Best Foods for a Campfire

So you think that campfires are only good for cooking smores? Think again. With the right supplies and a little bit of planning, you can cook real food over an open flame with ease.

Supplies
In order to make food, you are going to need the right supplies. A chopping axe is useful for cutting things and supplying wood for your fire. Find some straight sticks, about 4 feet long, and no thicker than your pinkie finger. It would be useful to have thinner sticks as well. Wood is a must, but hickory wood chips can add a different flavor to some of your foods. To get the fire really going, some dry leaves and sticks would really help. A small bottle of lighter fluid can also get things to a nice start. A kitchen knife and a pair of tongs can be useful to cut and hold hot food. And don't forget to bring a small box of matches to light the fire. An oven mitt or two can help take a pot from above the flames safely.

Meats
Hot dogs are always great for a campfire. They cook fast, and get big and juicy. I would recommend kosher hot dogs, simply because they cook evenly. To cook them, skewer the side of the hot dog with a stick. One of the best ways to cook it is to put it close to the fire, not over it. If you put it over the flames you run the risk of burning your stick and the hot dog. It doesn't take long for a single hot dog to cook, you just watch it carefully when it plumps up all the way around and starts to 'sweat'. The sweat would be the natural juices from the meat. This is a good indication that it is ready to eat. To add a hickory smoked flavor to it, sprinkle some hickory wood chips to the flames.

Sausages can be cooked the same way as hot dogs, but it is recommended that they cook a little longer. When the skin starts to crack and peel, and starts to 'sweat', it should be ready.

Chicken is an easy meat to cook. It is also best to cook smaller pieces at a time instead of a whole chicken. A leg, thigh, or breast can be speared at the end of a stick and cooked. The best way to cook chicken is to watch the color of the juices that run out. It they are red, then it is not ready. It turns pink when its almost done, and then the fluids will run clear when it is safe to eat. Remember to rotate it for even cooking, and don't place it directly over the fire.

Cooking with a pot
If you have a low, even fire going, you can even cook food in a pot! Careful preparation is required though. On the out side of the circle of stones or rocks, dig two holes on each side. This is to hold two sticks that will aid cooking. It has to be deep enough to hold the third stick steadfast. This third stick should be made of metal preferably, and placed lengthwise on the top of the two other sticks. If you can't find any sturdy sticks that have Y shaped notches at the top, then you might want to go with metal rods that have loops in them. This also has to made high enough so that when the pot is hanging off of the center stick, it is directly above the flames. The flames shouldn't be touching the underside of the pot. An older style pot is required, like the ones with the wire handle fastened to the sides. Although it does sound like a lot of work, many items can be cooked this way.

Beans are easy to cook, and can be served with hot dogs, chicken, and sausage. Place the beans in the pot, and watch them start to make bubbles in the pot, After about five minutes, it should be ready to eat.

A stew can also be cooked in a pot. The smaller that the pieces are, such as carrots, potatoes, beans, meat, the faster the stew will cook. Cooking a stew in a pot should take at least 15 to twenty minutes.

If you really want rice while you camp, you can cook it fast in the pot. Or you can boil ears of corn in some water.

Safety
First, anyone who is around a live fire should be a responsible adult or someone who has had prior experience with campfires. Fires can be dangerous if not treated with respect and care. To control your fire, make a circle of stones or rocks around the wood that will be lit. If there are blankets or chairs that will be placed near the fire, a safe distance would be at least 20 to 25 feet. This way, it there is any wood that crackles and pops, any stray cinders that fly out will have a less chance of catching something on fire. It is also a good idea to have some water readily available to put the fire out in case it gets out of control. A bucket of dirt wouldn't hurt either, just in case that it is an oil-based fire. When putting out the fire for good, douse it liberally with water, then stir the ashes around with a stick. You want to make sure to the fire completely out, and this way ensures that no live cinders are active. If you are going to cook with sticks from the campsite, try to select sturdy sticks with the bark still on it. Before you spear whatever you are going to cook, peel off the bark and sharpen one end. No-one want to cook their food on a dirty stick!

Cooking food at a campfire can be an enjoyable experience. While the food is cooking, stories and jokes can be told with family and friends, and it always feels good to eat hot food around a fire.