How to Cook Breakfast While Camping

Cook breakfast at camp.

Despite the lack of a kitchen and modern appliances, you can cook a delicious breakfast while camping that will satisfy the heartiest appetite. Preparation is the key to mealtime success when you're in the great outdoors. With a few supplies and a campfire, the smell of breakfast cooking will have your campers up at first light to share in good food and good times.

Things You'll Need

• Cast iron cooking grate
• Shredded hash brown potatoes
• Diced onions
• Diced, cooked ham
• Diced green pepper
• Non-stick spray
• Heavy duty aluminum foil
• Tongs
• Seasoning
• Campfire coffee pot
• Clean nail
• Bread

Instructions

1. Prepare your food items by dicing them at home and freezing them. You can use as much of each food item as desired, to suit your own taste. You can substitute cooked sausage for the cooked ham. Use small freezer bags to custom prepare each camper's meal according to their own tastes.

2. Wrap and store the frozen diced ingredients in newspapers and pack them in the cooler. Since ham and cooked sausage contain preservatives, they are still safe for up to 24 hours after thawing, if kept cool.

3. Start the campfire and let it burn down to hot smoldering coals. Position the cast iron grate no more than 4 inches above the hot coals.

4. Tear off a large sheet of aluminum foil for each camper and spray the center with nonstick spray. Place the cool food ingredients in the center of the foil and fold the edges over, pinching and sealing the foil securely. If a stronger foil packet is desired, use a double layer of foil. The finished foil packets should be as flat as possible.

5. Place the foil packets on the iron grate over the hot coals to cook. Use tongs to turn the packets every 5 minutes. Depending upon the size of the packet and the heat from the campfire, breakfast will be ready in 30 to 45 minutes.

6. Start the coffee by following the campfire pot directions and place the pot on a hot portion of the cast iron grate. It takes less time for the coffee to be ready, so when it begins to percolate, move the pot to one corner to keep the coffee steaming hot.

7. Use a clean nail to poke holes in the shiny side of a piece of aluminum foil. Poke holes approximately ½-inch apart. This is your makeshift toaster. When the foil packs are sizzling and puffed up from the heat inside, place the toaster foil on the grate with a few pieces of bread lying on top. The holes will allow small streams of heat to dry and gently "toast" your bread.

8. Use tongs to remove the foil packets from the grate and open them with care. The ingredients will be very hot. Season as desired and serve with your campfire toasted bread and hot coffee for a hearty breakfast every camper will devour.

Tips & Warnings

• Appoint only one person to oversee the campfire cooking to reduce the risk of burns. Other campers can prepare the eating utensils and pour cold drinks, such as milk or juice, if desired.

• Keep a large bucket of water and a shovel near the campfire to extinguish it after you're done cooking.

Resources

• Find camp cookware at Amazon.