Backpack Food Preparation Important Point

Food Preparation

Stoves

There are several different types of stoves that are used for scouts. The easiest to use and
least expensive is the type that screws on to a propane bottle. They are very inexpensive,
but are heavy and the empty bottle must be hiked out.
For backpacking however, propane just doesn’t cut it. At high
elevations or in extreme cold, propane bottles will freeze and
reduce their heat output to a bare trickle. For many situations we
use butane stoves. These are simple to use, easy to light and
maintain their usefulness under most conditions.

For long term backpacking, especially in severe conditions, there’s
nothing like white gas stoves. They put out a tremendous amount of heat,
are economical and will get water boiling quickly. We use the MSR
Dragonfly because of it’s ability to adjust the flame and simmer. Boys
are always taught how to safely use the equipment, and adults will fuel
these stoves.
We also use the Primus Himalaya. It can use either butane canisters or white gas.
Depending on the scout and their level of training, they might use this stove with either of
the two types of fuel.

Cooking and Eating Gear

Crew Gear

Each crew will bring it’s own cooking gear. While there are many different types of
backpacking cooksets made out of exotic metals with space age finishes, we’ve
discovered that good old aluminum works wonderfully for Boy Scouts. There’s no finish
to get scratched and the heat distributes throughout very evenly. A pot or two usually
suffices, but if pancakes are planned, a frying pan is a must.
The basic cooking utensil for backpacking is a large spoon. Many of our meals are one
pot pastas, rices, or beans. Occasionally, a spatula is needed. The other utensil that is
necessary is a knife. Pocketknives and one or two Lexan personal knives are great for a
crew. Each crew should be sure they have the proper gear, either from the troop supply
or their own.

Personal Gear

As far as personal eating utensils go, less is better. A sierra cup and a
spoon is all that is really necessary. Some like to bring a complete set of
Lexan eating utensils, a plate and a cup. Frisbees
make good plates, and you can play with them after
dinner too! Very few people carry extra eating
utensils, so remember to bring your own, every time!
It gets very tiring trying to borrow something to eat with at every meal.

What to Cook

Now that we know what to cook with, we’ve got to make some decisions about what
we’re going to eat! Here are a few suggestions.
Dinners - when we backpack we usually like to have big dinners because we're so hungry
when we set up camp. I try to find dinners that require a good deal of water in preparation
to help us rehydrate.
pastas: couscous, orzo, dried cheese tortellini, ramen, fusilli
sauces: Knorr's pesto mix, tomato soup mix, mac&cheese cheese packet
rice and beans: dehydrated refried beans, lentils, minute rice
breads: tortillas, pita bread, bagels
vegetables: instant mashed potato flakes, dried black mushrooms, sun dried
tomatoes, dried green onions
soups: corn chowder, black bean, chicken veggie, pasta/rice primavera, split pea,
hot and sour, chicken soup, tex mex
meats: beef jerky
extra: pinenuts, pulverized potato chips

Lunches - we usually don't like to pull out the stove when we break for lunch. Most of
what we eat for lunches requires no cooking whatsoever and is fast and easy to prepare.
breads: pita bread, bagels, tortillas
meats: beef jerkey, dry salami, pepperoni
dried fruits: dried apples, dried cranberries, prunes, dried peaches
vegetables: carrots, corn, jicama (these are for shorter trips)
other: cheese, hummus, crackers, GORP

Breakfasts - Quick and easy is usually the way to go, so that we can get out on the trail
right away. Sometimes, we’ll hike for a little bit then pull out the food on the trail.
Cereals: oatmeal, granola with fruit and powdered milk
Rice: Minute Rice with powdered milk and brown sugar
Eggs: powdered eggs with cheese, or as a breakfast burrito

Snacks – Trail mixes, energy bars and hard candies are all great ways to keep up your
energy on the trail.

Packaging

Don’t forget to repackage all your food for the trail! That will mean taking off any extra
cardboard, putting things in Ziploc bags and bagging your trail mix. Don’t carry
anything into the backcountry that you don’t absolutely need, or that you’ll have to carry
out again as trash.

Dishwashing

The most difficult thing about backcountry dishwashing for boys is the preparation. It is
very important that no food be left on their plates or cups, or in the pot. The more food
there is, the more our limited supply of water is polluted. Plates and cups should be
licked clean, before being washed and sanitized. Putting a little hot water into the cup
and swishing it around before drinking it not only helps clean the utensils, but also gets a
little more water into them for hydration. Any leftover water should be emptied into a six
inch deep cathole, strained for food debris. All leftover food and garbage must be packed
out.
One cool trick is to use a platypus to rinse the dishes. By squirting a little water onto the
dishes, you can rinse them quickly and thoroughly, and use very little water.