What is a Quick Easy Pre Packaged Lunch That Doesnt Need Refrigerated
One of the biggest things to think about when you're heading on any trip is food. And camping is no exception. Most people choose to keep their camping food refrigerated in a cooler.
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But, it can be a challenge to keep everything cold for your entire trip or find ice to refill your cooler – unless you have a powered cooler and power source, that is. Not to mention the soggy mess as the ice starts to melt. (We use these to avoid melting ice and even keep food frozen!)
Thankfully, if you don't have or don't want to deal with a cooler, there are still plenty of tasty camping foods and meals that don't require refrigeration.
Camping Meals That Don't Need Refrigeration
When looking for ideas of camping foods that don't need to be refrigerated, there are many articles with extensive, amazing lists of shelf-stable foods – or, at least, will last for a few days out of the fridge.
I don't know about you, but I don't need just a list of foods. I need a way to make our camping trips easier – whether we're planning to take our cooler or not.
My favorite way to do that is with a pre-made list of meals that don't require the fridge. So, I went back to the drawing board and came up with this list of camping meal ideas, dessert ideas, and snack ideas that can stay at room temperature.
Don't worry. You can jump straight to the list of the camping food items that don't need a fridge if you'd prefer.
You'll also find great options on the list for camping meals that don't require cooking. Or that you can simply heat and serve. Because sometimes, you just need to hit the easy button.
Breakfast Ideas
Pancakes
One of the biggest hits for the whole family when camping is pancakes. We love this protein pancake mix because it fuels everyone up for the day's adventures without taking a long time. Top them with nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.) and applesauce (cups or pouches are great when you don't have a cooler!) or maple syrup.
Oatmeal
Whether you choose oatmeal packets or make your own, oatmeal is quick, easy, and filling. Oatmeal packets are great when we need to be super quick or easy because we can simply add hot water. A great addition if you're making oatmeal from scratch is freeze-dried berries. Or, you can chop an apple and add cinnamon with a touch of maple syrup or brown sugar. 😋
Cream of Wheat
Whether you love it or hate it, cream of wheat is another great option for a camping breakfast that you don't have to keep cold.
Grits
Grits are one of the foods that spark controversy in our family. John likes to eat them with sugar – who DOES that?!. But, if you want to eat them the RIGHT way, you'll want to go with my personal favorite and add butter and salt. 😉 If you like, feel free to add other savory options like cheese, regular or turkey bacon.
Avocado Toast
Toast your bread in a pan over your camp stove or fire, slice avocado, fry an egg (jump here to see how to take eggs without a fridge), and season with salt and pepper or Everything Bagel seasoning.
Granola Bars & Fruit
Talk about an easy breakfast idea! For a no-cook, no fridge breakfast, it doesn't get much easier than granola bars and fruit, whether you make your own ahead of time or buy them.
Dry Cereal (or Cereal with Powdered or Shelf-stable individual milk containers)
Half the time, I catch my kids grabbing cereal directly out of the pantry without even pouring a bowl with milk. Who says they can't do that on a camping trip, too?! That said, if you want to add milk, powdered milk or small, shelf-stable milk containers are perfect when you don't have a way to keep things cold.
Donuts or Pop-Tarts
Okay, I know. Donuts and pop-tarts may not be the healthiest item on the list, but they are tasty, and there's no reason you can't add fruit or have them alongside your Avocado Toast, right?!
Muffins
Often when we go camping, or even on road trips, I will make a batch of hearty muffins. They are a delicious option and make a great breakfast with fruit, but they also work perfect for snacks.
Breakfast/Protein Shakes
Many breakfast and protein shakes can be found pre-mixed and shelf-stable. But, you can also choose powdered versions so all you need to do is add water.
Lunch Ideas
Grilled Cheese with Apples and Baby Carrots
A grilled cheese sandwich with sliced apples and baby carrots is always a win with our kids. And, yes! You can take cheese – we share more below, but many hard cheeses like cheddar and parmesan are safe to leave out at room temperature.
Mac & Cheese with Sliced Red Peppers
Boxed mac and cheese is another easy win, especially for families. Slice up some red peppers to serve on the side. You could even add bacon bits or freeze-dried veggies if you want to level it up!
Loaded Potato Bowls with Bacon Bits, Chives, and Dehydrated or Freeze-Dried Broccoli
A super easy potato bowl starts with instant mashed potatoes. You can stir in pre-cooked bacon or bacon bits, dried chives, and dehydrated or freeze-dried broccoli for a tasty, balanced meal. You can always mix in a bit of butter and add salt and pepper to taste as well.
