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Original poster

Camping- how do you cook when it's raining?

134 replies

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 31/07/2019 21:04

We're setting off for our holiday on Friday night, first day of holiday is Saturday and the weather has forecast rain for the first week at least Sad

This is our first time going camping, we assumed it wouldn't really be safe cooking inside the tent but what else are we meant to do if it's going to be raining so much?!

OP posts:
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Barkette · 31/07/2019 22:32

We bought this at an absolute bargain at 19.99 and it's now 14.99 from Argos. Tested it in the garden at the weekend when it was torrential! Held up really well and is still up. Folds up small and doesn't take up much room

Camping- how do you cook when it's raining?
Camping- how do you cook when it's raining?
Jambalaya76 · 31/07/2019 22:34

Interesting thread as I am going camping myself

cannotmakemymindup · 31/07/2019 22:39

We cook in our tent keep bedroom zipped up anyway but have electric hookup and cheap two ring stove from Amazon cost £34. No gas so no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Worked an absolute treat. If this wasn't a anonymous forum I'd link to my insta so you could see it's really possible.

Anyhow this stove - but in Stainless Steel
www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-Table-Top-Electric-Portable-Simmering/dp/B00AQJTZ8S/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?s=gateway&keywords=two+ring+electric+hob&sprefix=two+r&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1564609111&sr=8-3

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Camping General food
cannotmakemymindup · 31/07/2019 22:40

Oh and on warmer days just opened the door whilst I was cooking.

MrsPnut · 31/07/2019 22:43

I would plan to eat out a lot, Morrison’s do free kids food with an adult meal after a certain time or Wetherspoons for lunch then a sandwich for dinner in the tent.
We also take loads of snack food which can make a meal in itself if you graze all evening.

Original poster
AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 31/07/2019 22:52

Sit the kids on pillows? Confused That really wouldn't work with a 1yr old, nor the 8yr old who is still on a booster seat.

I've bought 6 jumbo sized vacuum bags to vac pack everything soft (we have an electric pump that will deflate them for when we come home).

I think the only luxury we have is the tent carpet. We don't even have a table!

This is our tent, plus we have the porch that goes with it

OP posts:
cannotmakemymindup · 31/07/2019 22:55

Oh and camping fridges help to!! Plenty of ice packs that hopefully you can refreeze to in campsites freezer

Original poster
AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 31/07/2019 22:55

We have an electric coolbox too, is that a luxury? It's an essential for us though with DSs milk and cold foods etc.

OP posts:
NoNoNoOohmaybe · 31/07/2019 23:22

So just cook in the middle? It will be fine. Tents are designed to cook in.

Have easy to cook stuff. We like tinned chicken curry with microwave rice heated in same pan or corned beef hash, corned beef with tinned potatoes. Both you're just warming through and will take a couple of mins.

RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 01/08/2019 01:05

You go to the pub for meals and shop in a shop that sells things like croissants/brioche for breakfast.

You absolutely do not need a tent carpet (what even is that???)

You need:
A tent.
Things to sleep on.
Things to sleep under.
Clothes - lots of them. Include sturdy boots/wellies, shoes you can slide on to pop to the loo in the night/early morning.
You'll be grateful for chairs.
A fold up table is fab.
A trangier + lighting fluid + matches
Some form of lighting.
Alcohol (why else would you go?)
Water and loo roll. Plastic plates/cups/cutlery is good. You'll then need to wash them

Azura2019 · 01/08/2019 01:10

Get fish and chips Wink

MardyLardy · 01/08/2019 01:20

Camping is ace and I love a tent carpet but you have two kids, just give up with the car thing. Buy a van. A biggish one. Drives like a car but with much better view and you can bung buggies without collapsing, spare car seats and all sorts in the back.

When you camp you can take anything you want and all fit in comfortably. You can have a few prepacked sets of bedding/plates and equipment so you just bung it in the boot and go.

Once you have a van you won’t pine for a car. Mercedes are the best- avoid Citroen and Renault (just in case the van thing strikes a chord).

MardyLardy · 01/08/2019 01:22

A cool box is definite luxury - we only got a fridge when we knew we were off to 30degree plus for a fortnight.
One year olds don’t need special milk and can eat pot noodle and instant porridge with the rest of us - camping law😂

Brain06626 · 01/08/2019 01:56

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fruitpastille · 01/08/2019 06:48

If you have the porch then use that to cook. I don't have the porch for my v similar tent and I really wished we did. Apart from cooking it makes it easier to get in and out keeping the tent dry. My dh just stood out in the rain cooking with waterproofs on but we only did 3 nights! Have fun!

Blueuggboots · 01/08/2019 07:08

I've got a tent very similar to that.
I lift the door and anchor it up with poles so it is sticking out then cook under that.
If you've got a windbreak, it stops most of the rain.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 01/08/2019 07:09

You’ve got a porch!! Use that, simples.

CampCook · 01/08/2019 07:46

There are many good ideas on this thread. A tarp will survive an 60 mph wind. Its little bro the poncho will do the same. It is possible to cook in a technical tent with a jet boil, but unless you're wintering on Ben Nevis it's best avoided. Providing your stove is covered by the pan & the pan is lidded one can survive a modest drissle. But certainly the traditional method has always been the brolly, the best being a fisherman's umbrella that can be fixed into the ground.

MyOtherProfile · 01/08/2019 07:50

We have the Outwell day tent (currently around £170 on eBay whereas we paid £300 for ours a few years ago, and offering next day delivery)

This. And if it's the one I'm thinking of it's currently 30 quid on Amazon.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 01/08/2019 07:57

Pub or fish and chips.

RomaineCalm · 01/08/2019 08:03

@MyOtherProfile

Can you link to the Amazon offer please? I can see the side panels for £30 but not the tents. Not sure if I'm looking at the wrong thing.

AmarilloVan · 01/08/2019 08:15

We build our camp kitchen in the tent: double gas burner and Cadac gas BBQ on a plywood board resting on 2 x 2 Muji 24cm drawers with a 12 volt fridge between.

sashh · 01/08/2019 08:34

Make a hay box, you can do it with a cool box and a duvet / sleeping bag which you probably have with you anyway.

theprovidentprepper.org/thermal-cookers-no-power-slow-cookers/

Ragwort · 01/08/2019 08:37

You might be taking too much of the wrong stuff - 6 vacuum packs sounds a lot?

PerrysWinkle · 01/08/2019 08:45

The secret to packing a car for camping (IMO) is to pack all the squashy stuff around the kids. They think it’s hilarious and really comfy to have all the bedding in the back with them. A pile of pillows in between the car seats, duvets/sleeping bags in the footwells plus all the other squashable stuff like coats and hoodies that just take up room in the boot.
A table is a must, especially if planning to cook.

Another shout out for tinned chicken curry. Used a tesco one this weekend to feed everyone on a wet camping trip and it went down a storm!