Camping cuisine: How to pack light and eat well

Gear
If you intend on hiking to your campsite (as opposed to, say, canoeing or driving), it's imperative that your bags be as light as possible. If you disagree, come with me and you can carry my bag, too! Organizing your gear is very important.

My recommended basic cooking set is one stove and two pots, each with a lid that can be used as a frying pan if so desired, and a clamp handle that allows you to pour liquids easily, which also fits inside the pots when stored. Of course, you can improvise with what you have, but just keep in mind the set I describe allows for minimal weight and fuss.

Also remember to bring dish rags, a scouring pad and biodegradable soap for doing dishes. Place them in a plastic bag and store inside the pots.

Most camping stoves have only one burner and are fueled by white gas. The smaller the stove you bring, the lighter the load, but you may want to get a more powerful burning stove that will allow you to cook your meals faster. I highly recommend getting a stove equipped with a wind blocker, a piece of aluminum that wraps around the stove to block the wind and thus make your stove more efficient.

For a lighter load or short trips, you could pare down your eating utensils to a spoon and a cup, depending on what recipes you plan to prepare. But if you have the space, you should take along a cup, bowl, plate, spoon, knife and fork; it will make your eating that much easier and more enjoyable. I also make great use of my Swiss Army knife, which is good for opening canned goods or slicing and cutting almost anything, including sticks for your marshmallow roasts!

You may wish to consider bringing extra utensils depending on what you've planned for your meals. For instance, a spatula is great if you are making pancakes or French toast. (You could break off the spatula handle so you don't have to carry as much.) And while a Swiss Army knife is great for any occasion, a separate can opener is easier for opening canned goods.

Packing
When packing your gear, remember to store the heaviest items at the bottom centre of your backpack; this will help with your balance as you hike. Here's an exaggerated analogy: if you were to store pillows at the bottom of your pack and bricks at the top, and then bend over to tie your shoelaces with your backpack on, you'd fall forward (and probably get knocked on the back of your head with your gear, too).

At the same time, food is one of the heaviest items you will be carrying. If you are not carrying a separate food bag, you don't want to store your food at the bottom of your pack, where it is difficult to reach and might get squashed. Pack your food in the centre of your bag, near or at the surface, where it is easily accessible; special snacks, treats, lunch and your water bottle should be packed where they are very accessible.

Page 1 of 3