Campfire Cooking for Beginners

There is something primal and satisfying about cooking over fire. Master a few basic techniques and you can prepare meals that surpass anything from a backpacking stove. For example, the Thule Accent 26L Backpack ($150, 2.7 lbs) is a well-regarded option worth considering.

Building a Cooking Fire

The Right Fire

Cooking happens over coals, not flames. A roaring fire is too hot and too uneven. Build your fire 30–45 minutes before you want to cook and let it burn down to glowing coals.

Coal Bed Technique

1. Build a standard fire with kindling and small logs
2. Let it burn for 30–45 minutes
3. Spread coals into an even layer
4. Create heat zones: thick coal bed (high heat) on one side, thin coals (low heat) on the other

Best Wood for Cooking

• Hardwoods: Oak, hickory, maple, ash — burn hot and long, create excellent coals
• Avoid: Pine, cedar, and other softwoods — too much smoke and soot, burn fast

Cooking Methods

Direct Grilling

Place a grill grate over the fire ring or balance it on rocks above the coals.

Best for: Burgers, steaks, sausages, vegetables, bread

Tips:

• Oil the grate before cooking to prevent sticking
• Use long-handled tongs and a spatula
• Rotate food for even cooking

Foil Packets

Wrap ingredients in heavy-duty aluminum foil and place directly on coals.

Classic recipe: Diced potatoes, onions, carrots, butter, sausage, salt and pepper. Wrap tightly, cook 20–30 minutes, flip halfway.

Tips:

• Use double layers of foil to prevent burn-through
• Leave space inside for steam to circulate
• Let packets rest 2 minutes before opening (steam burns)

Dutch Oven

A cast iron Dutch oven is the ultimate car camping cooking tool. Place coals underneath and on the lid for even, oven-like heat.

Temperature guide: Each charcoal briquette adds roughly 25°F. For a 12-inch oven at 350°F, use 8 coals underneath and 14 on top.

Best for: Stews, chili, bread, cobblers, casseroles, roasts

Skewer Cooking

Sharpen green sticks (willow or maple) or use metal skewers for cooking over flames.

Best for: Hot dogs, marshmallows, sausages, bread dough (wrapped around a stick)

Essential Gear

• Heavy-duty aluminum foil
• Long-handled tongs
• Heat-resistant gloves
• Cast iron skillet (car camping)
• Grill grate (compact folding options exist)
• Fire-starting supplies (matches, lighter, firestarter)

Food Safety

• Keep raw meat in a cooler with ice until ready to cook
• Use a meat thermometer: 160°F for ground beef, 165°F for poultry
• Do not reuse marinades that touched raw meat
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before food prep

Recommended Gear

Based on the topics covered in this guide, here are some top-rated products to consider:

• Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack ($140, 1.9 lbs)
• Jetboil CrunchIt Fuel Canister Recycling Tool ($13, 1 oz)
• Primus Campfire Pot ($65, 1.3 lbs)
• MSR Folding Utensil Kit ($19, 2.2 lbs)
• Mystery Ranch 2-Day Assault 27L Daypack ($229, 3.1 lbs)
• BioLite CampStove Complete Kit ($300, 1.1 lbs)

Fire Safety and Ethics

• Only build fires in established fire rings or fire pans
• Check for fire restrictions before your trip
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Fully extinguish: drown, stir, feel. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
• In the backcountry, consider a stove instead — fire scars last decades