How to Cook on a Campfire

Eating meals cooked on a campfire is one of the best features of camping out in the wild. Although it is much easier to use camping stoves and cooking gadgets, starting your own fire and preparing food from scratch is part of the fun of a camping expedition.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dry wood
• Stones
• Paper
• Lighter
• Grill
• Cookware
• Thin wooden sticks
• Lighter fluid (optional)

1. Collect dry wood. It is advisable to take a pre-packed bundle with you when you depart for your camping trip. Pick an open spot away from dry leaves and camp equipment to start the fire.
2. Make a U-shaped boundary with medium sized rocks. Place a big flat rock at the base to help push the smoke from the fire up into the air. Fill the ground between the rocks with small pieces of crumpled paper.
3. Lay thin wood sticks over the paper to create a zigzag pattern which covers the entire area. Use a lighter to set the paper on fire. When the fire engulfs the thin sticks, add firewood to keep up a steady flame. To start the fire quicker, sprinkle lighter fluid on the wood and light up the fire.
4. Put a sturdy grill on the rocks and place your cookware on top. Cook your food to your liking. If the fire seems to slow down, add more fire wood and remove the wood soot with a long pointed wood stick. The food may take a little more time to cook, so stick to easy recipes.

Tips & Warnings

• Use firewood of equal size.
• Keep a bucket of water near the campfire with you at all times.
• Use a spray bottle to squirt water on any flame that goes too high.
• Put out the fire with water before retiring to your camping tent.
• Do not use green wood off the trees as the fire will be smoky and burn lightly.
• Do not start a campfire if there is a strong wind.