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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping with no fridge/ pans/ cooker/ kettle

78 replies

SwordPlay · 30/05/2021 11:34

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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OP posts:
NotMeNoNo · 30/05/2021 22:05

DH is off on a minimalist camping trip at the moment. To cook he’s taken a small canister stove, mess tins, a mug and a coffee maker. You can eat out but hot drinks, soup/ beans and a bacon or egg sandwich are part of the camping experience Smile. There’s nothing like sitting outside the tent with a hot breakfast.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 30/05/2021 22:09

@NotMeNoNo

DH is off on a minimalist camping trip at the moment. To cook he’s taken a small canister stove, mess tins, a mug and a coffee maker. You can eat out but hot drinks, soup/ beans and a bacon or egg sandwich are part of the camping experience Smile. There’s nothing like sitting outside the tent with a hot breakfast.
My DH and DD wild camp/backpack and also always take a small stove, tins to cook in, mugs, tea, etc.
UpTheJunktion · 31/05/2021 07:17

Take the small stove and a couple of canisters of gas.

Cooking over a camp stove is part of the fun and who wants to get up without a tea or coffee? And a warm hot choc for the kids.

You can also make ‘camping quesadillas’ very easily, with tortilla wraps that keep well when camping. Lay a tortilla flat in a small frying pan, cover with grated cheese (take ready grated in a bag), add any other ingredients if you fancy, a small amount of tuna, tinned sweet corn, sliced tomato, for e.g) put the other slice on top, fry (without butter or oil) on both sides til melted, cut in quarters.

BBQ’s when camping are fine as long as you keep the kids away, keep them well away from the tent and never bring them into the tent even when cooled.

Bags of brioche rolls , satsumas, bananas.

Dilbertian · 31/05/2021 08:24

The stove DancesWithDaffodils linked to is very good. We always take it along, even for very brief camps. You can cook on it as normal. I sometimes use it at home in the garden if I want to fry fish without sticking the house out or having to wash the kitchen floor afterwards.

I really would not plan to camp without any means of heating at least water for tea/cocoa/soup. If you get cold and damp it's miserable without something warming.

Eggs are very good to take with, being so conveniently self-packaged and keep perfectly well in a coolbox, and fried eggs in the morning is a lovely camp breakfast.

When our dc were very little they found it easier to eat issuing an overturned washing up bowl as a table on the ground. The bowl was then very useful for carrying dirty dishes to and from the sinks. They nested inside each other, and the dishes were packed into them in the car.

Most campsites IME have a freezer where you can put your own freezer blocks. So take twice as many as you want to use, and put half of them (in a labelled plastic bag) in the campsite freezer when you arrive. Then just swap your blocks over the following morning.

You'll need a water carrier of some sort - do NOT pitch right near a water point. The ground will be muddier and you will have people tramping noisily past you all day. 5L bottles of water usually have a carrying strap. Buy one and refill as needed.

Don't worry about the dc being clean and properly dressed. We have a strict shoes-off rule in the tent, but other than that anything goes. The dc tend to wear shorts, with T-shirts/fleece/raincoat as appropriate. Skin dries much faster than cloth, and keeping your clothes dry is a major contributor to your comfort while camping. Take raincoats even if the forecast is good!

Have fun Grin

Cold baked beans straight out of the tin are fine, BTW.

Squidthing · 31/05/2021 08:33

My big top tip is to cook 2 x meals that freeze well and take those, I.e. chilli or curry and then just heat them in a pan over the camp stove- saves faffing about chopping etc but still get good food. Plus the frozen food acts like an extra freezer pack in the cool box to keep milk cool.

We have 2 x cheapy stoves that have lasted us for 15-20 years now, they're still going!

Squidthing · 31/05/2021 08:40

We even used the camping stoves when we were getting out kitchen done, thinking about it - well worth the £10 each or whatever we spent at the time!

spotcheck · 31/05/2021 08:51

Are you taking airbeds?

They get COLD. Don't underestimate how cold it gets at night, even in the summer.

