Other things on the ground to avoid when selecting a campfire site include tree roots and grass. Pre-built fire pits at campsites are ideal because they usually already have high metal sides and sometimes even a built-in grill. A general rule is that you should have at least 3-times the height of the fire of clear space above the fire.
As an alternative to rocks, you can use green wood logs, which is wood that is fresh and still contains moisture, so it won’t catch on fire easily like dry, dead wood. You can create a kind of makeshift chimney by placing a large, tall rock at the back of your fire pit, which will help direct the smoke away towards the back.
An ideal cooking fire consists mainly of hot coals with just 1-2 burning logs at a time. Building your fire patiently and letting it burn down gently for at least 30-45 minutes will help you achieve this. Don’t be tempted to add all your firewood near the beginning and make a huge fire to start with. Big fires burn too fast and you’ll just be left with a bunch of coals that are too hot for cooking—not to mention you’ll be out of wood!
You can still fuel your fire with softwoods like pine if you don’t have any other option, but just keep in mind that they will burn much faster and hotter, which isn’t as good for cooking. Avoid any pieces of wood that are painted or treated because they can release harmful chemicals when burned. Many gas stations and rural stores sell bundles of firewood if you can’t find dry, dead wood lying around.
Whenever you need to add another log or two to the fire, move new coals over from the burning side to the coal side first. Then add the new wood to the side where you’re burning logs. Just like cooking on a charcoal barbeque, the best spot to cook over your campfire is usually over the hot coals, rather than directly over the flames, so that’s why it’s best to organize your fire like this.
The exact height to hold skewered foods over a fire depends on how hot the fire is, so you’ll just have to experiment to find the sweet spot that works best for you. Keep in mind that the handle of a metal skewer can get hot if you hold it too close or for too long over the fire. You can wrap a hand towel or something similar around the handle if it gets too hot. If you’re using a stick as a skewer, make sure you don’t hold it directly over any flames or it can catch on fire easily.
The technique for grilling over a fire is the same as grilling on a barbeque grate. Different foods have different cook times and doneness requirements. You can use a meat thermometer to check when things like chicken and pork are all the way done or to know when to remove a steak from the grill for the perfect doneness. For example, pieces of chicken might take 15 minutes per side to cook all the way through until they reach a safe internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C). Something like steak that doesn’t have to cook all the way through might only take 5-10 minutes per side to achieve your desired doneness.
Cook times are super variable based on the type of foods you’re cooking and how hot the part of the fire you’re cooking over is. Something like sliced vegetables or a fish fillet might take about 20 minutes to cook, whereas a whole baked potato might take 40 minutes or more. You can add seasonings to the foil packets, such as olive oil or butter, salt and pepper, and any herbs or spices you like.
When dealing with chicken, it is important to be mindful of cross-contamination. If you don’t have lots of resources to keep everything clean on your camping trip, it’s a better idea to bring pre-cooked chicken. There is no exact height to roast something on a spit over a fire. Just make sure it is out of the reach of the flames so it cooks instead of burns. You can purchase a metal campfire spit kit that comes with the supports and the spit for under $100 USD. These usually allow you to adjust the height of the spit and some even have electric motors to turn it for you automatically. If you don’t have an actual campfire spit kit, you can improvise one out of sturdy sticks.
The pan will get very hot, so make sure you only handle it with an oven mitt or glove after it’s been on the fire. A long-handled grill spatula and set of tongs are also super useful tools, so you don’t have to reach too close to the fire to flip foods over in the frying pan. Never use a frying pan with a rubber or plastic handle that could melt or catch on fire. The amount of time it takes to cook something like bacon and eggs depends on what style of eggs you’re making and how crispy you want your bacon. If you are just making a sunny-side-up fried egg and want medium-crispy bacon, it might just take 2-3 minutes for the egg and 5 minutes or so for the bacon.
You can make anything you would make in a pot at home over a campfire using this technique. For example, you can try making curries, chilis, chowders, or hearty beef stews this way. You can also boil water in a cast iron pot or Dutch oven if you want to do something like boil potatoes or vegetables.
