A Guide To Outdoor Cooking: 6 Essentials You Must Have On You
Here's all you'll need for a day out in the woods cooking and chilling with your friends
It always begins with a flicker. A match, a lighter, the spark of an idea and the conversation starter: Let’s get out of the city for a bit. Suddenly, you're standing at the boot of your car, trying to remember if you packed the skillet, the wine key, the sea salt. You start imagining charred lemons hissing on hot cast iron, the hiss of butter meeting fire, smoke curling into your jumper, hands greasy with lamb fat and pride.
Out there, somewhere past the last decent espresso, everything slows down. And yet, oddly, everything matters more. The gear you brought. The knife you didn’t. The playlist you forgot to download. The pan that’s earned its blackened bottom over a dozen fires. There’s something romantic about the precision of it all, wouldn't you say? A rugged ballet of tools, flames, flavours, and a sense of calm that no amount of activities within the cities can ever help you attain.
Now, that the thought is well-planted in your mind's eye, why not make sure that you are all set for a day of outdoor cooking that goes beyond barbecues and charcuterie and really helps you avoid all the moments of disappointments and regrets because you are sucker for impromptu adventures all the time. FYI, a little bit of planning never hurt anyone really.
Of course, you don’t need a full kitchen. Duh. You just need the right things. The "essential" things. The kind of gear that’s packed with intent, built to last, and designed to perform under the stars and otherwise in hell's kitchen as well.
Before we dive straight into the list of that you can mostly pick from amongst the kitchenware you already own, how about we put it out there that outdoor cooking comes with a few expectations like your relationships. Just know that this isn't a test of intestinal fortitude. This is your outdoor kitchen. And while we’re all for a little dust and grit for character, there’s a fine line between rugged and revolting.
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So yes — bring a sponge. A bottle of biodegradable soap and for the love of god, don't leave you trash behind after you are done chilling with you mates- biodegradable or not pick up afterwards and dispose it in assigned bins. You may even want to carry a proper tea towel, instead of wiping your hands on your jeans like it’s 1999.
Trust us: nothing ruins the romance of open-fire cooking like someone developing “Delhi Belly in Dehradun” because you didn’t rinse the cutting board between fish and fruit.
Being clean doesn’t make you any less of a man. It just makes you a better one.
Secondly, keep your list of food you plan to make simple and realistic. You are right to think you can personalise that one recipe you watched on social media of outdoor cooking that even planted the thought in your head- but there's a time and place for experiments, an outdoor cooking session definitely isn't. Be real about it.
And lastly, always travel light. The whole idea of outdoor cooking is that you master easy recipes for delicious al fresco meals and to really go stress free and enjoy your time outdoors with friends. Or even solo, if you love that.
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Having said that, here's a list of essential items you'll need if your outdoor cooking plan is coming along:
If you've never been kitchenware shopping, let alone for outdoor cooking, here's a piece of advise- Camping cookware should be built to withstand outdoor conditions and provide efficient heat distribution. Look for cookware made from materials like aluminum or stainless steel, known for their durability and resistance to rust. Opt for pots and pans with thick bases for even heat distribution and quicker cooking times.
Multi-Use Cooking Utensils
You want to carry items from your kitchen that fit under the umbrella of multi-purpose cookware so, a spork (spoon and fork) or a long-handled spoon, tongs- all that are lightweight.
Another must have tool when you are out cooking while camping is a set of sharp knives - 2 should be ideal. One for Meat and the other for fruits and vegetables. You can stick to one, if you want. But ideally, we'd recommend two and those folding knives.
A good number of containers to carry would ideally be 2- one big with a lid one small. (You take a guess what works best for you. ) One can be used to wash things and hold water, the other for mixing or as serving pot.
Chopping Board
Can't do much preparation for an outdoor session with a cutting board. Wooden ones always preferable.
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Wood/Charcoal
Soft wood in the form of kindling helps to get the fire started while you can either add hard wood blocks to give it a little more momentum. The type of wood that you decide on will affect that final dish. Charcoal is always appreciated so you can keep it handy. Keep some dry materials to help you light the fire- a lighter isn't the best way to. So, perhaps, newspaper, or even matches.
Cooler
In case, the boys have decided that its gonna be a tandoori night or something juicy and meaty, carry a cooler to keep your meat fresh and your drinks chilled. These days you can also fit fresh items in a cool backpack, literally.
Cast Iron Pan
A pre-seasoned cast iron skillet with flared side edges would be perfect for sizzling your meat and your veggies. Make sure your cast iron comes with even heat distribution.
Tripod
Want to go a little primal with your cooking? Then you can invest in a tripod with an adjustable chain to hang Dutch ovens over campfire instead of a campfire tripod.
