There’s nothing better than cooking over a campfire. That natural wood smoke flavour, the soft crackle of the flames and that satisfying feeling of cooking yourself up something special in the great outdoors. But if you want to get the best out of your camping experience, there are a few tips you can take on board when cooking on a campfire.

Control the heat

When you’re cooking in the great outdoors, there’s no ‘place in the centre of a pre-heated oven on 180 for 30 minutes’. And that really is the beauty of it. But you will need to gauge and control the level of heat.

This is best done by creating two fires. One for cooking, and the other for creating a source of coals.

The top campfire cooking experts all reckon that the cooking fire should be a channel off the main fire. This allows you to better control the temperature specifically for cooking. It also means you won’t get stuck with a dead fire, and a half-cooked meal.

You can also use ashes to control the heat of the embers, without completely extinguishing the fire. Simply cover the embers with a shovel of ashes to tone down their intensity.

To test the heat level, try holding your hand four inches away from the coals until it starts to feel too hot. Depending on when it feels this way, that will indicate the degree of heat and therefore what would be best to cook. If for example your hand feels too hot by two or three seconds, you can assume this is a super-hot fire, and you’ll be good to put some steaks on. If it takes around five to seven seconds, this is medium hot and suitable for the likes of veggies and puddings.

Advance plan your meals

It’s all in the planning. The less chopping and prep that needs to be done onsite, the more time you’ve got to enjoy your adventure. Things like soups and stews are easy to prep before you head out, so all you have to do is cook them onsite. As long as you keep the necessaries suitably chilled, you’ll be good.

Here’s an idea. Chop some sausages and vegetables up and season to taste, then wrap in aluminium foil before you leave and pack in the cooler. Once you’re at your destination and you’ve got your fire up to temperature, whack the foils out and place directly in the embers for a delicious smoky flavoured welcome meal.

Fancy a pizza? A high heat campfire is ideal for grilling up a storm, either on a cast iron skillet or in a Dutch oven. The latter is incredibly versatile and something you may well find a great investment if you’re planning regular camping trips. From chillies and lasagnes to breakfasts and yummy puddings, there are so many campfire meal ideas you can try in a Dutch Oven.

Also be sure to pack a few foundation ingredients. Things like pasta, rice, eggs and chickpeas can all be used as a base to create a host of mouth-watering campfire dishes.

Go prepared

As well as your cookware, you’re going to need a few heat-resistant cooking accessories and utensils.

Tongs, spatulas, lid lifters, skewers and tableware are all basic necessities, as are heat protection accessories like gloves and aprons, and a cool box to keep your ingredients (and beers) at the right temperature.

And if you can’t do without your morning cuppa, a campfire kettle will need to feature on your packing list too.

Planning a spot of campfire cooking?

Or maybe you know someone who would love a campfire cooking gift?

The Outhaus store stocks a huge range of outdoor cooking gear. Why not have a browse and get stocked up ready for your next trip? And if you’re looking for that perfect gift for campfire cooking lovers, how about this fab recipe book, Outdoor Cooking Made Easy?

Enjoy your meal – bon appetite!