
Primitive Camping Meal Prep: How to Save Money and Eat Better in the Wild
03/10/25 • 38 min
Introduction
- Chris shares updates on his book Primitive Camping & Bushcraft, its rising Amazon rankings, and current discounts.
- Encourages listeners to check out the Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Coffee Blend.
Freeze-Dried Foods
- Overview of freeze-dried food options like beef stroganoff, scrambled eggs, and beef stew.
- Discussing the cost-effectiveness of purchasing bulk freeze-dried ingredients vs. store-bought camping meals.
- Benefits of making homemade freeze-dried meals with personal seasoning and ingredient control.
- Experimenting with sour cream powder, shredded beef, dehydrated onions, and pre-cooked pasta for a DIY meal.
- Insights into the long rehydration time required for freeze-dried meats like beef and chicken.
- Cost breakdown and meal planning for long-term camping trips.
Just-Add-Water Foods
- Lightweight and convenient food options such as mashed potatoes, hash browns, instant oatmeal, and flavored rice.
- Affordable and widely available at most grocery stores.
- How to stretch meals by adding freeze-dried meats or summer sausage for protein.
- Demonstrating the use of hash browns for multiple meals, including soups and stews.
- Maximizing nutrition and caloric intake with simple, shelf-stable foods.
Prepackaged Foods
- Discussion on the pros and cons of taking prepackaged foods like Vienna sausages, Spam, smoked fish, and summer sausage.
- Benefits of summer sausage as a no-refrigeration protein source.
- Using tortillas for versatile camping meals and prepackaging them in vacuum-sealed portions.
- Peanut butter as a high-calorie, energy-dense food for backpacking.
Edible Essentials: Beans & Rice
- Cooking dry beans in the wilderness and soaking techniques for faster preparation.
- Strategies for long-term meal planning with beans and rice.
- Using peanut butter powder as a lightweight alternative to traditional peanut butter.
- Importance of drink packets, green tea, and instant coffee for hydration and energy in the wild.
Cooking Staples & Oils
- Shortening (Crisco, lard, tallow) as an essential fat source for frying and cooking.
- Benefits of bringing powdered milk for baking and cooking in the woods.
- Pine needle tea and its health benefits, including immune support and vitamin C content.
Foraging & Procuring Food
- Catching and cooking fish, frogs, snakes, and small game.
- Safe foraging techniques for edible mushrooms with a focus on using guides like How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying.
- How to repurpose animal parts for bait and sustainable trapping.
🔥 Explore More from Speir Outdoors
All my links, gear, community, and content in one spot:
👉 links.speiroutdoors.com
Stay Connected
📖 Book: Primitive Camping & Bushcraft
☕ Coffee: Primitive Camping Roast
🎙️ Podcast Episodes
🎥 YouTube Channel
🧭 Socials, Blog, and More
Have questions or want to connect?
📩 Email: [email protected]
Introduction
- Chris shares updates on his book Primitive Camping & Bushcraft, its rising Amazon rankings, and current discounts.
- Encourages listeners to check out the Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Coffee Blend.
Freeze-Dried Foods
- Overview of freeze-dried food options like beef stroganoff, scrambled eggs, and beef stew.
- Discussing the cost-effectiveness of purchasing bulk freeze-dried ingredients vs. store-bought camping meals.
- Benefits of making homemade freeze-dried meals with personal seasoning and ingredient control.
- Experimenting with sour cream powder, shredded beef, dehydrated onions, and pre-cooked pasta for a DIY meal.
- Insights into the long rehydration time required for freeze-dried meats like beef and chicken.
- Cost breakdown and meal planning for long-term camping trips.
Just-Add-Water Foods
- Lightweight and convenient food options such as mashed potatoes, hash browns, instant oatmeal, and flavored rice.
- Affordable and widely available at most grocery stores.
- How to stretch meals by adding freeze-dried meats or summer sausage for protein.
- Demonstrating the use of hash browns for multiple meals, including soups and stews.
- Maximizing nutrition and caloric intake with simple, shelf-stable foods.
Prepackaged Foods
- Discussion on the pros and cons of taking prepackaged foods like Vienna sausages, Spam, smoked fish, and summer sausage.
- Benefits of summer sausage as a no-refrigeration protein source.
- Using tortillas for versatile camping meals and prepackaging them in vacuum-sealed portions.
- Peanut butter as a high-calorie, energy-dense food for backpacking.
Edible Essentials: Beans & Rice
- Cooking dry beans in the wilderness and soaking techniques for faster preparation.
- Strategies for long-term meal planning with beans and rice.
- Using peanut butter powder as a lightweight alternative to traditional peanut butter.
- Importance of drink packets, green tea, and instant coffee for hydration and energy in the wild.
Cooking Staples & Oils
- Shortening (Crisco, lard, tallow) as an essential fat source for frying and cooking.
- Benefits of bringing powdered milk for baking and cooking in the woods.
