10 Primitive Cooking Methods Worth Learning
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Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
When modern conveniences fail, knowing how to cook with primitive methods becomes one of the most important survival skills to know. Believe it or not, the earth provides the necessities for almost any time of cooking, with a little bit of elbow grease, of course.
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast exploring new terrains or a survivalist preparing for a SHTF scenario, this guide will walk you through 10 different cooking methods that will prepare you for food preparation in almost any environment on the planet.
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Open-fire cooking is one of the most primitive and versatile methods of preparing food. Involvement in this process requires building a stable fire using wood as the fuel source. Once the fire is established, it can be used to roast, grill, or boil food directly over the flames or on hot coals.Â
Even though the method may be primitive, it can still be improved upon. For example, making your cooking accessories including skewers, grill racks, or even flat stones can greatly improve cooking efficiency.Â
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Here’s a guide to campfire cooking.
Pit cooking is one of the oldest culinary techniques known to humanity, dating back thousands of years. This method involves digging a hole in the ground, which serves as an earth oven, where food is cooked using heated rocks and covered with soil or leaves.Â
The procedure for pit cooking begins as primitively as it could, by digging a hole, preferably in soft ground. Once the pit is ready, stones are heated in a fire until they are red-hot. These stones are then placed at the bottom of the pit.
A rack can be made (or bought) that sits on top of the rocks. Food, often wrapped in leaves or heavy-duty tin foil, is added on top of the rack, or directly onto the hot stones. The pit is then covered with soil, trapping the heat and steam inside, which cooks the food slowly over several hours.
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Here are detailed instructions.
Stone boiling is a traditional cooking technique that involves heating stones in a fire and then placing them into a container of water to bring it to a boil. This method is particularly useful in situations where direct-fire cooking is not practical or when specific food items require boiling.
The procedure for stone boiling begins by selecting durable, non-porous stones that can withstand high temperatures without cracking. These stones are heated in a fire until they are red-hot. Meanwhile, a heatproof container, typically made from materials like wood, leather, clay, or even animal stomachs, is filled with water and the food that needs to be cooked.Â
Once the stones are sufficiently heated, they are carefully transferred into the water-filled container using sticks or tongs. The hot stones transfer their heat to the water, bringing it to a boil and cooking the food.
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Here are some video instructions.
Clay baking is a traditional cooking technique that involves encasing food in a layer of clay and baking it on a fire. This method is particularly useful for retaining moisture and flavor in the food while providing consistent, high heat.
The procedure for clay baking begins by preparing the food, often whole animals like fish or poultry, as well as vegetables. The food is then wrapped in leaves or other natural materials to provide an additional layer of protection against heat.Â
A thick layer of moist clay is then applied around the wrapped food, ensuring that it is completely sealed. This clay-encased parcel is then placed directly into hot coals or an open fire. As the clay hardens and heats up, it cooks the food inside evenly while keeping it moist.
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Here are some video instructions.
Cooking food on heated flat stones is a traditional technique that involves heating smooth, flat stones in a fire and then using them as a cooking surface, like a frying pan. This method is particularly useful for grilling meats, and vegetables, and even baking flatbreads. This is largely because the rocks will heat evenly over a ire. Â
The procedure for cooking on heated flat stones begins by selecting suitable stones that are flat, smooth, and non-porous to withstand high temperatures without cracking. Granite or soapstone are examples. Avoid rocks that are from riverbeds as they may have water deep inside them.Â
These stones are then placed in a fire and heated until splashing water on them makes them sizzle. Once heated, food can then be placed directly on the hot stones, where it cooks evenly due to the retained heat.
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Here’s how to cook food on a hot rock.
Ash cooking is a primitive cooking technique that involves burying food directly in the hot ashes of a fire. This method is particularly useful for roasting root vegetables, tubers, and meat, as the ashes provide consistent and gentle heat that penetrates even tough foods.
The procedure for ash cooking begins by building a fire and allowing it to burn down until only hot embers and ashes remain. The food, often wrapped in leaves or aluminum foil for added protection, is then buried directly in the hot ashes.Â
Depending on the size and type of food, the cooking time can vary but typically ranges from 20 minutes to a few hours. Once cooked, the food can be carefully retrieved from the ashes and unwrapped to be eaten.
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Here’s how to cook potatoes in ashes.
Much as the title of this section suggests, leaf wrapping involves rolling your food in large non-toxic leaves. This method is particularly useful for steaming or roasting meats, fish, and vegetables, as the leaves trap moisture and flavors while providing a natural barrier against direct heat.
The procedure for leaf wrapping cooking begins by selecting suitable leaves, such as banana or corn husks, which are large enough to fully encase the food. The food, fully seasoned and accompanied by herbs or spices, is placed in the center of the leaf.Â
The leaf is then wrapped tightly around the food, and secured with natural twine or additional leaf strips to prevent it from coming undone during cooking. The wrapped food can then be placed on hot coals, steamed over boiling water, or even buried in hot ashes for a gentle roasting.
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Here’s how to cook food in leaves.
This method is particularly useful for preserving and flavoring meats, fish, and even vegetables, as the smoke imparts a distinctive taste while also acting as a preservative.
The procedure for smoking food begins by selecting suitable wood, such as hickory, oak, apple, or cherry, known for their flavorful smoke. The food is often seasoned and may be marinated or cured before smoking.Â
A fire is built using the chosen wood, and once it produces a steady stream of smoke, the food is placed either on a rack above the fire or in a designated smoking chamber. The process can be done hot (temperatures between 165°F and 250°F) or cold (temperatures below 90°F), depending on the desired outcome and type of food being smoked. Smoking times can vary greatly, ranging from a few hours to several days.
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Here’s how to build a primitive smokehouse.
Solar cooking is particularly useful in sunny climates and can be used to prepare a variety of dishes, from meats and vegetables to breads and stews.
This could be considered one of the more advanced, primitive methods of cooking. Solar cooking begins by selecting a suitable solar cooker, which can range from simple homemade devices like box cookers and parabolic reflectors to commercially available models.Â
The food is prepared and placed in a dark, heat-absorbing container, often with a lid to retain moisture and heat. The solar cooker is then positioned to maximize exposure to direct sunlight, usually by adjusting the angle to face the sun. Cooking times can vary depending on the type of food and the intensity of the sunlight but typically range from one to several hours.
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Bamboo cooking is a primitive method that utilizes hollow bamboo stalks as cooking vessels. This technique is used in tropical regions where bamboo is abundant and can be used to prepare a variety of dishes, from rice and soups to meats and vegetables.
This could be considered one of the more resourceful and sustainable methods of cooking. Bamboo cooking begins by selecting fresh, green bamboo stalks that are thick-walled and free of cracks.Â
The food is then prepared and placed inside the hollow sections of the bamboo. The open end of the bamboo is often sealed with leaves or another piece of bamboo to retain moisture and heat.Â
The filled bamboo stalks are then placed directly over hot coals or an open fire, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking. Cooking times can vary depending on the type of food and the intensity of the heat.
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Here’s how to cook fish in bamboo tubes.
You may have noticed a theme with a lot of these methods, they all create a similar cooking environment. Once you understand the basic principles, you can modify these techniques for your situation. Learning one (or all) of these techniques will equip you with the means to cook food in any kind of survival situation, whether it be in the wild or in your city.
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