When summer or fall is around the corner, most people start making preparations for spending time in the great outdoors. Well, nothing beats family camping when it comes to the list of outdoor activities you can partake in and have the time of your life. Camping with teens and kids lets us bond with nature, make new friends, and take some time off away from the busy world, noisy environment, technology, polluted air, and all the chaos you can think of. In this piece, we’ll explore some helpful tips on how to store food while camping.
Well, food and beverage undoubtedly top the list of many things you need for a successful camping experience. Nonetheless, some of the food and drinks you bring will need to be stored appropriately to avoid spoilage and keep them flavorful. That way you can avoid annoying stuff like food poisoning. In other words, your dining experience will largely depend on how well you keep your food and favorite drinks stored.
How to Store Food When Camping
Have a Plan
When going camping, especially for activity-based excursions, you realize that generally, your needs for food and water can be quite high. Without a good plan, you may end up having a shortage of essential foods while camping or fluids in the middle of your camping. In hot weather, for instance, you will need to pay extra special attention to carrying different types of fluids to stay hydrated. This means having plenty of space to keep them in your car, RV, or backpack. Most importantly, you ought to have a plan on how to keep them at their right temperatures, which brings us to the next important pointer.
Keep It Cool
For the best camping experience, you will want to get a cooler or some ice packs to keep your cold food and water refrigerated. Brian Connelly from MOC recommends getting a sturdy cooler that will keep your beverages cold and your food fresh for the longest time possible. When choosing a camping cooler, he advises consumers to consider factors such as insulation, durability, capacity, and design.
Also, make sure you use quality ice packs to ensure efficiency. Remember, the weather is also another factor to consider when determining how long your packed food can stay fresh. Additionally, be sure to freeze or refrigerate foods such as meat, salads, and cooked veggies overnight. Refrigeration helps ensure that your food and drinks are preserved, keeping them fresh, healthy, and safe for consumption.
A good option is to bring a camping generator and have small electrical food storage or something like that, I have a full post on how to choose the best generator for camping, you can read it to have a better idea.
Storing Perishable versus Non-Perishable Foods
Consider cooking any food that needs to be cooked before stepping out for your camping and keep them in a cooler. This will aid in preventing perishing because, with less effort, you will only be required to heat it on a grill or a cookstove before eating. This is a cool way to prevent perishable foods such as meat, vegetables, and some other fully prepared meals that you may choose not to freeze. Other foods to precook rather than freeze for preservation may include rice, pasta, etc. For the non-perishable foods such as bread, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, trail mix, crackers –you name it; keep them in canvas, paper, or plastic bags.
Storing Fresh Water
During camping preparations, seek to find out if your campsite provides fresh water. Some campsites rarely have fresh water. Just in case you encounter such a scenario, it is best to have some freshwater stored in large plastic or metal containers. Also, remember to bring with you, small bottles for refilling from the large containers. You may also consider buying some special backpacks that have a built-in water container and a hose that enables you to drink your water even while on the trail.
Follow Proper Food Safety Measures
When storing your food and drinks, don’t forget to follow proper food safety practices as you pack your camping food. Remember that perishable foods do not go well with hot weather for more than an hour or two hours in mild hot weather. Additionally, ensure you bring the necessary food storage essentials such as disposable wipes, biodegradable soaps, hand sanitizers, trash bags, water purification tablets, thermometers, ice packs, and so forth.
Be Aware Of the Animals
This may not apply to everyone, but it is still important. Seek to purchase bear-proof material for safe storing of your food and beverages if going camping on a bear inhabited campsites. If your campsite is prone to monkeys, you will also need to pack and store your food well to avoid going hungry at the hands of these primates. The good thing is that many campgrounds provide animal-proof storage lockers, as well as guidelines on how to keep yourself and your food safe from animals.
Very few things are more exciting than camping. The outdoor activity provides a multitude of benefits to the mind, body, and spirit. With the few tips above, you can enjoy your camping trip without skipping a meal or fighting thirst.
