Forms of Camping Food

Fresh
Fresh foods have the most flavor and nutrition of any nutrition of any camping menu ingredients. They can also be the heaviest, Some, such as fresh meats, must be kept cool until you are ready to cook them. While carrots, apples, hard sausage, and some cheeses might last longer, most fresh foods are best used on trips no longer than one-night campouts.

Nonperishable

Pasta, beans, oatmeal, rice, flour, grains, and other foods that won't spoil are common ingredients for both short-term camping. The amount of nutrition they provide is high. When stored in plastic bags, they take up a small amount of pack space.

Dried/Dehydrated
Much of the weight of many foods is water. Remove it, and the result is a selection of lightweight ingredients just right for campers. Most grocery stores carry powdered milk, instant cocoa, dehydrated potatoes and other vegetables, soup mixes, and many other dried foods. Some camping stores sell entire camp meals that required olnly the additnion of boiling water.

Canned
Almost any food can be purchased in cans. The primary drawback to canned food is its heaviness-at least as much as fresh food, plus the weight of the cans. Campers must also carry empty cans home with them for recycling or proper disposal. Even so, sometimes a special ingredient, such as a can of peaches for a cobbler, can be worth every bit of effort it takes to get it to your camp. (Avoid carrying glass containers. They are heavier than cans and might break.)

Retort Pouches

Retort pouches are flexible packages of any of a wide variety of foods, and they require no refrigeration. The pouches are convenient for winter camping because they can be heated simply by dropping them them in a pot of boiling water, and the contents can be eaten straight out of the pouch.