A camping trip is simply incomplete without a proper, loaded food supply full of assorted items, ranging from bacon and sausages to grilled steaks and hamburgers.
However, as much as we absolutely love devouring these classic camping meals under the clear, blue skies, surrounded by Mother Nature, it’s not always possible to bring our favorite food on an outdoor excursion. That’s why canned foods are a necessity for camping.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
There can be several reasons for that, including a low-quality cooler that gives up on you last minute, or the lack of storage space and weight in your backpacks or carriers.
Canned foods are real life-savers in such situations. They are easy to use, convenient, and completely hassle-free. Additionally, they’re also full of flavor and nutrition.
The 4 Best Canned Foods for Camping
Take a look at our top picks for the best canned foods for camping.
1. Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup
Who doesn’t love chicken noodle soup, right? This is a simple yet classic food option for a camping trip. Not only is it packed with rich flavor, but it also provides excellent nutrition and energy while you’re camping outdoors.
Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup is one of the best canned foods for camping, primarily because it consists of a hearty chicken flavor coupled with soft, silky noodles. The chicken used in this canned food is natural white meat without the use of any antibiotics.
A great feature of this noodle soup is that it’s void of any artificial flavors or any color additives. What makes it ideal for camping is that it’s ready-to-serve within 5 minutes, and a single can contains enough servings for two people.
Pros
- Very flavorful and filling
- Made with antibiotic-free white chicken meat
- Excellent value for money
- Extremely filling and satiating
- Ideal for camping and hiking
Cons
- Some might find it too watery
- The tin packaging is of poor-quality
2. Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna
If you’re a huge fan of seafood, fish, in particular, you’ll absolutely love Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna, which is an excellent canned food for camping.
One very interesting feature of this canned food is that it greatly promotes sustainable fishing practices – the fish is caught in a completely natural manner. In addition to that, Wild Planet is one of the most well-known canned tuna brands, which means that this canned food is a perfectly safe option for your camping trip.
It’s free from gluten and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), which makes it a super healthy camping snack. The tuna used in Wild Planet’s Albacore Wild Tuna is packed with omega 3 fatty acids, which is essential for your overall health.
Pros
- Doesn’t contain any weird smell or texture
- Uses the best quality tuna
- Packed with nutrients and vitamins
- The can contains delicious natural juices
Cons
- The liquid doesn’t mix with the fish
- Requires one to cook the tuna before eating
3. Campbell’s Spaghetti Canned Pasta
One of the most evergreen food combinations has to be tomatoes, pasta, and cheese sauce, and this is exactly what Campbell’s Spaghetti Canned Pasta has to offer to you!
This canned food for camping features an ideal blend of O-shaped spaghetti pasta, rich and creamy cheese sauce, and a balanced flavor of sweet tomatoes. It’s perfect for a camping trip, where all you need to do is heat up the contents of the can, and you’ll have a bowl of delicious saucy pasta ready within just two minutes!
A great feature of this canned food is that it uses hard wheat pasta made from spring wheat and durum, which makes it able to hold its shape. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about having to eat soft and mushy pasta because this one holds its shape for as long as it lasts!
Pros
- Uses enzyme-modified cheese for increased flavor
- No funky smell or taste
- Super fun to eat
- Ideal for unexpected hunger pangs
- Super filling
Cons
- The sauce can leak from the packing
- Has a sweet aftertaste
4. Sweet Sue Chicken & Dumplings
If you’re looking for a fully cooked canned food for camping that you can eat right away, the Sweet Sue Chicken & Dumplings is the best option for you. It features a delicious, home-style recipe of dumplings that’ll surely remind you of the comfort of home food while you’re camping outdoors in the wild.
What’s amazing about this canned food is that the dumplings are made from scratch with the freshest ingredients. On top of that, it uses premium quality skinless and boneless chicken that is super soft, juicy, and cooked to perfection.
Another great thing about it is it has an exceptional nutritional profile where it provides one with high levels of magnesium, potassium, zinc, and Vitamins E, B6, D, and B12.
Pros
- Loaded with nutrients
- Uses only the finest ingredients
- Skinless and boneless chicken makes it super easy to eat
Cons
- Chicken pieces are too small
- Some might find the dumpling to be too doughy
How to Buy the Best Canned Foods for Camping?
There’s simply no doubt about the fact that canned foods offer a quick, convenient, and easy solution for all our food problems while we’re on a camping trip. Some are pre-cooked, while others are fully cooked, which is ideal if you’re away from home and don’t have a stove on which you can cook food.
However, there are numerous types of canned goods out there, and not all of them are ideal for a camping trip.
When buying canned goods for camping, there are several factors and features that you need to consider and bear in mind in order to get your hands on the right product for your trip.
Here are a few things to look out for when shopping for camping canned foods.
Expiry Date
The last thing you want on a fun and an exciting camping trip is expired canned food that gives you diarrhea and numerous other stomach issues. You should always check the expiry date at the back or the bottom of the can. It’s best to go for canned food that’s at least 3-4 months away from its expiration.
Packaging
Often times, tin and metal cans are highly prone to dents, in the case of mishandling. Look for canned goods that are in perfect condition and properly packaged without any dents or hollowed centers. This will greatly prevent the cans from leaking or getting damaged along the way.
Ingredients
Always read the ingredients carefully before buying canned food for camping. It’s best to avoid ones that use too many artificial flavors, colors, or other similar additives. Also, try to go for canned food that has the highest nutritional content because you’ll need all the essential nutrients you can get while you’re camping outdoors.
Size and Weight
This is an extremely important factor to consider when buying canned foods for camping. Canned goods typically weight a lot and can consume a lot of your storage space. If you’re traveling light, make sure to get lightweight cans in order to prevent any kind of hassle or inconvenience.
Our Final Thoughts
If you really want to have an adventurous camping trip without having to worry too much about your food needs, you need to get your hands on the best canned foods for camping. Canned foods offer the best kind of ease and convenience when you’re outdoors and want to have quick and hassle-free meals.
Just make sure that you don’t carry too many cans because they have a fair share of weight, and also don’t experiment too much with the flavors. If you end up with the wrong flavor, it’s likely to spoil your mood and also your appetite!
