Food storage is important when camping, when you don't have refrigerator handy and wild animals can come calling.
Instructions
Keep Food Fresh While Camping
1. Plan ahead to keep all your food safe while camping. You have more options for food storage when car camping compared to backpacking. The options allow you to bring more variety of food and expands your menu. But food storage can still be tricky, unless you have an RV or pop-up camper with a refrigerator. If your food is spoiled by improper storage, your trip wont’ be much fun.
2. Store your food away from direct sunlight and protect it from getting wet. Even products that don’t need refrigeration should be protected. Don't store food in a hot car during the day. While it might not spoil, the quality could be ruined. Foods such as breads and rolls, crackers, cookies, cold cereals, snack foods, fresh fruit like apples and bananas and of course the chocolate and marshmallows you brought for s’mores. Oil, ketchup, mustard, and pancake syrup shouldn’t be kept in a hot car either. Dry pasta, canned foods, rice, uncooked dry cereals like oatmeal, sugar and baking mixes should be kept dry and cool and out of direct sunlight.
3. Keep perishable food cold. Fresh meat, eggs, cheese, milk, yoghurt, margarine/butter, fresh juices and some vegetables should be refrigerated, so if you’re bringing any of these items, be sure to have a cooler on hand, and keep it restocked with ice. If you plan to be out more than one night, you might consider dry ice. Dry ice is extremely cold, so don’t put eggs, milk, cheese or yoghurt next to it, as these might freeze. Definitely don’t put fresh vegetables or fruit next to dry ice.
4. Bring 2 or 3 coolers. One is for less perishable items, such as breads and rolls, and does not contain ice. You keep it out of sun and out of the hot car. Another cooler is for perishables like meat, and you use ice or dry ice, depending on how long you’re out camping. Perishable leftovers, like cooked pasta or meats, go in the refrigerated cooler as well. A third container could be used for canned food, uncooked cereal, etc. This could be a simple box. For beverages in sealed containers, like cans, special storage isn't necessary, but you probably want to keep these cold. An ice chest would work fine. Dry ice might freeze the beverages.
5. Watch out for hungry animals. When camping, one of your most critical food storage concerns is animals raiding the pantry. Racoons, bears, squirrels, mice, foxes, birds and other campers’ dogs might all find your food attractive and do their best to get hold of it. Locked boxes are one option. Coolers can go in the car at night. Don’t let an unexpected visitor ruin your camping trip by trashing your food supply when you’re not looking.
