Just because you’re cooking outdoors doesn’t mean your food has to taste any less delicious than it would indoors. Sure, barbecuing hamburgers and hot dogs might
seem easy at first glance, but you can take your cooking to the next level by following these eight tips for outdoor cooking food.
1) Understand the temperature
Let’s face it, food tastes better cooked on a grill. The question is: Is outdoor cooking healthy? The answer depends on how you go about it. If you stick to lean meats and
seafood, don’t use oils or butter, keep your fire low and don’t crowd your food with too many ingredients, outdoor cooking can be safe and healthful. Still, there are other
dangers you should be aware of: A lot of smoke carries carbon monoxide that can kill in sufficient quantities; grills aren’t great for indoor air quality; open flames carry fire
hazards like burns and flare-ups; hot grease splatters; gases used in some propane cookers (like butane) have been known to cause fires.
2) Keep your hands protected
As a chef, I know that using hot oil can quickly lead to painful burns. To keep your hands protected and feeling comfortable while outdoor cooking, wear mitts or use an
oven mitt when you need to handle hot pans. There are plenty of options available at most retail stores. And as a bonus, most waterproof gloves also come with textured
grips so they’re easier to hold onto hot items. If you’re feeling crafty, there are tons of fun DIY options out there as well (like these cute ones made from plastic bottles).
Protecting your hands may seem like a small detail but it can make outdoor cooking much more enjoyable! Also remember to be careful with open flames—use propane if possible!
3) Use a heat source you can trust
When it comes to outdoor cooking, nothing is more important than your heat source. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t trust it around your house or on your deck, you
shouldn’t use it in camp. So no tossing one match into a bundle of dry leaves and thinking that you’ll be able to get them all with one match after that. That’s likely to
produce a dangerously large flame — not ideal when you don’t have a fire extinguisher handy! And make sure there are no sources of other potential flames nearby — like another burning fire pit just 20 feet away.
4) Protect your face
Even on a short hike, you’re exposed to ultraviolet rays that can contribute to skin cancer and sunburn. So, bring along sunscreen and protect your face from them. In
fact, it's not just during outdoor activities that we should wear sunscreen. To protect our faces all year long, whether indoors or out, we need to regularly use a broad-spectrum SPF product (i.e., one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays).
5) Choose the right clothing
It is important to have clothing that will keep you cool, dry and protected. Regardless of whether it’s sunny or raining, there are a few essential items to take along: jacket,
waterproof trousers and over-trousers (these can also be used as a warm layer in cold weather), hat and gloves. The shoes you choose must have good grip on both wet and
dry surfaces, so they won’t slip while cooking or serving. You might also want a backpack to carry your gear. For example, if you are going on an overnight trip into a
remote area, then it makes sense to take along things like water purification tablets, insect repellent spray etc. Remember that having a prepared kit can make all the difference in making your trip go smoothly!
6) Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is a top priority when you’re out in hot, humid weather. Most people don’t realize that dehydration causes fatigue and exhaustion, which makes it difficult
to have fun. A simple way to stay hydrated is by bringing water with you on any outdoor excursion—be it hiking or camping—and enjoying sips of H2O throughout
your adventure. This will also keep you away from sugary sports drinks or sodas, which are full of calories and leave you even more dehydrated than before. Use these 8 tips for outdoor cooking to help make your next trip memorable and delicious!
7) Take breaks from the grill
Sure, grilling is fun and relaxing, but it’s not a healthy way to cook. Consider outdoor cooking a last resort if you don’t have access to another stove. Instead of cooking your
food directly over a flame, grill over indirect heat; preheat your grill to low before adding food. Indirect heat will help prevent flare-ups and burnt or overcooked meat or
veggies. If you do have access to an indoor kitchen or campfire cooking equipment, use that instead of a propane grill. Using wood as fuel will make your food healthier
than briquettes or lump charcoal (which are highly processed) because it burns at lower temperatures, releasing fewer unhealthy chemicals into your food—and you won’t be consuming any petroleum products along with it!
8) Keep safety first
Prevent your time in nature from becoming a tragedy. There are several common sense practices that you can use to keep yourself safe while cooking outside. The first is fire
safety. It’s important to always have an adult supervise outdoor cooking activities, and to never leave a campfire unattended. Don’t try to build your fire on top of rocks,
because they may collapse underneath it, causing severe burns and possible death by heat exposure if trapped inside. Also be sure that you are using only heat-resistant
containers like pans or grills with handles when cooking over open flames as these will reduce chances of burning yourself accidentally or hurting someone else who might come into contact with them while they’re hot.
