An expert's best advice for cooking over a campfire

Campfire cooking can seem complicated, what with the planning, packing and schlepping involved in fashioning a temporary kitchen in the great outdoors.

- Ali Slagle

UNITED STATES - But keep the meal ideas, tools and set-up simple, and campfire cooking might just be more enjoyable than cooking at home.

My partner and I have twice circled the United States in our camper van, but we knew very little when we set out. We learned as we went. There were many nights of cooking out in the wind and rain, and a lot of ramen. Not every night was dreamy, but every morning, we were glad to wake up where we were.

There is nothing quite like cooking over live fire – and no two times are ever the same – but with this basic information, you might just do it again and again.

SAFETY NOTES Always follow local rules and regulations. Some campsites will have pits with grates; others may have a fire ban (in which case, it is sandwiches for dinner). Use wood that was bought or acquired locally to avoid transporting invasive species.

Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and to put out the fire before going to bed. Be sure to stir the water with the embers, so they are all drenched.

HELPFUL EQUIPMENT The tools you will use to cook over a campfire are not that different from what you use at home, save for long tongs and a dish bin, so take along a curated selection of what you already have in your kitchen.

You probably need only one skillet. I use a large, carbon-steel version for most things. And certain tools have multiple uses. For instance, a sheet pan can be a table to put tools on, a tray for prepped ingredients, a platter for finished food, a lid for your skillet or a fan to get the fire roaring.