Cooking
Overview
Coming from tent camping and upgrading to a vintage trailer with a fridge that wouldn't work, I had to get creative with limiting perishable items to what will be edible sitting in a cooler for a couple days. I don't want to rough it, but want to spend as little time cooking and cleaning as possible.
Ask yourself a couple questions in preparation:
Will you have electricty? Or will you be using an indoor propane stove or oven? Or perhaps a portable propane stove, charcoal grill, or even a campfire?
How do want to store it? If you've got cupboard space, organize it! Or you can pack a camp/chuck box that holds tools and non-perishable items that can double as an emergency survival or even evacuation kit. Rolling, hard shell suitcases work perfect for this option.
When packing ANYTHING, ask yourself: Is it practical to take camping? Would you want to expose it to a camping environemnt? Do you really need it?
How long will you be gone? If the event is longer than a couple of days, be creative with what you came make with dry goods, canned goods, and not very perishable items such as vegetables and cheese. Meat and milk should be consumed within the first couple days. But only buy the first few days worth of highly perishable items (meat, milk). Avoid having to do a shopping trip run, we spend enough time doing that during our everyday life.
Ask yourself a couple questions in preparation:
Will you have electricty? Or will you be using an indoor propane stove or oven? Or perhaps a portable propane stove, charcoal grill, or even a campfire?
How do want to store it? If you've got cupboard space, organize it! Or you can pack a camp/chuck box that holds tools and non-perishable items that can double as an emergency survival or even evacuation kit. Rolling, hard shell suitcases work perfect for this option.
When packing ANYTHING, ask yourself: Is it practical to take camping? Would you want to expose it to a camping environemnt? Do you really need it?
How long will you be gone? If the event is longer than a couple of days, be creative with what you came make with dry goods, canned goods, and not very perishable items such as vegetables and cheese. Meat and milk should be consumed within the first couple days. But only buy the first few days worth of highly perishable items (meat, milk). Avoid having to do a shopping trip run, we spend enough time doing that during our everyday life.
Basic Supplies
Pots, Pans, Mixing Bowls, Colander Standard kitchen ones for indoor cooking? Or cast iron for a campfire? Stockpot with lid, frying pan, whistling kettle.
Plates and Silverware Do you want to do dishes? Or go with disposable? Unless you're Glamping, there's no need to get fancy. If you pass on Chinet and use plateware, try to wash the dishes as soon as possible after eating. The longer you let them sit, the harder they'll be to clean.
Cups or Glasses Even with the comfort of a closed trailer door, we avoid open containers. Thermal mugs are great for hot liquids. Consider plastic water bottles or Capri Sun for hydration. There are great flavor packets available for water and frozen water bottles double as ice packs for the cooler.
Stock Items Large Knife, Ladle and Stirring/Serving Spoons, Can/Bottle Opener, Corkscrew, Cutting Board, Paring Knife, Measuring Cups, Spatula, Vegetable Peeler, Scissors, Grater, Sponge/Scrubbie, Dish Soap, Dish Towel, Hot Pads, Vinyl Tablecloth, Trash Bags, Paper Towels/Napkins, Toilet Paper, Tin Foil, and even disinfectant wipes are good things.
Matches or Lighter The one time you don't pack these will be the time your flint doesn't light your propane.
Dry Goods and Other Non-Perishable Items Don't leave the house without canned goods! Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cooking oil, flour, and seasonings such as salt and pepper are a few suggestions. Make sure they’re in small packages or containers. Canned vegetables, Canned Soups, tuna fish or chicken breast chunks, and even broth for soup are some ideas. Other ideas include: chips (potato or tortilla), carrots, baking potatoes, onions, loaf of bread, pasta, beans, etc. Pre-packaged snacks such as granola bars, trail mixes, nuts, dried fruits and vegetables, Cereals, Peanut butter and cheese crackers, pretzel rods, and popcorn. Hard meats such as salami or summer sausage will keep.
Camp Stove, Propane Tank & Hose, Grill, Slow Cooker, Toaster Oven Okay, there are a couple unusual suggestions here, but some meals you simply don't want to cook inside of your trailer.
Cooler(s) A seperate drink cooler isn't a bad idea. Nobody likes a warm beer. :)
Plates and Silverware Do you want to do dishes? Or go with disposable? Unless you're Glamping, there's no need to get fancy. If you pass on Chinet and use plateware, try to wash the dishes as soon as possible after eating. The longer you let them sit, the harder they'll be to clean.
Cups or Glasses Even with the comfort of a closed trailer door, we avoid open containers. Thermal mugs are great for hot liquids. Consider plastic water bottles or Capri Sun for hydration. There are great flavor packets available for water and frozen water bottles double as ice packs for the cooler.
Stock Items Large Knife, Ladle and Stirring/Serving Spoons, Can/Bottle Opener, Corkscrew, Cutting Board, Paring Knife, Measuring Cups, Spatula, Vegetable Peeler, Scissors, Grater, Sponge/Scrubbie, Dish Soap, Dish Towel, Hot Pads, Vinyl Tablecloth, Trash Bags, Paper Towels/Napkins, Toilet Paper, Tin Foil, and even disinfectant wipes are good things.
Matches or Lighter The one time you don't pack these will be the time your flint doesn't light your propane.
Dry Goods and Other Non-Perishable Items Don't leave the house without canned goods! Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cooking oil, flour, and seasonings such as salt and pepper are a few suggestions. Make sure they’re in small packages or containers. Canned vegetables, Canned Soups, tuna fish or chicken breast chunks, and even broth for soup are some ideas. Other ideas include: chips (potato or tortilla), carrots, baking potatoes, onions, loaf of bread, pasta, beans, etc. Pre-packaged snacks such as granola bars, trail mixes, nuts, dried fruits and vegetables, Cereals, Peanut butter and cheese crackers, pretzel rods, and popcorn. Hard meats such as salami or summer sausage will keep.
Camp Stove, Propane Tank & Hose, Grill, Slow Cooker, Toaster Oven Okay, there are a couple unusual suggestions here, but some meals you simply don't want to cook inside of your trailer.
Cooler(s) A seperate drink cooler isn't a bad idea. Nobody likes a warm beer. :)
Preparing the Kitchen
Stocking / Shopping: Everyone will have a different master list of consumables and staples. There are also items that you'll take from your home pantry, buy especially for the specific trip, or even purchase once you get close to your destination. A great way to figure out what you need is to meal plan. It's actually essential, particularly if there's an obscure or specialty item not readily available in most stores, such as organic or gluten free foods. Spices and grains that are sold in larger quantities should be repackaged for the amount you need to get you by.
Tic Tac Spice Containers
You don't want to stock your trailer with its own complete stock of spices to prevent them from losing their pizazz and borrowing your spice rack from home is bulky and adds unnecessary weight. Using small ziploc bags is just a hassle. So, freshen your mouth with Tic Tacs and save the empty containers! They can easily be labeled with a Sharpie or label maker. This idea is courtesy TheKitchn.com!
Breakfast
Camping is the only time I don't eat cold ceral with milk for breakfast. Granola clusters and diced dried fruit aren't the first thing I think of, although it's perfect for dry camping. If you have refrigeration or use meats right away, bacon and sausage will make your neighbors want to invite themselves over. Shake-and-pour pancake mixes, or at least ones that just add water, are convenient and easy for a hot breakfast. Fresh fruit such as apples and bananas will last depending on the heat.