (with a metal grate, etc) will also determine exactly how hot the pans and food gets.

Types of Foods

There are various types of foods that are great for hiking and cooking. While hotdogs and hamburgers are normal, try something like potatoes and vegetables. Try sausage. You can even cook things like chicken and pork while hiking (as long as you have the cooler to keep them cool before cooking).

Finding Recipes

By using the Internet, you can easily find hiking and camping recipes. There are also some cookbooks for outdoor cooking. By searching camping, you may find more recipes than you would if you searched hiking, however, so keep this in mind for your search.

If you have the right equipment, you can easily cook nearly everything that you want to. Cast Iron pots and pans are incredibly useful to those who want to cook over a fire, as they can handle the heat and can transfer that heat incredibly well. There are multiple methods of cooking to consider, and multiple types of foods that are perfect for cooking on trips. There are also recipes that are available online that can help you to think of what you may want to take with you. All of this combined can give you the best food experience while enjoying your hiking experience.