Free Camp Cooking Guide: Essential Options Covered
There’s no denying that packing up the van and hitting the road for a bout of remote free-camping is as rich and fulfilling as it is because of all the special factors that make up the experience – and there’s little more enjoyable, or vital, than mouth-watering camp fare!
Whether you prefer the speed and convenience of a gas-powered combination, or going the whole-hog with you iron-cast kit over a crackling fire-pit, you can’t miss this need-to-know guide on all your free-camp cooking options!
GAS OPTIONS
Gas-powered BBQs, grills and burners are widely regarded as a “must-have” tool for nomads once they hit the road. Their ease of operation, low-fuel consumption and compact design for space-saving makes them a perfect addition to any RV – but at the end of the day, it’s their speed and reliability that make gas-cookers such a useful tool around the camp.
THE BREAKDOWN
PROS:
- Low-fuel consumption
- Quick and effective operation
- Instant heat
CONS:
- Requires LPG to operate
- Prone to mechanical failure
- Required secure transport of canisters
SLIDE-OUT BBQS
More and more RV manufacturers are incorporating slide-out BBQ components into their designs – why? Because it’s just that convenient. Many travellers prefer to cook their meals outdoors, and it’s not just for the flavour – indoor ovens, grills and stove-tops can often consume a lot of power and fuel and leave the cabin full of odours. A rail-mounted BBQ slides-out with minimal effort, consumes limited LPG, and can be easily securely stored after use. If your next van doesn’t come with a slide-out BBQ as a standard, be sure to insist on the hatch and componentry included in its design – you won’t regret it!
RING BURNERS
Ring burners are an affordable, compact and effective way to whip up delicious camp-fare. These little beauties screw easily into your source of LPG and quickly provide a source of heat that perfect for camp stews and stir-fry’s. Ring burner frames are readily available which allow for more choice when it comes to cooking gear-used and desired portions. More often than not, brass taps allow control of gas-flow so whether it’s a slow-cooked meal or a quick re-heat, operation is simple!
WEBER BABY Q
The mighty Weber Baby Q – a device so versatile and easy to operate, store and maintain, countless RVers swear by them. Simply connect to a source of LPG, hit the ignition and slap on your meal of choice. An array of hotplates and add-ons by Weber allow you to use the Baby Q for cooking just about anything – from damper, to roasts, and even pizza. A great way to keep the device cleaner for long is by covering the grill-plate in aluminium foil – this helps to reduce grime building up. So popular is this little beauty, many caravan manufacturers are buildings vans with weber-specific external compartments!
WOODFIRE OPTIONS
The RV lifestyle is all about the enjoyment of the great outdoors and there’s nothing better than pulling up in your favourite free camp and preparing scrumptious camp-style cooking over an open-flame! The scents, the taste sensations, and that incomparable feeling of sitting outside and breathing in your natural surrounds as you whip up your meal – that’s what travel is all about!
THE BREAKDOWN
PROS:
- DELICIOUS WOOD SMOKE FLAVOUR
- FIREWOOD AND KINDLING READILY AVAILABLE
- INVALUABLE FREE-CAMPING SKILL
CONS:
- CAN BE DANGEROUS IN SUMMER
- AFFECTED BY FIRE BANS
- LONGER PROCESS THAN GAS
GRILLS AND FIREPITS
Sometimes the simplest things are the easiest. Once you’ve prepared your fire-pit and stoked the coals, a simple iron-cast grilling plate can accommodate a wealth of camp-fare, be it for a camp-brekky or a communal BBQ at the end of the day. The best thing about these grill-plates is their affordability and their ease of storage – they fit snuggly in just about any van or tow vehicle compartments.
CAMP OVENS
There really is no substitute for the versatility and reliability of a quality iron-cast camp oven. You’ll save plenty of cabin space by leaving the cooking clutter at home and investing in just one high-quality camp oven. From cooking bacon and eggs for brekky to a slow-roast dinner in the evening, there’s little this priceless piece of free-camping kit won’t be able to handle for you.
GETTING THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE
Camp cooking, like other outdoor pursuits, gets easier with practice! A little trick I’ve picked up over the years is putting one to two inches of water at the bottom of my camp oven when I’m whipping up a roast – that way when it’s bubbling away I can tell the temperature is pretty much spot on. I also make sure there a plenty of hot coals on the lid – this keeps heat circulating nice and evenly.
UNIQUE OPTIONS
PORTABLE SPIT
Portable spits are getting increasingly popular with RVers, and there’s no mistaking there’s one nearby when that unmistakable aromas begins to waft through a campsite. What could be better than firing up the spit and cooking a leg of lamb to share over happy hour – wrap-up some jack potatoes and chuck them amongst the coals to really keep your fellow campers happy!
The method of thermal cooking, or cooking by insulation, isn’t currently as popular as its flame and gas-fuelled counterparts but more and more travellers are packing a thermal cooker before heading off.
THERMAL COOKING
The method of thermal cooking, or cooking by insulation, isn’t currently as popular as its flame and gas-fuelled counterparts but more and more travellers are packing a thermal cooker before heading off.
