True cooking is hardly effortless. We often forget how long it takes to prepare a meal. Throwing a frozen box in the microwave for a few minutes is much different than making the same meal from scratch.

Preparing food outdoors isn’t easy and really should not be. When cooking at a camp site for two or 200, the planning, gathering items, preparation and cooking should be as much fun as eating the meal with friends and family.

Step one for those new to outdoor cooking is to keep it simple. As a person becomes more skilled and confident, the number of recipes prepared from scratch will rise as well as the level of difficulty with those meals.

Wind, rain, snow, bugs and wild animals will need to be considered. Be sure to ask others for advice. Always have some extra food that is easy to prepare or even food that can be eaten out of the package that does not need to be heated.

Remember that heat and sharp utensils will be involved. If your group contains small children, special caution should taken to keep them safe. Any water that is used for cooking should be properly treated or purified before using. Don’t rely on the cooking to treat the water.

Food related illness can be prevented with safe handling of uncooked meat. Cutting surfaces and utensils should be dedicated to preparing the uncooked meat. Use of a food thermometer to check meat and egg dishes for doneness. Many cooking equipment remains hot well after the food has been served such as pie irons and Dutch ovens.

Always look for a camp stove that is listed with a certifying agency to ensure you are getting a safe, tested appliance. Plan your purchase with adequate time to read and understand the information on the appliance and in the owner’s manual.

Be sure to follow all instructions and markings on your cooking appliance and in the owner’s manual. Bring your new stove home and test it in a safe environment outdoors. You can familiarize yourself with its operation and contact customer support if you have any questions or problems.

Always operate camp cooking appliances outdoors in an area free of overhead obstructions and never use a camping stove in a tent or in any enclosed or poorly ventilated location. Set up your camp-cooking appliance following the manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure to check and recheck the fuel system for proper installation and freedom from leaks.

Before you go, check to make sure that cook stoves are allowed in camping areas, especially in national and state forests during high fire danger periods. Avoid operation of your cooking appliance in rainy or windy conditions.

Provide adequate lighting for the preparation of your meals so that you can quickly find your cooking utensils and food items and use them appropriately. Never leave an operating or hot cooking appliance unattended.

Never let children run or play within 3 feet of the cooking area. Use cooking utensils that properly fit your cooking appliance. Keep the work area clean and free of clutter, especially paper and other flammable materials.

Be particularly careful during dry periods to keep dry leaves and pine needles away from your cooking area. Be sure to include hot potholders and cooking utensils in your camp kitchen.

Never use water on a grease fire or try to move a pan with burning oil. Hold a lid with an oven mitt and gently place it over the fire. Leave it there until the pan has cooled. Be very careful with gas canisters. Keep them upright at all times. Keep them outside in a well ventilated area. Check for leakage by putting a little soapy water on all connections. Turn it off when not in use.

Never install or remove propane cylinders while a stove is lit, near flames, pilot lights, other ignition sources or while a stove is hot to the touch. Be careful not to spill fuel. Use a funnel to fill the tank. Do not operate stove or store fuel containers around another heat source such as a campfire.

Choosing a good location is key for maintaining a healthy cooking fire. When staking out your campsite, choose an area with level clear ground that is large enough to allow you to set up any tents or campers at least 10 feet from the campfire and cooking area. Choose a site near a source of fresh water if possible.healthy cooking

Basic fire safety rules should be practiced at all times when near the campfire, whether or not the fire is lit. Avoid wearing plastic, vinyl, nylon or other synthetic materials around a campfire Make sure anyone with long hair ties back his hair before approaching the fire

Always walk—never run—near a campfire.run When cooking, use long-handled utensils and limit the number of people near the fire at any time. Usually, one person cooking and one feeding the fire is all you need. Always have a bucket of water or sand nearby if you need to extinguish the fire in a hurry.