cook on coals

[carmen]

I have yet to do this but thought I would ask before I ruin the next meal, if there are any tips that someone could share. I know most of the times that I think I could cook but want to make sure I am not missing a newbie question.

[indoorwife]

It seems like it'd be awfully cumbersome to carry coals through the woods. Would you use them in a regular campfire or take a little hibachi with you?

[calanta]

Just reading it kinda seems like you would carry a setup bag of sorts. Who wants to just carry coal around when you can go off and explore; dropping a bad seems easier too.

[campclose]

Do you mean cooking with a charcoal grill? I don't cook on coals unless it is roasting hots over the campfire. I don't think there is a trick to that, just get a good fire and then get to cooking.

[Grandpa]

Are you talking about just laying the food directly on the coals? I've done that with both bannock (bread) and meat. But prefer to make twist bread on a stick or skewer the meat on a stick.

[Cappy]

If ya talkin' 'bout laying food on camp fire embers it can be done. My first choice is wrap it in too much foil and make sure there are less embers under than on top(heat rises)if ya are wantin' to go primal, old school your best bet is fish. Gut your fish, but don't scale it. Head on or off is an option. My favorite way is to split the fish in half along the spine and cook the 2 halves skin side down over the "coals" this leaves the flesh up and available for basting with ya favorite seasonings. The scales and skin protect the flesh from the coals and when cooked ya just slide the flesh off with a spatchula. This would be the safest thing to try first before ya graduate to Grandpa's bannok and meat sugestion. I agree with him, meat and bread lots better when on a stick

[briansnat]

One way to do this is to partially cook the food at home. Potatoes, ribs, pork roast, whatever. Then wrap in foil and chill until it's time to cook. Then all you need to do is throw them on the coals (be sure to have tongs available) and let them finish.

If you are backpacking you can precook, then freeze your meal and let it thaw in your pack during the day. It makes for a wonderful dinner for your first night on the trail.