Eat like a king while camping. Here's the key to prepping ahead.

Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY

Camping, especially when the weather’s warm, is the perfect way to escape with friends and family and relax in nature. But if you already have a few camping trips under your belt you probably know that packing and prepping for the great outdoors can be a lot of work, especially when it comes to provisions. But preparing food for camping doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a little planning and some expert packing, storage and prep tips, you can eat like a king and queen, save valuable packing space and keep the mess at bay. Here’s how to prep food for camping like a pro and make mealtime a breeze.

Watch the video above to learn how to prep food for camping.

How to prep food for camping

  • Frozen food is perfect for camping, and it’ll keep your cooler colder longer, so you always have a place to keep food and drinks cold.

  • Chop and pre-prep food and meals at home before you head out. This will make for less mess and more surface space when mealtime comes at the campsite.

  • Wrap food in foil to cook on the grill or over hot coals. This is especially convenient when prepping and cooking vegetables, chicken, and fish.

  • Use an affordable, portable caddy or similar container to prep an easy, mess-free, s’mores station at home. Alternatively, prep and seal individual s’mores packs in reusable zip-top bags so each camper has their own ingredients for s'mores. This will help cut down on mess and trash around the campsite.

  • Make meals ahead of time, store them in a cooler and heat over a campfire or portable stove when ready. Breakfast burritos, casseroles, soups, and stews are great examples of meals that are easy to make at home and heat up at the campsite.

Reviewed-approved grilling and cooking recommendations:

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Reviewed helps you find the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of kitchen and cooking experts are always testing new kitchen tools, grills and more so you can shop for the best of the best.

  1. Our favorite grilling spatula: OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Grilling Set

  2. Top-rated grill: Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill

  3. The best skillet: Lodge Cast Iron Chef Collection Skillet, Pre-seasoned

  4. Interchangeable food storage: Rubbermaid 42-Piece Food Storage Containers with Lids

  5. Our favorite grill tongs: OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs

  6. The best oven thermometer: KT Thermo 3-Inch Dial Oven Thermometer

  7. An excellent cutting board: OXO Good Grips Plastic Utility Cutting Board

  8. Top-rated cooler: OtterBox Venture 25

  9. The best value in cookware: Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

More camping food storage and packing tips

  • Save space and cut down on mess by packing all spices in a pill case.

  • After pre-prepping meals at home, store them in airtight containers and label them with the day and meal they’ll be used for. This will save time and reduce mess when mealtime comes.

  • If you're not organizing by the day and meal, label your food containers by dish or ingredient so they’re easy to identify in the cooler.

  • For an easy camping breakfast, break eggs ahead of time, beat them, and store in a water bottle. This makes eggs easy to whip up on a portable or skillet griddle and reduces mess.

  • Pre-mix pancake batter at home and place it in a clean, recycled ketchup bottle or plastic bag. If using a plastic bag, cut a small hole at the corner of the bag when ready to cook. Both options make for easy storage, pouring, and cleanup.

  • Pack and use a camp stove or grill to make campsite cooking even easier and safer.

More problems, solved

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to prep food for camping in the summer

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