How to master the art of camp cooking

Food tastes different at a campsite. Maybe it's the fresh air, maybe it's just that you've earned it after a day outdoors, but there's something about cooking over a gas cooker or open fire that turns a simple meal into one of the best parts of the trip.

Here's how to get it right, from the planning stage right through to packing down camp.

Get your kitchen sorted

Good camp cooking starts before you've even left the house. A bit of planning means you arrive at the campsite ready to cook, not scrambling to figure it out.

Build meals around one pot. If you're using a gas cooker with one burner, one pot recipes are your friend. Think stir fries, pastas and bacon and eggs.

A few other things worth doing before you go:

• Plan your recipes based on use and shelf-life.

• Try to incorporate an ingredient more than once during your trip so nothing goes to waste.

• Pack your most perishable items, like fresh vegetables, meat and eggs, to eat early in the trip.

• Choose meals that are quick to cook.

Pack a backup plan for the days that don't go to plan. If you're arriving late, or you've got a big day out hiking, boating or adventuring, freeze dried meals are worth having in the pack. They're a hot, filling feed in minutes.

Sort your camp kitchen setup. Having the right gear on hand makes the actual cooking part so much easier, especially if you're packing the car and want everything to fold down small.

A lightweight, foldable table like the Retreat Compact Table gives you a space to prep, cook and eat, and packs away in seconds when it's time to load the car.

Food storage is worth thinking about too, especially if you're camping somewhere with rats or other unwanted visitors. A Retreat Double Cupboard with zip mesh doors keeps your pantry items sealed up and out of reach, while still giving you a proper benchtop to prep on.

Cook in the moment 

Once you're at camp, cooking becomes less about following instructions and more about just being there.

Try to cook in daylight. Cooking in the dark is harder than it sounds, especially with kids around and limited light to work with. Check sunset times for your campsite ahead of dinner and do your prep earlier in the day so you're not caught out once it gets dark.

If you do end up cooking after dark, a good head torch makes a real difference. It keeps your hands free for chopping and stirring, and a bright lantern hung up over your cooking area means your camp kitchen still works after sunset.

A good mug will be your best friend. Whether it's a hot coffee in the morning or a cold drink once the sun goes down, a Hydro Flask tumbler keeps your drink at the right temperature no matter what time of day it is.

There's a simple joy in cooking outdoors with the people you're with. No rush, no distractions, just a meal coming together and everyone waiting for it.

Be a tidy camper

Once the plates are scraped clean, the job isn't quite done. What you do with the leftovers and rubbish matters just as much as the meal itself.

Bring a bag for general rubbish, a bag for recycling, and a bag for fruit and vegetable waste to go in the compost bin when you're home. Avoid overusing plastic bags and cling wrap by keeping leftovers in reusable containers instead.

Leaving a campsite the way you found it, or better, is part of what makes the whole trip feel worthwhile. It's a small effort that means the next person gets to enjoy it just as much as you did.

Share the tips and stories

The best camp meals tend to become the stories people tell afterwards. The pasta that saved a cold night, the pancakes cooked by head torch, the coffee that somehow tasted better than it does at home. That's the stuff that gets shared once you're back, and what gets someone else planning their next trip.

Still missing a few bits of gear before your next adventure? Our range of camp cooking essentials will set you up for whatever's next.