I found it best to have a blanket under the mattress, and extra on top of the mattress ( but under you).

futuremum234 · 31/05/2021 09:17

When we go to festivals you are not allowed gas cookers or anything like that. I've learnt a few tricks. I usually take a bbq, a few of those disposable ones. In the cooler I'd take burgers,sausages,bacon all that jazz but half of it would be frozen. The frozen stuff keeps the fresh stuff cool. The first day I cook the fresh stuff then by the next morning the frozen stuff has thawed out and ready to use. Might not be most most hygienic but I've never fallen ill, I've done the same routine for years! If you can get hold of hot water like from a food van or a cafe you can make pot noodles and cup a soups.

shallIswim · 31/05/2021 10:09

Oooo yes get a stove and a kettle
You can take a pan and utensils from your own kitchen.
Camp cooking is part of the fun!
What we do is batch cook a chilli or other one pot feast and freeze it then put it on cold box to slowly defrost. Then we have food for next couple nights. Rice in pouches and quick cook pasta are your friends - you don't want to be boiling dried stuff for hours over a tiny stove.

Tommika · 31/05/2021 20:23

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Honestly if it's chilly overnight you will want a hot drink at least!

One of our easy camping meals is a packet of flavoured rice, pre cooked chicken, tin of sweetcorn, couple of handfuls of carrot sticks (precut) all fried up together in a pan.

Eggy bread is a simple but filling breakfast... mix up eggs with a bit of milk like you were scrambling eggs, soak bread in mixture, fry.

Take glow sticks. They are fun.

If you want smores or toasted marshmallows without hassle of campfire (esp since most places ban them anyway... Fire and campsites don't mix that well really) take a big candle!

Pans, cutlery, plastic plates can just be home ones. Or buy a picnic set.

Regarding glow sticks, they don’t just have the obvious fun but the cheap packs with bracelets etc are perfect for dropping into drinks ((((Not cut open though !!!!!))))

Another fun one is a glow dancer. Our one in the photo was just one long led rope light taped to a person, but they are now marketed with the intention of being worn with different lines for each arm and leg etc .
Either tape it on for an easy version, or stitch onto some overalls etc as a light up suit

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019QD2QU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_R75HMRP4D76YYMTCW1ZD?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Camping with no fridge/ pans/ cooker/ kettle
Camping with no fridge/ pans/ cooker/ kettle
osbertthesyrianhamster · 31/05/2021 21:24

@futuremum234

When we go to festivals you are not allowed gas cookers or anything like that. I've learnt a few tricks. I usually take a bbq, a few of those disposable ones. In the cooler I'd take burgers,sausages,bacon all that jazz but half of it would be frozen. The frozen stuff keeps the fresh stuff cool. The first day I cook the fresh stuff then by the next morning the frozen stuff has thawed out and ready to use. Might not be most most hygienic but I've never fallen ill, I've done the same routine for years! If you can get hold of hot water like from a food van or a cafe you can make pot noodles and cup a soups.
So they don't allow gas but BBQs which are a much bigger risk of spark fire and/or CO poisoning? That's wild. DH and DD wild camp, they're out right now, with a portable gas stove but BBQs are banned due to dry conditions.
SwordPlay · 02/06/2021 00:57

Thanks so much to all of you who contributed; much appreciated! @Dilbertian - thanks for the info about the freezers (and cold baked beans, haha) - that would be really helpful so I'll phone up and find out!

I should have added for context that we're avid surfers so not really bothered about camping experience in and of itself - we just want to go in the sea and ride waves, and have cheap place to sleep while we're at it :)

Thank you again for all the helpful bits of advice. Hope you all enjoy a nice summer xx

OP posts:
Spartak · 02/06/2021 01:02

The camp site I went to in Cornwall had a van that did lovely fried breakfasts in takeaway containers. I then popped out for fish and chips in the evening.

I can't be bothered doing the washing up when I'm away for the weekend.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 02/06/2021 02:11

It's not camping if you can't have a cup of tea and a fry up, or at least a bacon sandwich in the morning. For tea we would usually get fish and chips or go to the pub, or cook on a disposable bbq.

