Taking place in the outdoors and often in remote locations, camping requires a specialized menu, meals and cooking techniques. Before cooking the food, however, food needs to be stored correctly to keep it as fresh as possible on a multi-day camping trip. Camping food storage involves several types of storage containers and considerations for a safe camping trip.
Function
The major functions of camping food storage include organization, preservation of perishable foods and protection from weather and animals. As the location and demands of a camping change, the major function of the food storage will also change. For example, backcountry camping in remote locations requires food storage to provide a waterproof container that can be compressed and easily fit into a backpack. Camping from a car, however, can accommodate bigger coolers and perishable foods.
Types
Primitive, remote and wilderness campsites will lack the presence of electricity. As a result, several types of camping food storage containers must be used. The most common type of food storage is a cooler, designed to store perishable food or camping food items that require refrigeration. Coolers feature polyurethane foam and insulation to keep ice blocks, crushed ice and dry ice cold for over a week. Small coolers are available that plug into the vehicle for a powered cooler. Coolers can also be used to store dry goods such as cereal, bread and canned food when ice isn't' added to the inside of the cooler. Other food storage ideas include zip lock bags, vacuum sealed bags and plastic snap-on lid containers.
Considerations
Considerations for camping food storage are influenced by the location and duration of the camping trip. Small coolers--about 50 quarts--can be used during weekend camping trips, but larger, high quality coolers need to be used for extended trips lasting longer than three days. Camping gear resources will often recommend simplifying the camping food menu to eliminate wasted space in food storage. Use powdered and dried goods that can be reconstituted with water at the campsite.
Animals
One of the major concerns with camping food storage is for preventing animals such as bears, wolves, raccoons and skunks from entering your campsite or tent. When these animals smell the food, they are drawn into the camp. The goal of camping food storage is to eliminate or reduce the scent from the food. In areas with a population of grizzly bears or black bears, special food storage techniques are often required by the park and forest regulations. Yellowstone National Park encourages campers to avoid camping in locations near noticeable bear signs. Place the food in a bear-proof container and hang it from a branch at least 10 to 12 feet above the ground.
Prevention/Solution
Prevent food from spoiling by having adequate amounts of ice before the trip and never leaving the food containers in your tent or near camp. A general rule-of-thumb is to leave cooking equipment, trash and food at least 200 feet away from the campsite. Another technique is to place the food in a waterproof marine bag and submerge the bag in a stream or lake.
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