Campers have to usually rely on foods that are easier to prepare, and which don’t go bad as easily. There are several intricacies that one needs to take into consideration when trying to prepare for this.
Animals getting attracted to your food is one of the biggest concerns that campers tend to face. If food is left unattended or in the open, animals are likely to come and try to get their piece of it. An even more worrisome fact is that these animals can sometimes come into your tent or your accommodation to try and take the food that they sense.
All of this can be incredibly worrisome, which is why it is essential to stay prepared before your camping trip to ensure that you don’t have a hard time while you are out in the wild.
General Tips For Storing Food
There are a few basic tips that apply to everyone while they are out camping. These tips are incredibly easy to implement and don’t require much effort to be able to carry out. These apply to all camping situations, whether you are camping out in the open, through your vehicle or in a structured facility.
1. Never Leave Your Food Out In The Open
As we mentioned earlier, one of the things that entice animals is the smell of food. If an animal senses that there is a certain amount of food around them, they are more likely to come near it and try to take it for themselves. If you have any leftovers or any food that needs to be kept close by, always seal them properly to make sure that they aren’t taken away.
2. Never Leave Food Unattended
This tip applies even if you are just leaving your food for five minutes. Those five minutes can make a huge difference on whether or not animals come and take your food. While cooking and eating, the food should be kept near you at all times. If you need to go somewhere away from the food, pack it up properly or take it with you.
Food Storage
Food storage is another important part of food safety while camping, and is something that can have a huge impact on the kind of meals that you are going to eat. This is also something that requires a little bit of pre-planning before you set our for your trip.
1. Invest In A Cooler
One of the best ways to store your food is by using a food cooler. This can be stored either in your tent or in your vehicle. This cooler can also allow you to use food that is prone to perishing faster. Click here to read our detailed review of wheeled coolers.
2. Invest In Good Containers
Another camping essential that people often skip out in is the right kind of food containers. If you are carrying your food in a cooler, you are going to want something to keep your food in before you keep it in a cooler. A good container can ensure that your food stays fresher for a longer time, and can prevent odors from escaping, thereby minimizing the threat of animals coming for your food.
3. Storing Your Cooler
Even if you have a cooler that you are keeping your food in, your items aren’t entirely safe from animals who also want it. Coolers are relatively easy to open and things that animals can get through with ease. If you want to keep your food in the safest way possible, try keeping your cooler locked inside your car. Animals surely won’t be able to get it in this way, and you can sleep knowing that your food isn’t going to get taken away.
Food Storage In Back Country
If you are venturing through the back country, there are a number of threats that you are likely to face when it comes to food storage. One of the more prevalent threats is that of bears. Bears are known to come into campsites and steal people’s food. They also have the ability to open up simple boxes and cans. Things like coolers are relatively easy for them to use, thereby enabling them to take food easily. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions that can be implemented to improve the situation at these campsites and to ensure that your food remains safe.
Use Bear Canisters
Bear Canisters are a great way to be able to store food without having to worry about the challenges that one faces as a result of this. A bear canister is a container that is easily opened by humans but tends to be difficult for bears because of the mechanism behind it.
These cans can be tricky to use, which is why most campers try to prefer this as a way to keep their food safe. Moreover, these cans tend to be compact and easy to carry around. You can get one from Amazon.
Additional Food Handling Tips
One of the final things that one must remember are the few tips that can make the process of preparing and consuming food at a campsite a lot easier. These are simple things that one can implement, and are things that will go a long way towards an enjoyable camping experience.
Stay Clean
Cleanliness is an essential aspect of food handling at the campsite, and it is essential to take all of the appropriate safety measures to ensure that you are careful at all times. Always wash your hands before preparing meals and before eating them as well. Don’t allow any utensils to stay dirty on the campsite since these can attract pathogens.
Cooling Tips
Make sure that your cooler has enough ice to stay cool during your entire trip. A good tip is to freeze all of your drinks before your trip to keep your food cooler and fresher for longer.
