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Cooking is always a question when you are sitting down to plan a camping trip. Where will you be camping, and what are the cooking facilities like? How much food do you want to carry with you? Will you have a cooler and some ice? All these questions have to be answered before you can begin thinking about the menu.

There are times when cooking from scratch is completely appropriate. There are other times when using a small camping stove to reheat ready-made meals is a better option. The beauty of cooking as a camper is that there is no right or wrong. Every camper or camping family gets to decide what is best for that particular trip.

If you are looking for ready-made meals you can heat up using a camping stove, five great choices are listed below. And if you need an example of a good camping stove to get you started planning your next trip, you might want to check out Emberlit.com. They are a Utah-based company specializing in lightweight, portable camping stoves.

1. Crockpot Pulled Pork

Pull out the crock pot and slow cook a pork loin while you are at work. That evening, pull the pork apart and mix it with some barbecue sauce. Then throw it in the fridge until your departure day. At the campsite, you can reheat the pork in a small pot over your camping stove. Spoon it onto a roll with a little bit of coleslaw, and you have a dynamite pulled pork sandwich.

2. Frozen Breakfast Burritos

If you are a fan of the breakfast burrito, you can cook up a batch at home and then put them in the freezer. They keep surprisingly well. Just make sure to wrap them in plastic wrap first. They can be easily thawed and heated with your camping stove on the morning you want to enjoy them.

3. Meat and Cheese Foil Sandwiches

Assemble a few sandwiches with meat and cheese in then wrap them in aluminum foil. When you are ready to eat, put the foil packages on your camping stove or over the coals on the outer edges of your fire. The bread will toast, the cheese will melt, and you can apply condiments and veggies once hot.

4. Hot Dog Croissants

Hot dog croissants are a fantastic idea. Get some crescent roll dough and a package of hot dogs. Wrap each dog with flattened out crescent roll dough and cheddar cheese. Then wrap in tinfoil. Throw the foil packs on your camping stove and watch what happens. The heat both cooks the dough and heats the hot dog at the same time.

The idea works well with sausage, too. The only thing to be concerned about is making sure the sausage is thoroughly cooked. It may be a good idea to precook the sausage at home so you are only heating it out in the field.

5. Chili

Chili is one of the best camping meals ever because it is so easy to make. Just prepare it in your crockpot ahead of time. Divide it into individual containers for easier serving, then pack them away in your cooler. You can reheat each container on your camping stove or over the fire.

There is nothing wrong with designing your camping menu around ready-made meals you prepare at home before your departure. Ready-made meals make it possible for you to enjoy the tastes of home without having to carry your entire kitchen with you. All you need to enjoy great food is a high-quality camping stove and the ability to start a fire.