Learn practical campfire cooking techniques, recipes and skills for preparing meals outdoors, with guidance on safe fires, cookware, food preparation and cooking.
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 1–2 hoursLocation: Suitable campfire or outdoor cooking areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Fire lighting, camp cooking, food preparation, fire safety, teamwork Ember cooking is the process of cooking food over the steady heat produced by hot, glowing embers rather than directly over flames. A well-established bed of embers provides more even…
When cooking over a campfire, the most useful heat often comes from hot embers rather than tall flames. Embers provide steady, radiant heat that can be easier to control for cooking. Learning to recognise and use them is an important campfire cooking skill for Scouts. What Are Embers? Embers are pieces of fuel that remain…
A cooking fire needs to provide controlled, steady heat rather than simply producing large flames. The way you arrange and manage the fire affects how evenly food cooks and how safely the cooking equipment can be used. Only light a campfire where fires are permitted and under appropriate supervision. Check the Fire Site Before setting…
Having the right equipment makes campfire cooking safer, easier and more enjoyable. The equipment you need will depend on what you’re cooking and how your fire is arranged. Scouts should learn to choose equipment that is suitable for the job rather than simply taking everything available. Cooking Pots and Pans Use cookware designed to withstand…
Campfire cooking needs more planning than simply finding a place to sit beside a fire. The cooking area needs to give everyone enough space to work safely while keeping food, equipment and people away from unnecessary hazards. Before lighting or using a campfire, choose and prepare the cooking area carefully. Check the Site Rules Before…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Food can become unsafe surprisingly quickly when you’re camping, particularly during warm weather. Keep perishable food cold, prevent raw and cooked foods from contaminating each other, wash your hands before handling food and follow the storage instructions on packaged products. If food has been left at an unsafe temperature for too long…
Meal Planning Good food can make a huge difference to an outdoor adventure. When you’re camping, hiking or taking part in a longer outdoor activity, food isn’t just about satisfying hunger. Your meals need to provide enough energy, be practical to carry, simple enough to prepare and suitable for the equipment and conditions you’re working…
