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Backpacker Magazine – June 2009

Trail Chef: Cook Bacon and Eggs in a Bag

Wow your friends with this campfire cooking trick.

by: Richard Wiese

(Photo by Julia Vandenoever)

Trail Chef
Food & Nutrition

Watch the Video!

This hearty combo tastes even better in the woods than it does in the diner. Whip it up over a campfire, and you'll not only impress your buddies–you'll have a no-pot meal with zero cleanup (eat right out of the bag!). The paper won't ignite if you make sure it's wet before cooking–here, bacon grease does the trick–but it might smoke a bit. Try it with these two techniques: one for the trailhead, one for the trail.

Car Camping
One serving 4 thick bacon slices, 2 eggs, 1 brown paper lunch bag

At home, pack eggs and bacon in a cooler.
In camp, cook one serving per bag. Place the bacon inside the bag, wiping the insides generously with grease (the more you coat the bag, the better). Crack eggs on top of the bacon. Fold the bag down several times, then poke a three-foot stick (green pine won't burn) through it so that the bag hangs at one end.
Holding the stick's other end, suspend the bag over hot coals (not flames), heating all sides evenly until done (seven to 10 minutes).

Backpacking One serving 4 frozen bacon slices, 2 eggs, 1 brown paper lunch bag

At home, crack eggs into a bowl and beat. Pour into a Lexan bottle or zip-top bag and freeze. Wrap the bottle or bag with foil, then place in your pack with the bacon. Both will thaw in time for breakfast the next day.
Cook over your campfire, using the method described above.

Adapted from Born to Explore: How to Be a Backyard Adventurer, by Richard Wiese ($19, Harper Collins).

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READERS COMMENTS

Dear terrified,
you really should be terrified... of your own HORRIBLE reading comprehension skills! I personally think that we should all sue to have you permanently banned from all kitchens and campgrounds, lest your stupidity causes your own demise... oh, wait, that might be a good thing! ha ha
Posted: Aug 08, 2011 annoyed

Terrified, you're silly. The autoignition temperature for paper is around 450. Clearly it says "not over flames". Obviously, you can boil water in a paper cup or bag.
Posted: Jul 19, 2010 Bill

Well, "terrified"... It works. No need to sue anyone this time. I'm not worried though. I'm sure you'll find an unsuspecting neighbor or small business owner to sue soon enough.
Posted: May 18, 2010 Kim

I've tried it with the Boy Scouts and it works. Somehow the bacon grease soaked paper bag does not flame up like you would think. Just make sure you have the bag over hot coals not over FLAMES!
Posted: Mar 21, 2010 Jake

I just tried this. Some of the grease dripped out of the bag. The egg parts that were in contact with the bag went white. There was still runny whites and of course the yolk was still raw. I took 10 minutes to try this and got a raw breakfast. I took it into the house and finished cooking it. The bacon grease did protect the bag though from burning. The grease is on the inside, not the outside. I will try again and set closer to the coals.
Posted: Sep 20, 2009 Andy Kay

I backpack to lots of spots that have a metal fire ring placed there as designated backpacking and hike in spots. Why carry a pan if I don't have to??? I'm going to try this in couple days on my next backpacking trip, may throw in an oatmeal packet just in case.

p.s. "sue the pants off Harper Collins" - exactly what is wrong in this country and a horrible mentality. Take responsibility for your own actions and take precautions for your own safety, if your not smart enough to do this then please don't even light the fire to begin with.
Posted: Aug 12, 2009 Anonymous

I have done this many times. It dose work and come out good

Posted: Aug 06, 2009 IT dose work

Its says hot coals, not flames. I'm with you though, this sounds crazy.
Posted: Aug 02, 2009 Matter of fact

If you're going to be camping where you have a metal fire ring then you should bring a pan. I'm not big on eating burned paper bag. If you're backpacking, sacrifice is part of the adventure. Leave the bacon at home.
Posted: Aug 02, 2009 Trailhead

Please dear god tell me you field-tested this recipe. Smear bacon grease over a paper bag and hold it over an open flame!? Bacon grease is HIGHLY FLAMMABLE; gee, you know, like when you get a GREASE FIRE at home? It's so flammable that it makes a terrific fire starter; we often when camping will pour our hot bacon grease onto our dry firewood so it's ready to go when we start our next fire. When someone tries this please post your results here, and then sue the pants off Harper Collins.

Posted: Aug 01, 2009 terrified