How to Cook over a Campfire

Cooking over a campfire is one of the best parts of the camping experience, even if you prefer to camp in a fully-loaded motorhome or cabin. Food cooked correctly over an open flame has a rich, smoky flavor, and the experience is like nothing else. Plus, you have the added benefit of staying warm around the fire during these chilly months. It can be tricky, however, if you are not used to the process. Here are a few tips from your friends at S&H Campground to get you started at mastering the art of campfire cooking.

Come Prepared

Our camp store is well-stocked with many of the items you will need to make a successful campfire meal. However, we’ve found that most veteran campers prefer to come with their own tools and utensils. We sell local firewood, but you may consider bringing your own grill or even a Dutch oven. You should also prep all of your ingredients beforehand, to allow you to spend more time cooking.

Be Patient

Some basic knowledge of how to build a fire will go a long way in your campfire cooking. For example: just because you see flames does not mean that the fire is ready for cooking. An ideal fire consists mainly of hot coals, with just a few logs of burning wood. Depending on the weather conditions, it can take 30-45 minutes for a fire to burn low enough for optimal cooking. When building the fire, it is important to take your time and add the wood slowly. Don’t build too large of a fire because it will burn too quickly and burn out before you can finish cooking your food.

Beware of Cooking Directly over the Flame

Cooking food directly over a flame will inevitably lead to burned food. To cook correctly, build your fire on one side of your fire pit or grill and use the other side as a place for hot coals. Then you can place a camp grill directly over the fire to boil water, roast meats, and grill vegetables. The hot coals can be used to cook vegetables in aluminum foil packets, or for baking cobbler in your Dutch oven camp stove.

When you’re ready to take on campfire cooking on your next trip to S&H Campground, get started by contacting our team of professionals at (317) 326-3208 and request a quote. Owned and operated by the Hine family of nearby Greenfield, Indiana, S&H is proud to provide an impressive camping experience from setup to tear down.