- Pine needle tea and its health benefits, including immune support and vitamin C content.
Foraging & Procuring Food
- Catching and cooking fish, frogs, snakes, and small game.
- Safe foraging techniques for edible mushrooms with a focus on using guides like How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying.
- How to repurpose animal parts for bait and sustainable trapping.
🔥 Explore More from Speir Outdoors
All my links, gear, community, and content in one spot:
👉 links.speiroutdoors.com
Stay Connected
📖 Book: Primitive Camping & Bushcraft
☕ Coffee: Primitive Camping Roast
🎙️ Podcast Episodes
🎥 YouTube Channel
🧭 Socials, Blog, and More
Have questions or want to connect?
📩 Email: [email protected]
Previous Episode

Camp Cooking Made Easy: Dehydrating Food for the Woods
Topics Covered in This Episode:
- Beef Jerky: The ultimate protein source for the outdoors—how to slice, season, and dry it to perfection.
- Dehydrated Eggs: Scramble and dry your eggs for easy, lightweight breakfast options.
- Tomato Chips: Bold, flavorful, and perfect as a snack or cooking ingredient.
- Squash & Zucchini Chips: A crunchy alternative to store-bought chips, made from fresh produce.
- Onions & Mushrooms: Lightweight, nutrient-dense additions to soups, stews, and sauces.
- Bell Peppers & Other Veggies: How to dehydrate and store them for maximum shelf life.
- Rehydration Tips: The best way to bring dehydrated food back to life for a hearty meal.
- Choosing the Right Dehydrator: From budget-friendly options to commercial-grade machines.
- Storage & Packing Strategies: How to keep your dehydrated meals fresh and ready for the wild.
Why Dehydration Matters for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Dehydrated foods weigh less, take up less space, and last longer than fresh alternatives. Whether you're heading out for a week in the mountains or just want to keep a reliable food stash at home, knowing how to dehydrate your own meals can be a game-changer.
Get More Hands-On Outdoor Knowledge
If you're serious about mastering outdoor skills like food preservation, fire-starting, shelter-building, and wilderness survival, check out my book: Primitive Camping & Bushcraft. It’s packed with real-world skills and techniques to help you thrive in the wild.
🔥 Explore More from Speir Outdoors
All my links, gear, community, and content in one spot:
👉 links.speiroutdoors.com
Stay Connected
📖 Book: Primitive Camping & Bushcraft
☕ Coffee: Primitive Camping Roast
🎙️ Podcast Episodes
🎥 YouTube Channel
🧭 Socials, Blog, and More
Have questions or want to connect?
📩 Email: [email protected]
Next Episode

Must-Have Cooking Gear for Primitive Camping & Backpacking
Show Notes:
New YouTube Channel Announcement
- Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Podcast videos have moved to a dedicated YouTube channel, The Primitive Camper.
- Explanation of how analytics, views, and engagement drive content strategy on social media.
Weekend Fire Incident: Lessons in Outdoor Cooking Safety
- Chris shares a harrowing experience with a grease fire while cooking filet mignon.
- Step-by-step recount of the fire, his reaction, and how the fire department responded.
- The importance of fire safety when cooking outdoors.
Introduction to Outdoor Cooking
- Cooking as an essential bushcraft skill and a way to relax after a long day in the outdoors.
- Discussion of cooking temperature safety, especially for meats like poultry, beef, and fish.
- Strategies for determining proper doneness without a food thermometer.
Different Cooking Methods in the Wild
- Using logs, rocks, and open coals to cook efficiently.
- The pros and cons of open-coal cooking vs. controlled heat methods.
- How to properly utilize coals instead of flames for even cooking.
Essential Cooking Gear for Camping
- Importance of carrying a metal container for cooking and water purification.
- Exploring different cookware materials: titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and enamelware.
- Pros and cons of each material, focusing on durability, heat distribution, and weight.
- Introduction of aluminum camping cups as a lightweight, budget-friendly cooking option.
Cooking with Cast Iron vs. Stainless Steel
- Cast iron as the best option for flavor and durability but too heavy for backpacking.
- Stainless steel as the best balance between weight and durability for camping trips.
Looking Ahead: Future Cooking Topics
- Preview of the next episode covering camp stoves, portable cooking systems, and fuel options.
Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up
- Encouragement to grab a copy of Primitive Camping & Bushcraft on Amazon while it’s on sale.
- Promotion of Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Coffee Blend and upcoming events.
- Invitation to join the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Facebook group for community discussions.
🔥 Explore More from Speir Outdoors
All my links, gear, community, and content in one spot:
👉 links.speiroutdoors.com
Stay Connected
📖 Book: Primitive Camping & Bushcraft
☕ Coffee: Primitive Camping Roast
🎙️ Podcast Episodes
🎥 YouTube Channel
🧭 Socials, Blog, and More
Have questions or want to connect?
📩 Email: [email protected]
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