Banana & Nut Butter Roll-ups
These roll ups are one of my go-to's for a quick lunch. They are perfect for camping, hikes, or days when you're on the go. Spread nut butter (we use almond, but you could also use peanut or other nut butters) on a tortilla, place a banana in the middle, then roll and eat. You could even add a touch of honey or maple syrup if you like.
Tuna or Chicken Packets with Crackers & Vegetables
Chicken and tuna pouches now come in a wide variety of flavors so you have plenty of choices. We've had lemon pepper, fiesta, barbecue, and more! You could also use a can of tuna or chicken.
Tuna or Chicken Salad Sandwiches or Wraps
Use premade chicken or tuna pouches to make a quick sandwich or wrap.
Nut Butter & Jam Sandwiches
Almond butter or peanut butter and jam sandwiches are easy to put together quickly. You could get small or condiment size jams if you prefer, but you don't necessarily have to.
Avocado Boats
I'm a fan of almost anything with avocado, and there are so many ways to make avocado boats. Try these Sushi Avocado Boats or this Chipolte Pulled Chicken option (use chicken pouches and buy the smallest jar of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce).
Dinner Ideas
"Fancy" Ramen
For years after college, I avoided ramen noodles. But, it can be so much better than you might think. In fact, it's the best thing to cozy up to a warm bowl when it's cold outside. We love this brand and add some extras like onion, snap peas, and eggs to make it even better.
Backpacking Meals, Dehydrated Meals, or MREs
When you don't have a way to keep food cold in a fridge, meals made for backpacking or survival can also be great options, though they typically won't be as inexpensive as other options.
Pasta and Sauce
Boxed pasta and canned or jarred sauce doesn't need to be refrigerated until after it's open. You could even take alfredo sauce and add veggies that can be left out or dehydrated options for a one-pot meal.
Chili Potatoes
Chili Potatoes are another great food option that is warm and hearty. You can bake your potatoes over the fire in foil or a dutch oven, heat some chili, and top with cheddar!
Charcuterie Board
We'll share more below, but hard cheeses and meats are safe to leave out of the fridge, so why not have some fun with a charcuterie board?! A few ideas to add to your board are summer sausage, salami, hard cheeses, nuts, red peppers, olives, and sliced apples.
Black Beans with Quinoa & Rice
This bean and rice bowl is our go-to easy meal when we're adventuring. We love these pre-cooked quinoa and rice packets as a starter, then we add canned black beans (pinto or tri-blend work great too) and salsa to taste. Top with cheese and serve with baby carrots or peppers.
Pre-Cooked Meals
It's a good idea to have some delicious meals that can be ready with short notice and don't take up much space. Many times, we've found ourselves enjoying a lake for longer or spending more time on a hike than we originally planned, and having shelf-stable options that only require heating can be a lifesaver! A few ideas to get you started are:
- Tasty Bites Madras Lentils
- Canned or Boxed Soup and Dinner Rolls
- Maya Kaimal Everyday Dal
Dessert and Treat Ideas
Thankfully, plenty of desserts and treat ideas for your camping meals don't need to stay in a fridge or cooler.
S'mores
Did you even go camping if you didn't have a s'more?! 😆
Okay, yes. It still counts.
Believe it or not, we don't make them every time either – gasp!
But, sometimes when we make them, we try new options using Oreos or Chips Ahoy cookies instead of graham crackers. We dubbed these versions S'mOreos and S'mores Ahoy, but if you want to stick with the original camping classic, you'll want to grab these items at the grocery store:
- Graham Crackers
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate Bars
Cake or Cupcakes
Whether you buy premade or make at home, cakes and cupcakes will last a few days without needing to be in the fridge, making them a delicious treat when you're camping without a cooler.
Chocolate or Candy Bars
As long as it's not hot enough to turn your chocolate into chocolate syrup, we're a fan of taking chocolate bars. When you just need a little something sweet, you can break off a square, or you can use them in your s'mores.
Hard or chewy Candy
We rarely do any camping or hiking trip without a secret stash of bribery candy. It's incredible what the motivation of Skittles or Twizzlers can do on the last mile of a challenging hike!
Cookies
There are lots of shelf-stable cookie options for a quick after-dinner dessert. Or a pre-dinner snack. I'm not judging. 😝
Quick Healthy Snacks
When you're camping, sometimes your schedule is different than at home, and you just need a great snack to hold you over until dinner is ready. These are some of our favorite quick snacks to have with us.
