Also, the coals will reduce more quickly and provide much less cooking time. The danger of sparks getting away can ignite a forest fire. WindĪny medium to strong wind is hazardous. Use previously established fire pits if available, to avoid scarring the area with more fire pits. A fire that is burning all evening has lots of time to burn through the organic layer of the soil and will not be put out with a simple bucket of water.

In circumstances where building your fire on a rock is not possible, one should ensure that the base of the fire is on bare mineral soil. Pay close attention to the ground before preparing any fire. Many public campgrounds supply firewood – call ahead to see what’s available. If dry wood is not available, it will need to be packed in. Stripping trees of green wood is fruitless – your fire will be smoky, will burn poorly and create unnecessary pollution. This is only achieved with dry, seasoned wood. Here are a few important considerations: WoodĬampfire cooking requires a clean-burning, hot fire. Today, with concerns about air quality, restricted areas for camping and dwindling firewood stocks in many campgrounds, the freedom to cook over an open fire is a privilege which requires the utmost in caution and respect. By 5:00 AM the next morning, my dad and I were both home – soaked and tired – but having enjoyed every minute of our camping trip.In days gone by, cooking over an open fire could be taken for granted. Our camp, which was built on a hill, washed out. That same night, it rained like it never rained before. (You can use your imagination on what happened next – after the beans started to digest.) 😉 But not before a dozen or so almost-teenage boys sat around the campfire, eating a lot of beans. So, I did ad lib today’s recipe a bit – adding in some canned bean varieties that weren’t around back then.Īnyway, I’m happy to report that I did earn a merit badge that evening. (Our backpacks were a lot lighter coming home.)įull disclosure: It was a long time ago, and I’m a little foggy on the exact Boy Scout campfire stew recipe we cooked. I’m guessing some authentic variations of this stew were made with dry beans and possibly dried or smoked meats that traveled well without refrigeration – but back in my boy scout days, I remember lugging cans of beans, onions, potatoes, and corn. Hearty, rib-sticking stew that can be made cooked over a campfire out in the middle of nowhere. I’m not sure which version came first – but the premise is the same.

PIN THIS RECIPE NOW! What is Boy Scout Stew?īoy Scout Stew is also sometimes called Cowboy Stew. Then, after hiking to our campsite for the night – we hunkered down, set up our tents, built a fire – and cooked that delicious campfire stew. I was twelve years old at the time, and I still have such vivid memories of that camping trip – mostly because I got to spend some uninterrupted time with my dad – plus, just about every boy that age loves being outside and on an adventure.Īs part of the badge-earning responsibilities – we were required to come up with a menu, make sure we brought the necessary ingredients and cooking utensils. To this day, I have distinct and very fond memories of going on an overnight scout camping trip with my dad (aka Grampa) as part of earning a merit badge. Many, many, many, many years ago, I was a Boy Scout. Please read our disclosure policy.īoy Scout Stew is a hearty and delicious stew made with ground beef and other pantry ingredients.

Pocket campfire recipes