Camping with no fridge/ pans/ cooker/ kettle

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Hello,

We're planning to go camping with 2 dc (8 year old and 18 month old) in July in Cornwall, only for a weekend (so 2 nights). This would be our first foray into camping so we're not sure that we'll all enjoy it and whether or not it will be something we'll do regularly, so we don't want to spend money on stoves/ cookers etc. at the moment.

Any ideas on what meals we can have? So with literally no electricity/gas. We will have a cold box though (so can keep stuff cold for 8-10 hours I guess..) We're not particularly fussy eaters. Obviously baked beans and bread comes to mind.. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Much appreciated xx

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Cold beans 😬👀?! Yuk! You need at minimum a small stove. The good news is mine cost £12 in go outdoors and a gas cannister is a couple of £

You can get self heating cans and packets OP but they are expensive.

Cold baked beans are edible but personally I wouldn't want them.

www.wired.co.uk/article/camping-cuisine

www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Heating-Field-Ration-Ready/dp/B00CALE4CM/ref=pb_allspark_dp_session_sims_pao_desktop_4/262-6607412-9922030?psc=1&pf_rd_p=a80b8663-76e7-42fc-9cdf-f601eec9bc07&pf_rd_r=YBN6XPHHWEG7KEBY74HW&pd_rd_wg=mv9Z0&pd_rd_i=B00CALE4CM&pd_rd_w=ZtAnm&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&pd_rd_r=81592783-7989-4104-ba8f-caae619e26a6

If this is your first trip what are you sleeping on? The ground gets cold at night all year round so you need a decent insulation between you and the ground.

Btw I went camping for the very first time (persuaded by outdoorsy dh) in my mid 30swith a toddler and a bump. To my astonishment I loved it, and still do nearly 15 years later, as do the dc. I won't deny it helps that dh is an enthusiastic and accomplished camping cook though!

Please don't suggest bbq's as they are very dangerous around a tent both for fire risk and for carbon monoxide posioning

Huh? I've never known anyone not use bbq's even if it's just a disposable on a brick. Obviously you don't put them inside or very close to the tent. It's the ideal quick meal doing. Burgers or sausages then marshmallows. I buy a fire log to put in the tray once bbq has died out and it burns for a couple of hours. Keeps away beasties, gives you beat and some flames for the mallows. Every campsite I've ever been to allows a disposable as along as you don't burn the grass.

You can buy rechargable electric stoves that you can either plug into a car socket or just recharge and go. My brother loves his, I think he paid about 30 and another Fiver for a toast rack. Its a lot safer and more reliable than a gas stove

These are the ones I use. I have a couple. I'll add that you are far more likely to enjoy camping if you can make a hot drink on a cold morning and eat something warm to eat without the hassle of ordering - especially at breakfast

Are you staying on a campsite, you will need hot water to have a wash.

Most campsites have washing /showering / washing up facilities so no need to heat water for washing unless you are going to a really back to basics campsite - there are a few of these around but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Amazed at the hate for cold baked beans!

@Arbadacarba

Amazed at the hate for cold baked beans!

Cold back beans remind me of Army exercises, being cold and miserable and walking miles with heavy kit rather than a relaxing family holiday!

Ah, I've never been on a military exercise so they hold no bad memories for me.

You can buy camping stoves for less than £20 and gas for the weekend will cost £5

Honestly, if you go without the very basics you'll not enjoy it and that will be a shame because it has the potential of many happy family holidays.

Home bargains and the range have cheapo camping gear and you can build up gradually.

We started with the basics and have built on it. Weve spent a fortune but we try to camp twice a year and its our only holiday. We love it.

Also take something to put the cooker on as its prwtty grim trying to cook on the floor.

Have a lovely time.

Something else to bear in mind with a stove and gas being "just" £20. Your saucepans may not be suitable for a camping trip so you may need to buy some camping saucepans, if you want toast to go with your heated beans, you will need to buy a toasting gadget, as someone else said, it's easier to cook on a table so you may need a sturdy folding table if you don't have one already.

And if you do enjoy camping and want to go again, I am pretty confident that feeding a family of four with a single ring camping stove will demand an upgrade pretty quickly. I'd say don't bother for now and get a bigger, better stove if you enjoy camping.

I would take croissants, cereal bars, longlife milkshake, cans of iced coffee etc for breakfast, bread, tuna, Mayo sachets (steal from restaurants ) for sandwiches plus crisps, kitkats, fruit, juice boxes/cans of pop for lunch and eat dinner out!

Lidl have a camping special on next week

Oh or asda had a burner for £10, use old pans from home

@user1495884211

I've only ever had a single hiking stove ... they invented pubs for a reason

We take coffee making equipment and sometimes a frying pan, nothing much else, works for us

Ask around and see if you can borrow a little stove, for coffee if nothing else. For one/two nights sandwiches, dairylea, pain au choc, fruit etc are your friends. As are pubs .

@motogogo

I'm with you on pubs for a weekend trip! I assumed (perhaps wrongly!) that if the OP enjoyed camping they would probably want to go on weeks away. I don't think I could manage pub meals and takeaways for a week though, either from a wallet or a waistline point of view.

It depends on your campsite. For a first weekend I would be suggesting somewhere with onsite food and coffee available. So bought coffee and cold croissants for breakfast or drink and bacon roll bought on site or locally. Sandwiches from local supermarket and pub evening meal or takeaway. Many sites have a campers kitchen where you can get hot water and maybe a microwave.

Generally repeating what others have said.....

Rather than a stove that screws onto a bottle I’ll recommend the single gas ring (make sure you have a bottle and don’t just buy the ring alone)
Ideally put it on a table to cook, but instead you can stand it on its case.
The single rings are still handy if you decide to never camp again, but the fold up stove on a bottle comes with the need to balance while you are cooking

You can camp without the ability to cook or create hot water, but it does risk having a miserable night. Plan on hot drinks, simple food like beans.
Toasting ‘racks’ are available but aren’t very effective - you mostly get white toast with a couple of corners.
An option is beans on buttered bread, but if you do want the ‘feel’ of toast then a rack will deliver.
Alternatively - French toast cooked in a pan

You don’t need special camping cutlery, pots etc. If you aren’t walking then they don’t need to be lightweight, you just need something that you are willing to take out of the house - not the family silver.

Planning around eating at pubs, dominos etc allows you the best of both worlds - you can make something hot, but can keep it simple and have the welcome treat of a beer garden etc

Never go to bed cold, have a hot drink or if in need jump on the spot for a minute - but it’s more pleasurable to sit down for a hot drink

This thread is really making me want to camp !

My oven/cooker has broken. Good job I have a camping stove to use! Everybody should have one for emergencies.

You can buy rechargable electric stoves that you can either plug into a car socket or just recharge and go.

Really? Have you got a link?

I thought cold baked beans..? Is that a total no-no..?

I can't believe people do this for fun