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

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

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

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?!

Agree a table is a must, even if you are happy eating off your knees, preparing any sort of food without a table is not easy.

Take the porch definitely with that style of tent. If it rains every time you open the door water runs in on the floor.
What on earth are you taking in 6 vac bags.

You all need underwear 1 pair of long trousers not jeans if they get wet they are hell, 2 hoody type warm jumper things, shorts or leggings enough t shirts for the a week, though if going for 2 weeks plan to do a wash mid week. Socks and trainers /sandals. Pjs and lots of layers for night time. For the showers I took flip flops and onesies for the kids and a comfy tracksuit type thing for me. Oh and raincoats!!

I've never done it but you can cook with your car's engine. If you are going out in the car for the day you could try it on your way home.

www.wikihow.com/Cook-Food-on-Your-Car%27s-Engine

Please do not cook in the tent! They are NOT designed to cook in! . If using gas or bbq then the risk of both fire and carbon monoxide poisoning is not worth it!! There is a LOT of information around this as campers have died. The risks are real

sectionhiker.com/how-to-safely-cook-in-a-tent/

As others have said your porch is ideal, a golf umbrella is a viable alternative. If you have an electric cool box then I assume ehu- in which case a toastie maker and kettle will be a huge boon in the rain (pot noodles, ready mash, cuppa soup, and tea in kettle and pancakes and cheese toasties in the breville)

Ok, having seen your tent take the porch. You can cook in it and it will be be good for wellies, water proofs etc. No danger or problems cooking in a porch like that I've done it loads of times (our tent is a similar set up). We had a golf size car, similar tent and porch, two kids, cool box etc and were ok (bigger roof box). Also take the cool box and if you have to ditch something ditch the carpet.... But with 6 vacuume PACs are you taking loads of clothes? There will be a launderette near by. Where are you going, some campsites have their own washer/drier things.

Honestly just take your porch - leave out some other stuff if you have to, but you need the porch!

Can you rent a bigger car or van for the holiday amd just leave your car at home. Or rent a trailer (can you tow with your car?). Alternatively, when you get there, unpack and then go to the nearest b and q and buy a tarp and bungees to rig up a lean to.

Do not cook in the tent, if it tips over and you have a fire, you will burn to death as there are no back doors to escape out of in tents

Also what PP said about not packing in bags, but shoving everthing individually around the car really increases the amount you can fit (although its a pain unpacking at the other end)

cook something that can be cooked with the lid closed.

though having ravioli from a tin at least once with the bottom burnt and the sauce slightly diluted by rainwater is the law

@bwydda As the website link you gave shows, cooking in a tent can be perfectly safe. A stable surface, good ventilation and well away from tent sides is all that is required. There is no way that anyone will suffer carbon monoxide poisoning in a wide open tent.

wrt packing
bags for life: those woven kind.
one each for clothes books and toys.
they are kind of squishy to get in between.
we don't take chairs, we use the cool box and a couple of lidded boxes (really useful box) as seats that double as storage. one for food one for kitchen, one for tent extras.

When packing the car, put the tent in last.

As this is the first thing you need when you arrive.

Leave everything else, including the kids if NEC, in the car until the tent is up and secure.

You’ve got a porch - take that and cook in it.

Do take a table, even a small coffee style folding one is useful. For years I prepared food on a chopping board on top of a plastic tub.... but a table is easier.

Do take chairs.

I wouldn’t bother with a fridge. One of the decathalon inflatable cool bags + freezer block exchange is grand. Plus just shop for fresh things daily. Especially if the weathers bad you’ll be fine! People survived without fridges at home not so long ago!

Eat out a lot.

Eat snack food.

Eat easy to cook food.

If you’re struggling for space don’t bother taking food except a pack of pan au chocs for first breakfast - you can go and do a click and collect supermarket order

It is really not sensible to cook inside a tent, the OP is a first time camper so may well not be used to dealing with camping cooking, adequate ventilation etc.

Tip - a weekend trial might have been advisable first but too late now.

You’ll figure it out - don’t stress too much! Remember, once you’re there and set up, you can go out to buy whatever else you need. But yes, don’t bother vac-packing - soft stuff squished around other stuff is the way forward.

Fish and chips
Deliveroo do campsites
Cafe
Restaurant
Pub

You can buy a porch/shelter that you can either attach to your tent or use as a standalone shelter. It's a few poles in the ground and some tarp.

Also cooking in a tent with a free range 1 Yr old is a recipe for disaster!

Remember to take some gaffa tape, it's invaluable when camping.

We do bike camping, so have to travel light and don't have too much stuff, we have a tiny gas stove to cook on, and cooking is mostly warming up tinned stuff rather than full meals. If it's light rain we'll shelter under a tree to cook, if it's pelting it down we go to the pub/get a takeaway/eat cold food in the tent. Always have some spare cash in your camping budget for meals out, it's an important part of keeping your spirits up when the weather is lousy.

We have a separate kitchen tent but we only use it for tea/coffee making and breakfast and sandwiches. We eat out for main meals as I can't be arsed cooking a proper meal while on holiday.

I said I bought 6 vac bags, not that we'd actually use them all I estimate we'll need 2, possibly 3 if I can't squeeze all the clothes into one bag.

We have planned to eat out quite a bit but we're going to Cornwall, it's expensive down there so we can't afford to eat out for most meals!

I made DH find the gaffa tape out of the garage yesterday. It's on the mountain of stuff.

WRT a weekend trial camp, I did tell DH we should do that, he disagreed and was of the opinion that it would all be fine. Well it would have been if he'd bought a decent sized roofbox

Well if I ever needed putting off going camping then this thread has firmly sealed the deal

Lift up your boot liner and see how much extra space there is around the spare wheel. I get 4 x towels, 2 pairs of crocs and a whole box of lanterns, cups, lights and kitchen stuff in ours.

Then layer anything that can be flat on top eg blankets, pop up tent, bath mat / door mat / jumpers / onesies so they then get squashed to nothing by the weight of everything else.

Door pockets should be full of stuff too.

Any space inside camping kitchen / table? Our table folds together which leaves a lovely gap inside it which I stuff with clothes.

Kids sit on picnic mats / pillows and I lift our seats up to full height and squash their sleeping bags underneath our seats. Camping SIMS x 2 plus 2 x foil mats plus windbreak plus 2 small really useful kitchen boxes in the footwells.

And that's still leaving a completely empty boot!!

Take a few days to think about and pack properly and you can fit in a lot more than you think.

Don't take food apart from a few tea bags / first lunch - buy it when you get there.

@AmarilloVan- I know what the link reads, and it's a very clear evaluation (as I stated) of the RISKS, which are not worth it I my opinion.

Possible doesn't mean advisable, especially when op has a porch and potentially electric as far safer options.

Personally with children involved- I think it's never safe enough to cook inside.