While on outdoor adventures, staying prepared with nourishing and nutritious meals to take with you is essential. However, it’s important that your meals are practical and will be safe to eat throughout the duration of your expedition. As keeping meals refrigerated can prove to be difficult, if not impossible, in many cases, you’ll likely need alternatives to your usual foods that you eat at home
In this blog, we cover our best recommendations on what food to take camping without a fridge, with many types of meals that can be kept at most common temperatures, are easy to prepare on the move, and are packed with flavour and energy.
Is Refrigerating Food While Camping Possible?
With the minimal equipment you’ll have while exploring the great outdoors, in many circumstances, refrigerating food simply isn’t possible. With food quickly becoming unsafe for eating if not maintained at the correct temperature, there are only so many methods to refrigerating your food while camping.
There is the option to bring a cooler bag, and these are capable of keeping food cold for a number of days. However, they require ice packs, and this simply isn't possible if a freezer isn't nearby. Additionally, carrying the weight of a cooler alongside all the rest of your equipment likely isn’t always practical for you.
Similarly, a portable fridge is a possibility when at a campsite with electricity. However, this isn’t an option if you are wild camping and can also be a significant investment even if you are.
In essence, you can refrigerate food while camping in certain circumstances, though wild camping often makes this highly impractical, if not impossible. You’ll instead need to rely on non-refrigerated camping food, as we detail below.
What Non-Refrigerated Food to Take Camping – Our Recommendations
Though refrigerated foods often aren’t possible for taking camping, there are many options that are instead practical, easy to prepare, and delicious. Our best recommendations for camping food that doesn’t require refrigeration include:
Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Meals
Freeze-dried food and dehydrated food are perfectly suited for camping. With no concern of needing to keep it at a particular temperature, it will be safe to eat no matter where your travels take you. In addition, these types of meals are quick and simple to prepare, and are full of flavour, too!
These foods are prepared by almost entirely removing the water content, which accounts for a large portion of their weight. By then re-adding hot water to these that’s boiled on a stove, you can quickly prepare flavoursome meals no matter where you are.
In our range, you can find dried meals from trusted brands, such as Summit to Eat, Real Turmat, and Firepot, each featuring different food options and packed with the energy and nutrients you need.
What Food to Take Camping Without Cooking – Wet Meals
Wet meals are a great alternative to freeze-dried and dehydrated camping meals, which are just as practical and easy to prepare. These already contain water, unlike some other options, and are instead boiled in the bag. They can also be eaten cold, meaning that wet meals are ready-to-eat and do not require cooking.
If your main focus is to travel as light as possible, the slight increase in weight these meals have compared to dry meals may make them a less preferable option for you. However, wet meals often have an improved, more homely flavour that can be more favourable if your journey is shorter and the increase in weight isn’t too large a concern.
We have an excellent variety of delicious wet meals in our collection, including choices from top brands such as Wayfayrer and MRE, for camping meals that are as delicious as they are practical.
Natural Whole Foods
There are many natural, whole foods you can take alongside the above meal types to keep you sustained that don’t require constant refrigeration. A great example is nuts, such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts, which are excellent sources of protein, healthy fats, and fibre for an on-the-go snack.
For a satisfying savoury treat, hard cheeses like aged cheddar are an excellent choice. These cheeses don’t require refrigeration for short periods and are packed with flavour and essential nutrients. Their firm texture means they won’t spoil easily, and they can be paired with crackers or enjoyed on their own.
Another great option is dry-cured meats such as salami or biltong from the Raging Bull snacks range. These meats are air-dried, preserving them without refrigeration. They’re high in protein and are a deliciously salty snack that is both nutritious and enjoyable.
How Long Do Camping Meals Last?
Freeze-dried, dehydrated, and wet camping meals can be kept at most typical temperatures for very long periods while still safe to eat.
These meals are all long-life and don’t require refrigeration at all to preserve them for safe eating. Specifically, wet meals can keep for between two and three years, while dried meals can keep for up to seven years, depending on the brand. For extra-long life options, our Pro Ration food can last for up to 15 years.
How to Make Dehydrated Camping Food
Dehydrated camping food is easily produced with minimal resources. To cook your dehydrated meals, you’ll need to boil the amount of water as stated in your meal’s instructions. This can be done by using a lightweight camping stove.
Once boiled, pour the hot water into the bag and stir it. Afterwards, seal the bag back up, then wait the time specified in the instructions (this can be between 5 and 15 minutes). You can occasionally stir the food to help with the rehydration process. After this time, stir to ensure everything is mixed together, and your dehydrated meal will be ready to tuck into!
Wet camping meals are similarly prepared hassle-free by boiling them in their bags or decanting them into your pan on your stove. However, they can also be eaten cold with no preparation required.
Long-Life Camping Food at Base Camp Food
If you’re looking for camping food that doesn’t need refrigeration and has an incredibly long shelf life, our freeze-dried meals and wet meals provide plenty of flavour and give you all of the nutrients you need to keep you sustained on your adventures.
If you’d like to know anything more about our extensive range of camping meals, outdoor equipment, or anything else available from our range, get in touch with us today. A member of our team will be happy to help you out.