When your family is heading off on a camping trip, menu planning can make a big difference in how smoothly your trip goes. You need to think about what foods will be safe to take and how they need to be handled. You don’t want anyone in the family to get food poisoning or be burned while cooking over a campfire, so take time before your departure to make sure you’re thoroughly prepared.

Pick shelf-stable goodies, and plan ahead with coolers

Shelf-stable foods are excellent for camping, as they are easy to eat on the go and don’t need to be in coolers. Beef jerky and other dried meats, dried fruit, nuts, and dehydrated foods are easy to pack. Peanut butter, crackers, canned meats, canned foods, dried soups and dried noodles work well too. In terms of drinks, concentrated fruit juices and powdered milk or powdered fruit juices make great camping choices.

For items that need to stay cold, consider bringing two coolers. Dedicate one to perishable items, and use the other for drinks and snacks. Your family will be grabbing drinks and snacks frequently throughout the day, so that cooler will be opened a lot, and the items inside will thaw quickly. By keeping all of your perishables in a separate cooler, they will stay cold longer.

It is also helpful to freeze your meats before packing them and then put them on the bottom of the cooler so they won’t leak onto other items as they thaw. Then, pack everything else in reverse order of when you plan to use it so you don’t have to dig around too much.

Keeping perishables cold is vital

Perishable foods can develop bacteria quickly when exposed to warm temperatures. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service explains that bacteria most frequently grows at temperatures in the “Danger Zone” of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything left out for more than two hours can have dangerous levels of bacteria on it, and that amount of time drops to one hour if the temperature is over 90 degrees.

Pack your perishables straight from the refrigerator or freezer into your coolers right before leaving, and keep a close eye on the ice throughout your trip. Michigan State University shares that blocks of ice will last better than ice cubes, so try filling empty milk jugs, ice cream buckets, or partially-filled plastic baggies with water to freeze and then use in your coolers.

Stay safe with cooked meats and campfires

Bring a food thermometer along to ensure meats are cooked to a safe temperature. North Dakota State University explains that ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, while poultry should reach 165 degrees. Other types of red meat along with lamb, roast pork, and veal should cook to 145 degrees.

If you plan to use a campfire for your cooking, build the fire a safe distance from your tent, and build a fire ring or use a fire pit. Keep kids a safe distance away from the fire, and use caution if you’re letting them help with foods like hot dogs and s’mores. Don’t leave the fire unattended, and be thorough in extinguishing it when you’re done.

A few precautions will go a long way in keeping your family well-fed yet safe during your camping trip. Be selective in what foods you bring, and keep your perishables cold. Make sure meats are cooked to the proper internal temperature, and be vigilant about campfire safety while cooking. There are plenty of foods that are fun to eat on a camping trip, but packing and preparing them properly is essential.
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