Apples or Bananas with Nut Butter
Fruit and nut butter makes a delicious snack with enough protein to keep our kids satisfied for a long time – well, at least long enough for me to get dinner ready. 😅
Dried Fruit
Some of our favorite dried fruits to take camping are Bare Dried Apples and dried mangos. But, truthfully, any dried fruit is a good choice.
Jerky
Jerky is one of the food items we rarely leave home without. I keep some in a food container in the truck. It's perfect for getting a little protein in when someone starts to get hangry, and there are more options than simply beef jerky, like turkey and venison.
Granola Bars
These are another snack that does double duty as a quick breakfast if we need it. The carbs of a granola bar and protein and fat in jerky make for a perfect hiking combo, too.
Trail Mix
We have food allergies, so we typically buy Enjoy Life Fruit & Seed Mix or make our own with fun ingredients like dried fruit, marshmallows, nuts, chocolate chips, pretzels, and sometimes coconut flakes.
Vegetables & Individual Ranch Dip
If you bring fresh veggies that can stay out of a cooler, you can also grab individual ranch packets for dipping without storing the leftover in the fridge.
Pretzels & Nut Butter
Pretzels and nut butter is another excellent idea for a camping snack. Though, I have to confess I have no self-control when it comes to this particular combination of pretzel chips and mixed nut butter.
Camping Food Ideas That Don't Need Refrigeration
In addition to the meals I've mentioned in the list above, there are plenty of other camping food ideas that you can take with you even when you're not taking your cooler.
The best part is many of these food items, like grains, canned and jarred foods, and spices have a long shelf life. We love to leave some of these options in our camping bin (or now in our camper), so we have a starting point and some quick-grab options even if we don't have time to grocery shop.
Fruits & Vegetables
When taking fresh fruit and vegetables without a cooler or fridge, it's best to keep them out of the sun or direct heat. Also, wait to peel and cut them at camp to keep them fresh longer.
- Fresh Fruit: There are many fresh fruits that don't need to be in the fridge, such as bananas, apples, oranges, cantaloupe, watermelon, kiwi, and mango.
- Fresh Vegetables: Just like fresh fruit, several fresh veggies are fine out of the fridge – at least for a few days. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, carrots, celery, corn on the cob, onion, garlic, squash, zucchini, eggplant, and cucumbers are great healthy options to take.
- Instant and Freeze-Dried Fruits & Vegetables: Instant potatoes are the fast, easy way to make potatoes when camping. We also love adding freeze-dried fruits and veggies to foods like ramen and oatmeal.
- Canned Fruits and Vegetables, like green beans, are also a great way to make your meals a little healthier.
Dairy
Believe it or not, there are a few dairy items that are completely fine without refrigeration!
- Milk: You don't want to take your regular gallon of milk, of course. But, there are several great options you can take that are safe. For instance, powdered milk or shelf-stable small milk cartons.
- Hard Cheeses: Many hard cheeses, like cheddar and parmesan cheese, will last longer when chilled, but it's okay to leave them out.
- Eggs: Fun fact. We used to have a "mini-farm" and raised chickens for meat and eggs. Did you know fresh eggs don't have to be refrigerated?! Once they have been washed or put in the fridge, they need to stay cold. BUT, if they are farm fresh, you can leave them out! Seriously. Eggs have a natural coating, or bloom, when freshly laid that keeps them safe at room temp. Many countries don't keep them cold at all. But, in America, eggs you buy in the grocery store have to be cleaned before sale and that protective coating gets washed off, which allows bacteria the chance to grow.
Meats
There are quite a few options for meat that don't have to be kept cold and make for great additions to camping meals.
- Cured meats like summer sausage, pepperoni or turkey pepperoni, and salami are safe to take camping without a fridge.
- Canned Chicken or Tuna
- Chicken or Tuna Pouches
- SPAM
- Bacon Bits, Pre-cooked Bacon or Bacon Crumbles
Other Proteins
If taking meats camping without a fridge or cooler weirds you out, there are still plenty of other ways to get protein in your diet. In fact, I grew up vegetarian, and we take many trips without meat at all.
- Nuts and nut butters: A great source of protein and fat, we always have at least one option when we camp or adventure.
- Dry beans or canned beans: There are so many varieties of beans that are full of protein. Some of our favorites are lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, and cannellini beans.
