When food reaches a temperature range from 41 F to 139 F degrees it enters the danger zone where bacteria and food borne illness can thrive. Keeping food cold (at or below 40 F degrees) or hot (at or above 140 F degrees) is critical to serving safe food but presents challenges to the overland traveller.

Keeping Food Cold While Camping:

Use a quality cooler with enough insulation to keep food cold for several days. Roto-molded coolers keep ice cold for 7+ days.
Keep the cooler in the coolest place possible to reduce ice melting (place in the coolest place in your vehicle and in the shade at camp)
Consider using two different coolers – one for cold food, the other for everything else like drinks and water (which will get accessed more often)
Always pack more ice than you think you’ll need
Block ice works better than cubed ice – freeze gallon water jugs in advance for ease (plus they turn to drinking water when they melt) or use cooler packs.
Use smaller blocks of ice (or frozen water bottles or freezer packs) to put on top of your food
Freeze foods that can be frozen before packing in the cooler – it will stay colder longer and provides cooling for other things around it
Use a refrigerator/cooler thermometer so you know the temperature inside your refrigerator/cooler. Some even come with alarms in case temps rise above a certain point.

Keeping Food Hot While Camping:

Serve hot food as soon as it’s done
If food must sit for an extended period of time, cover tightly with heavy aluminum foil or  store in a heat proof container to keep heat (and moisture) in. Check periodically to ensure food is above 140 degrees.
Coolers keep food hot – use an old restaurant trick called a faux cambro – place a towel in the bottom of the cooler and place your hot food items on top of the towel. The cooler’s insulation will keep hot food hot for hours. Use the smallest cooler possible that will still hold all of your hot food items – the smaller the volume the easier it is to keep warm. This Coleman Party Stacker cooler is shorter than most coolers – but is perfect for a faux cambro. I also use it as my “pantry” when overlanding.
Bring an instant read thermometer and check meats and prepared hot foods prior to serving to ensure appropriate serving temperatures.

Wash Your Hands and Utensils When Camping

Though not related to temperature, washing your hands and utensils will also keep bacteria at bay. Prepare in advance for having water and soap available to wash hands before and after handling raw foods or after using the restroom. A travel size liquid hand soap container works perfectly and packs easily.

Cooking while camping is as American as it gets – and these tips above will help you serve up great tasting, but safe, food this summer! Have other tips or suggestions? Post them below and share them with the TX:GX community.

Check out our camping recipes!