PandemicAtTheDisco · 02/06/2021 02:44

We used a gas stove kit with pan set and a storm kettle for hot water. This is what we had for a three day break with no cooler. We used the small milk portions for our tea and coffee, small cartons of fruit juice and cordial.

We did egg and veggie sausage (from dried mix) in bread buns, beans on toast, scrambled eggs on toast for breakfasts.
Lunches were tuna and sweet corn in bread buns, baguette with salad, corned beef and pickle or cheese and pickle on sliced bread.
Dinners were veggie mince chilli (dry packet of veggie mince) with microwave rice (stir fried with onion, peppers and tin of kidney beans) and egg fried noodles with onion, peppers, mushrooms, carrot and sweet and sour sauce. We had lots of fruit and yoghurts (that didn't need to be kept cool) for puddings.

4fingerKitKat · 02/06/2021 03:35

Assuming you’re buying a tent and all the other paraphernalia you need for camping, seriously just invest the extra £20-£30 you need to spend on a cool box and stove. Or beg/borrow from a friend. As others have said it’s worth it just for hot drinks alone.

If you are dead set against it, get a big thermos flask and ask a friendly cafe to fill it with hot water for you. You can use it for hot drinks, packet soup/noodles, warming hot dogs etc.

FlyNow · 02/06/2021 04:20

Just depends on your preferences. I love snack type meals, sandwiches and cold beans (only way I eat them in fact). I'm not fussed about hot drinks. So I don't take a stove camping. OTOH my DH thinks he'll die without a hot meal and at least 3x hot drinks per day. So he would never do that. Personally when I see the extra gear he's packed, hear him fussing with the stove, taste the food (not that great) and face the mess, I think my way is better.

PandemicAtTheDisco · 02/06/2021 05:25

Friends have a kettle and a mini oven/electric lunch box that runs off the car cigarette lighter.

miltonj · 02/06/2021 06:19

Used to go camping without the gear but that was just me and partner or me and a mate and usually wild camping. Or sometimes on a site, using a cool box, disposable bbq (if allowed), going to cafes, restaurants etc. However I wouldn't do it with kids! Imagine not having a brew in the morning Sad
You'll ruin camping for you and the kids and you might not want to do it again which would be a real shame! I'd just get a simple stove and do pasta or rice pouches like bachelors one and add in some hot dog sausages or something! If you enjoy camping then you can buy power lead and all the gear next time. I would say get some chairs though, you'll want to sit out on an evening! Good luck, have fun!

Fupoffyagrasshole · 02/06/2021 06:32

We always cook loads of sausages beforehand and then cut them up and stick em in the cool bag - then we heat them up stirred in with the beans!

I couldn’t cope without a cup of tea tbh in the evenings!!

purplesequins · 02/06/2021 06:36

you will def need a cuppa in the morning.
at silly o'clock when dc wake up from the light and unfamiliar noise.
and nights can get very cold in a tent.

if you go with electric, check the lead length. we had an electric pump we couldn't use as the lead was way too short.

DogInATent · 02/06/2021 09:43

Take a gas stove, you'll regret it if you don't. Breakfast fry-up is part of the camping ritual!

The microwave rice sachets (available in several flavours) are usually precooked and can be eaten cold, or heated in a pan on the gas stove (with a splash of water). They're a camping game-changer for evening meal prep. Oh, and tinned chopped pork is more versatile than corned beef.

If there's kit you don't have, ask friends. You'll probably know someone with a loft/shed/garage full of camping gear duplicates or stuff they're not using. Between us and our NDN we could probably equip a scout troop with accumulated camping gear!

BiddyPop · 08/06/2021 12:03

I'm probably repeating lots of other posters, but here's my few bits.

Either a 1 ring gas cooker (there are seriously cheap options) or a couple of disposable BBQs are definitely worth having even if you are unsure about investing long term. We have refilled the BBQs with fresh charcoal when used up and cold again in the past (bring a pliers and pair of work gloves as the mesh can be sharp!). If using a BBQ, plan your use so put a kettle on top while it's getting going for hot water (and any other pots you want heating) before doing the actual BBQing when coals stop flaming and get to ash-covered embers glowing. Stick the kettle back on after for washup water or to put in a flask for later tea/coffee to make the most use of the heat.