Breads
We generally take a couple of bread options for breakfasts and lunches, most often:
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
- Pitas
But, there are a lot of other options too:
- Bagels
- Raisin Bread
- Naan
- Dinner Rolls
- Baguettes
- You could even premake, or buy, muffins or banana bread
Grains
Like bread, there is a wide variety of grains that make an excellent foundation for a meal. Choose a grain, add a protein and a vegetable, and season with your favorite condiments and spices for a fun mix-and-match style meal. For example, you could make buffalo chicken bowls with rice, chicken pouches, carrots and celery, buffalo or hot sauce, and individual ranch packets.
- Rice
- Barley
- Couscous
- Quinoa
- Pasta
- Cereals
More Canned and Jarred Foods
Canned and jarred foods are great idea to keep on hand when you don't have refrigeration because of their long shelf life.
- Canned Soups
- Canned Chili
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Fruits
- Canned Olives
- Canned or Jarred Pasta Sauce
Condiments & Spices
Most spices and a lot of condiments will do just fine out of the fridge. But, even some options that typically require a refrigerator are available in single-serving packets that can be left out until they are open.
- Single serving dressing dips – ranch, etc.
- Butter: We actually leave our butter out all the time and never have any issues. Experts say it's best to keep unsalted and whipped options in the fridge, while salted options are safe at temps up to 70°F.
- Oils: Olive oil and avocado oil are our favorites to take camping.
- Maple Syrup: There's some controversy around this one, but real maple syrup is typically fine to leave out. We've left it out for years (and still do), and then one day, I read the label that said to refrigerate after opening and was shocked. You can read more about it here and make your own choice.
- Honey: Honey has antibacterial properties and tends to crystalize rather than spoil.
- Individual Condiments: We save extra packets from restaurants and takeout, but you could always buy your own.
- Salsa: If you're like us and buy the small jar, you'll have no problem finishing it off in one meal. 🤷♀️
- Powdered Creamer
- Hot sauce
- Sugar
- Stevia
- Soy sauce
- Salt, Pepper, and Other Seasonings
More Snack Ideas
Potato chips are obviously on this list – we usually have at least one bag with us. But, we try to balance the junk food with healthy foods, so these snack ideas have a little bit of both.
- Popcorn: You can buy the pre-popped bag varieties, or you can pop your own on your camp stove or over a fire.
- Nuts and seeds: Almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or pecans are perfect for a healthy option.
- Potato chips
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Tortilla chips and salsa
- Rice Cakes
- Protein Bars
- Energy Bars
- Fruit Cups
- Pudding Cups
Drinks
Some drinks just aren't the same when they aren't ice cold. Warm soda or beer?! No, thank you. But, thankfully you can find a better option, no matter your preference.
- Coffee
- Tea and hot chocolate
- Drink Flavor Packets – Just add to cold water and stir them or shake to liven up your plain water. There are lots of different flavors available, but these are some of our favorites.
- Individual shelf-stable milk boxes
- Juice boxes
- Protein or Breakfast Shakes
- Whiskey or wine – If you'd typically take beer, consider swapping it for your favorite whiskey or wine that is perfect at room temp.
Final Tips for Camping Foods When You Don't have a fridge
Now that you have some ideas to make a great camping food plan for your next trip, here are some more tips to consider when you're not using refrigeration.
- Even if you've chosen to leave your cooler at home, you'll still want to keep your foods as cool as possible. One way to do that is to find a shady, cool spot to leave them during the day instead of leaving them locked inside a hot car, especially if you're going on a longer camping trip.
- When you are at the grocery store, take some time to browse and see what's available. Sometimes you'll be surprised at the great options you find. For instance, freeze-dried berries instead of fresh, individual-sized shelf-stable milk containers and ranch dipping cups, which brings me to…
- Some foods are safe to be left out of the fridge until they are opened (like ranch dipping cups or shelf-stable milk), so when you're planning to camp without a cooler, be sure to choose the smaller options that can be finished in a single meal.
Have any personal favorite camping foods that don't need to be refrigerated? Let me know about them in the comments! I'd love to know!
Planning a Camping Trip? Check Out These Posts to Help you Plan and Organize:
- The Brilliant Camping Apps All Campers Need to Know
- What to Bring Camping (A Beginner's Guide to the Essentials)
- Camping Etiquette 101: What You Should (and Shouldn't) Do
- Camping in Oregon: Everything You Need to Know
- Best Small RV's for Families (Under 5,000 lbs)
Source: https://thestokefam.com/camping-foods-that-dont-need-refrigeration/
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