What foods while camping out of truck / tent

Would like to hear more on peoples choice of foods when camping out of a truck / tent.

I like things with little mess while cooking if they need to be cooked at all and not needing to be refrigerated is a plus.

I know for some people cooking while camping is part of the event but I spend most of my time drinking beer / fishing/ exploring usually and don't typically feel like spending an hour or more cooking / cleaning.

Here are a few things I like to bring but would like to hear what others have found work well for them so I can get some more ideas.

Hot dogs
Those little pre made Tuna snack things with crackers
Granola bars / Jerky/ smoked fish / trail mix are always good
Canned beans
Hard boiled eggs
Goobers PB&J
Fresh caught fish is the hope so I keep a bag of pre-cooked rice

 

Thought those items needed to be refrigerated.

When I camp, I like easy with little cleanup. That usually means canned foods (SpaghettiOs, ravioli, etc.) that are heated and eaten right out of the can. Along with non-perishable sealed milk, and dry foods and cereals.

 

They do have to be refrigerated, I do make some room aside the beer for SOME food lol...

I like the SpaghettiOs and ravioli idea!

 

I like to prepare as many meals at home as possible and put them in ziploc bags. It pretty much just requires me to dump the bag in the pan and cook it once I'm out. Lunches are usually just sandwiches.

They're pretty simple meals. I might have to cook some eggs for breakfast, boil rice at dinner (boil in bag rice, no mess), put some frozen vegetables in a pot of hot water, etc. All told from getting the stove out to putting everything away clean is about thirty minutes and I can do it all while drinking beer.

Examples:
Marinated steaks
Steak/peppers/onions
Kielbasa/potatoes/onions
Sausage/potatoes/peppers/onions

If you want to be lazy and still eat good tasting warm food just buy some Mountain House meals. Not much simpler, cleaner or faster than boiling a bit of water.

 

My buddies rode their mountain bikes from Banff to whitefish, I did support with my truck. One of the best suppers we had was BBQ steak and spaghetti out in the Flathead valley south of Fernie.
You have a truck so eat well, with the new coolers you can go days storing food.

 

Dehydrating meats is good for quite a few days without refrigeration but does increase your cooking time when rehydrating. Good for stir fries, tacos or simply adding to soup for more protein. Canning your own stews, pasta w/sauce and chili works well and can be done just in your oven. I also make a "powerball" type treat that has a ton of good stuff in it to keep you going without cooking.

 

I am the exact same way! Ez meals on certain trips...Mountain house for sure!
My friends cringe when they see me eating them, but hell boil some water and eat. Honestly bro they are amazing! 15 minutes later beers are crakin!

 

I prefer as few dishes as possible and quick to cook. I save freeze dried and the like for backpacking. For car camping I like no cleanup, but good food. These three have no cleanup if served on paper plates that you can throw in the fire when done.

• "fire steak" - marinated or seasoned steak cut into chunks and roasted over the campfire on marshmallow roasting sticks while drinking beer. Think of it as campfire fondue.

• Pre cooked ribs from Costco reheated on a small propane grill.

• Shrimp and pineapple kabobs (or any type of kabobs) cooked on a small propane grill.

The grill and the fire are your friend for no cleanup and no dishes.

 

Hi All,

I'm Planing on finishing my slide on Skamper repairs this Summer and an start some mid week trips this fall (I'm Retired). IT has a Icebox, heater and stove top and I'd like to swap to a LP fridge - but I can't justify it at this time ($500 buys lots and lots of ice) Perhaps Next year if my usage justifies.

Anyway it does have an Ice Box and the small stove top. Based on this I'm planing the following;

Use Dry Ice in the Icebox with a back up of Dry ICe in one cooler (with frozen stuff) and a second cooler for Ice and Drinks. Use Regular ICe when I run out of Dry Ice.

Try to mostly use "boiled" dinner stuff. Rice Pilaf, Potatoes, soups (homemade beef/hamburger + Progresso (SP?) canned + Lipton).

Limit Pan frying to reduce the grease in the camper + reduce greasy frying pan cleaning.

Lots of dry goods can be easily stored and quickly made - Quick stuff - Potatoes, Rice, Pasta, Well, you get the Idea.

Non easily perishable stuff - Bread, Chips, Tomatoes, Lettuce - Sandwich Stuff, Snacks, condiments etc.

Try to keep the Main Dry Ice fridge for "must" refrigerate stuff - Sandwich meats, Steaks, Milk/cream, etc.
And Finely grab a bucket of instant Freeze dried stuff (Wise Co.) for backup, fun and something different/quick/easy/no mess (On the road quick hot lunches. )

I may try a 3 day run to upper Michigan (Keweenaw Peninsula) with a weeks stay next year. Once I get there I'll restock with Ice/Dry Ice (if available) and just perishables and re stock as needed. I'll be sure to carry a small grill and go the steak/hamburger feast.

By the time I get near the end of the trip (return run), I'd be ready for a few stops at a decent restaurant and a beeline home.

In Summary - not too much fuss, not too much mess, but still stuff I like.

SteveC

 

I put tamales in the engine bay in the morning, and by lunch they're nice and warm. The only garbage you're left with are the husks and some foil.

 

I like to freeze my premade meals (chili, meats, etc) and take them with me. Acts as free ice and you don't have to worry about cooking. Just heating it up.

 

Pre cooking can be your friend. We try to precook things like bacon and ground beef. Try to make a lot of one pan meals, as soon as the food is cooked, I get it out of the pan and dump in some water to heat and be ready to clean when we are ready to do it.

Dutch ovens or tin foil meals also nice. And I thought beer/Gin drinking was part of camp cooking.

 

I'm always the sap who brings the cast iron.

 

Last year, we spent one afternoon seasoning all kinds of cast iron pans. Between me and a buddy we must have had about 6 different pieces baking on the camp fire.

 

I always eat well no matter where I'm at. You won't see me popping open a can of spaghetti-Os when I could be grilling a steak over a wood fire.

 

First night is DiGorno pizza frozen from box. cover up portable gas grill with foil to make an oven and enjoy.
fresh eggs unwashed last for 4 weeks
Bacon jerky, warm it up and its great on anything
taters, carrots, corn on cob roast well
freeze your water bottles to use them for the cooler instead of ice and things don't get wet
shade your cooler so ice lasts longer
keep meats frozen and on bottom of cooler

 

I love going outdoor gourmet while my friends heat up their wolf brand chili.

 

In the Army, we'd put the WWII Sea Rat Cans on/next to the engine. Nothing really helped the ham and Lima beans - but it was easier to choke down when hot !!

 

those little butter noodle packs are easy. I used to do those with some tuna for protein.
but if you can eat well on the trail, it makes a night and day difference in energy levels.

 

People don't understand how seriously good they are. All you need is some boiling water and a fork/spoon. I eat one at home every once in a while just for the hell of it. GF also thinks it is gross. Biggest draw back is that they are relatively expensive.