Camping hacks

Is there anything better than sitting around the campfire with friends, drinks and delicious food? In the warmer months we try to get outside as much as possible, which is why we love packing up and going camping in the glorious British countryside. Having spent a lot of time putting up tents and starting campfires we’ve picked up some great tricks that save a lot of time. Here are our top camping hacks.

Pack frozen meat

Leave your cuts in the freezer until the last possible moment, especially if you’ve got a long way to travel. This way the meat will stay fresher for longer and help keep the contents of your cool bag at a low temperature. Just make sure they’re fully defrosted before cooking.

Separate your ingredients

If you’re planning on cooking a one-pot recipe like a chilli or stew, this hack is for you. Measure out all your ingredients into individual sealable bags and place them in a larger bag with a label detailing which dish they’re for. This way you can throw all your ingredients in together knowing you’ve got everything you need. All you have to do is sit back and watch it simmer.

Seasoning straws

We always season our dishes but bringing spices on a camping trip can be difficult. We get around this by filling plastic straws with salt, pepper or herbs and sealing the ends with a lighter. Simply reopen by snipping the end of the straw with scissors.

Choose pre-marinated cuts

Packing pre-marinated cuts saves time and a lot of mess. Marinate your favourite cuts with homemade sauce and store in a sealable plastic bag, or make life even easier by ordering one of our ready marinated packs. Our skewers in particular cook brilliantly over a campfire. Choose between free range Thyme Marinated Lamb Skewers or our gorgeous Teriyaki Marinated Beef Skewers.

Ready made pancakes

Make the breakfast of camping champions the simple way. Before you set off prepare some pancake batter and store in a plastic water bottle. Keep the bottle in your cool bag to keep the mix fresh. You can also use this trick for storing eggs. Just scramble your eggs and pour them into a water bottle. When you’re ready for breakfast simply remove the bottle from your cool bag and pour your pancake mix or eggs straight into a hot pan.

Our make-shift beer cooler

We’re big advocates of recycling, particularly if it involves some chilled beverages. Put your old Field & Flower boxes to good use by turning them into make-shift beer coolers. Take the silver lining that usually contains all your meat, fish and cheese, give it a wipe down with some soapy water and leave it to dry. Place it back in your box, push the edges of the lining into each corner and roll down the top until it’s level with the sides of the box. Fill with icepacks and your favourite drinks and you’re good to go.

Re-use our silver lining

There’s so many ways to re-use our boxes. You can even use our silver lining to add an extra layer of insulation to your cool bag. Just cut it down to the size and shape of your cool bag and place it inside. If any of your chilled items spill you can just throw the silver lining away, leaving your cool bag nice and clean.

Campfire jacket potatoes

Jacket potatoes are really easy to cook on the campfire and taste amazing. Pierce the potatoes several times with a skewer or fork and smear with butter. We always use Longmans Salted Butter Roll. Double wrap each potato with strong tin foil and bury them in the hot coals once your fire has died down. Leave them to cook for 30-60 minutes, depending on size. Top the soft, fluffy insides with one-pot chilli and a generous handful of grated cheese.

Easy mac and cheese with smoky pancetta

We always make a huge pot of macaroni and cheese to take with us when we go camping. Get our recipe here. Add some extra flavour by frying off some Pancetta Lardons and adding them to your cheese sauce. The Applewood Cheddar is great to use for this dish as it’s smooth and smoky. Once you’ve combined the cooked pasta with your sauce, spoon the mixture into an aluminium parcel and seal with more tin foil. You can even use our pie tins as a parcel. Make sure to coat the foil in butter or non-stick spray. Place it over the hot coals once your fire has died down for 10-15 minutes, or until warm and melty.