Also, check locally for takeaways etc - may be very handy for dinners. Or good delis that might do a rotisserie chicken and crusty bread and salads that you can use as a dinner.

If you have 1 gas ring, you can easily have a kettle for tea/coffee/hot choc on water (we use Lidl hot choc powder, made on boiling water and add milk to cool down for Cub camp and it's LOVED). Also for pot noodle or similar "emergency meal in a tub" options (there are some very good ones nowadays), or morning porridge in a tub (Flahavans do nice ones).

Breakfasts like long life croissants or brioche are lovely, or cereal. But also if you have 1 ring, once you've made the all-important morning cuppa, you could put on a frying pan and make "camp pancakes" - weigh out the flour/sugar/baking powder etc ahead of time and put into a ziploc bag or clean empty milk carton with a lid, then at camp, add your milk (and egg if using), mix thoroughly (ziploc can be squished well, milk carton shaken vigorously - obviously reseal first after adding liquid!), and pour onto the pan. For ziploc, could snip a hole in bottom corner to carefully pour (that has more control than opening the top), and close again with a clippit/peg.

Bacon sarnies off a camping pan are also a great breakfast.

And 1 ring is plenty to do so many different dinners - risotto types, pasta with sauce thrown in to heat after draining water off, boil potatoes but put fish into ziploc to cook in same pot at the same time (sous vide style).

Microwave rice and pasta pouches cook very quickly and easily in a minimum of water (empty pouch into a pot with a couple of tablespoons of water, cover with lid or tinfoil, cook for about 3-5 minutes) - so can be done after you cook the bits for adding (chicken, bacon, veggies etc, and a sauce) - put those into a bowl, use the same pot to cook/heat the rice/pasta, then add back in the meat/sauce etc to stir through and serve.

And if you have a BBQ - don't just think sausages/burgers/steak etc, think chunks of veggies on skewers, tin foil packets of meat/diced potatoes/veg/seasoning together, or of mushrooms with butter, etc. Bananas can be cooked in their skins. Potatoes can be baked (in foil), and apples too - I core the apples and put a mix of brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon in the middle. Marshmallows on skewers, then eaten between 2 biscuits (especially if half covered choc biscuits with choc facing marshmallow and "clean" side facing fingers) are also great.

Popcorn can be made in a pot on any heat source, but if you have a BBQ or campfire, use 2 metal sieves facing each other to make a round ball, put the contents of a bag of microwave popcorn in the middle of the ball, and heat over the fire/coals. Just make sure the sieves are tied together using something like some metal wire, or pieces cut from an old metal coat hanger, (so popping doesn't force them open too early) and that you can undo one side of that tie when it's ready to get at the results.

Oh, and always extra socks. Keep a clean pair that never go outside the tent for putting on at bedtime (important to not get cold at night generally).

Warm hat for sleeping in - your head is the bit sticking out of the sleeping bag and also loses most heat of your body.

Ikea blue bags are very handy for each person to have their own things in, root through easier, and to toss things back into when tidying tent.

If you have a water barrel (or a 5l bottle of water from supermarket), put a head torch around it and turn the torch facing INTO the water, makes a brighter lantern than just the torch on its own.

I have a rug on the inside of my tent door to avoid mud elsewhere, and take off shoes just there too. But before I got the rug, I used to carry groceries to camp in a cardboard box, and then flatten it and use the cardboard as my rug - throwing it into the recycling as I left.

FleetwoodRaincoat · 09/06/2021 17:16

Cooking rubbish food is part of the fun of camping! Definitely get a cheap stove and take your pans from home.

Tinned food is easiest - baked beans, hot dog sausages, macaroni cheese etc. Also, boiled eggs and soldiers for breakfast - you don't even need egg cups - just serve them in a ripped up egg box. Roughing it makes it more exciting.