I'm currently doing research for a University project and would love to hear all your problems and annoyances with preparing food outdoors.
There's plenty of pots and pans and clever fold up stoves, but I always seem to struggle with kitchen gear (cutting boards, knives etc) I've grabbed on the way out the door for actually preparing food. I can't be the only one!
Don't grab stuff when you are going out the door. I expect must here will have a kitchen box or bag. Some will even have a different one for different set ups.
Our family car camping kitchen bag has everything in it we need except for stove and table. For lightweight or quick weekends away we have either the Trangia or the single burner bag. These also have knives etc s well as stoves. The only thing we have forgotten is tea towels.
As for cooking outside. It all depends on the situation and time of year.
Annoyances? Wind. Not me but the weather. Only the Trangia or the petrol stove have decent windshields. The Trangia thrives on wind. Anything bigger and windshields are useless.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag
I have two kitchen bags - one for weekends when I usually take frozen homemade meals so don't need boards or kitchen knives and one for longer stays when I do. Just need to pack the right one! For longer stays and winter I take the propane double burner (with windshield) but for weekends it's usually the suitcase stove. Wind, as Ewen says, can be a problem with the latter type of stove but hubby made a hinged (so folds flat) metal windshield with spikes that I still take with me.
Rain is another issue. If the forecast isn't great, I take a fishing brolly with side panels and cook under that.
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
I cooked for a family OF 5 for many years. I used a double burner and did not have a fridge. it was challenging and I enjoyed the challenge of cooking a meal for 5 on 2 burne
I can honestly say that I have no problems preparing food while camping. I tend to cook food that won't use too much gas on the burner but I don't see that as a problem. Sorry, but I just can't think of a problem here for you to solve!
My biggest problem is that the wife stands in front of the view while she is cooking. I sometimes have to move my chair or interrupt the food preparation by getting her to move herself and the stove etc.
I find this very trying and quite exhausting to watch.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag
You're setting up camp wrongly then: The table/chairs should command the best view and the cook/kitchen should be placed to one side, only entering the sightline of the diners when carrying food and/or any requested beverages to them.
I'll tell the wife then, Sean.
She often complains that she feels a bit tired after putting the tent up but putting the kitchen gear in the wrong place is no excuse.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag
I think she'll thank me in the long run. It's easier to get it right first time than have to keep moving stuff because you did a shoddy job originally.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag