Cooking outside can be fun whether you are grilling or camping. However, it can also be stressful at times. Luckily, there are ways that you can make your time a little bit easier. In this article, we are going to look at some helpful tips you can use when cooking outdoors.
Plan Meals Ahead
Whether you are cooking out when you camp or simply grilling in your backyard, the first thing you should do is plan meals ahead. Just like when you are cooking inside, it is essential that you have everything that you need to craft a meal.
By planning ahead, you can also plan meals that meet your needs; for instance, if you want a meal that is highly effective for weight loss. This goes for any type of diet that you are suiting yourself to. For instance, if you’re a vegetarian, you can replan a traditional meal into one without meat.
This is especially important if you are going to be camping for several days as you might not always have the option of running to the store for an ingredient you suddenly realized you need.
When you’re planning your meals, don’t forget to plan what you need to make those meals. Nothing is worse than planning a meal, getting ready to cook, and realizing you forgot that pan you need.
Prep Your Meals at Home
One of the best ways to make your time cooking outside easier is to do as much of your prep work as possible while you are indoors.
When you are around a fire or standing at a grill, you don’t have nearly as much counter space to work with as you do when you are in your own kitchen. So, you should take advantage of your counter space when you have it.
Any prep work you need to do for a meal, do it while you’re inside. If you need to chop an onion or mix spices, it is much easier to do that in a kitchen than outdoors. In addition, work that can be done ahead of time will save you time when it comes to the actual cooking. When you do your prep work at home, you also get the chance to carry less cooking utensils and supplies with you than you would have to if you were to work from scratch once you’re ready to cook.
Don’t Be Afraid To Substitute
Cooking in your kitchen allows you to control everything that you’re working with. Unfortunately, cooking outside doesn’t offer the same control. We’ve already looked at how you don’t have the same space but you also have to worry about aspects such as weather.
As such, don’t be afraid to substitute and take shortcuts when you are cooking outside. You can make outdoor cooking good without using the same 5-star treatment as you do in the kitchen. For example, when cooking outdoors, don’t feel bad about using canned veggies in place of fresh ones.
Have Plenty of Aluminum Foil
If there is one supply you should always keep around for outdoor cooking, it’s aluminum foil. It is one of the most versatile tools you have when it comes to outdoor cooking.
During cooking, you can use aluminum foil to provide a flat surface on a grill or as a cooking surface over an open fire. Once you are finished cooking, you can use aluminum foil to keep your food warm and you can even use it to wrap up leftovers.
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