How to Cook With Aluminum Foil on an Open Fire

Campers usually come in two varieties. There are those who take every convenience with them, plugging in an espresso maker in their recreational vehicles. Others take the opposite tack. Minimalist campers try to get by with the least amount of equipment possible. While cooking everything in one pot may be an admirable goal, sometimes you need a little help. A roll of aluminum foil makes a versatile tool for cooking over an open campfire.

Things You'll Need

  • Heavy-duty foil
  • Scissors
  • Bowl
  • Meat and vegetable for cooking
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Lemon, cider or wine
  • Fire grate
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Instructions

  1. Foil Pot

    • 1

      Turn a bowl upside down in front of you. Use a bowl about the size of a small pot that holds at least 4 cups of water.

    • 2

      Cut five pieces of aluminum foil that measure about 12 inches long and at least 12 inches wide.

    • 3

      Center one piece of foil on the bowl and smooth it down over the shape of the bowl. Turn the bowl a quarter turn. Add more layers of foil, smoothing down the foil between layers.

    • 4

      Remove the bowl from inside the foil. Roll the edge of the foil bowl to the outside, crimping it together to hold all and layers in place. This will make a rim for your pot.

    • 5

      Fill the foil pot with food and a cooking liquid.

    • 6

      Set the pot on top of a fire grate over hot coals in your open campfire.

    Wrapped Food

    • 7

      Tear off two sheets of 18 inch-wide heavy duty foil. Make each sheet about 18 inches long. Lay the sheets, one on top of the other, on a table in front of you.

    • 8

      Cut potatoes, carrots, onions and other vegetables you like into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a pile in the center of the foil.

    • 9

      Season a chicken breast or pork chop with salt and pepper. Place the meat on top of the vegetables.

    • 10

      Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of all the food. Add a squeeze of lemon, a splash of cider or a small amount of wine.

    • 11

      Pull up the right edge of the foil and fold it over the top of the food. Do the same thing with the left edge. Fold the top and bottom edges of the foil over the food and crimp all the edges to seal the packets.

    • 12

      Place the packet on a grate over hot coals, or in the fire itself near the coals. Turn the packet frequently so all pieces of food face the hottest coals sometimes.

    • 13

      Pull one packet away from the fire after about 20 minutes and check the food. If the vegetables are soft and the meat is cooked entirely through the middle, your packet is done.