Food safety experts have shared insights into the best products for camping trips

You are going camping for the weekend, and everything is ready. The tent, sleeping bags, and mats are neatly packed in the trunk, along with the lounge chairs. You've triple-checked that all the tent poles are in the right place in the bag. You have more than enough mosquito spray. And then you remember one key detail that you somehow missed: food.

Anyone who has ever gone camping knows that the question of what food to bring is both one of the most exciting and scary aspects of the whole adventure. Camping food can be delicious and fun to prepare. But figuring out what to bring can also be extremely stressful and raise a lot of questions. The article by huffingtonpost.co discusses what to take with you on a camping trip.

Food safety experts talked about foods that are both delicious and safe while camping. Here's what they recommend:

Nuts and dried fruits

"These are good options to keep in airtight containers in your backpack or picnic basket," said Tamika Sims, senior director of food technology communications at the International Food Information Council.

Crackers and granola

Similar to nuts and dried fruit, shelf-stable, non-perishable foods such as crackers, cookies, granola, raw pasta, and rice are good options for camping. Powdered pancake mix is a good breakfast food.

Canned fish, canned meat, soup

Tuna and other canned fish or meat products do not require refrigeration, which makes them a good option for picnic food. The same goes for canned soup.

"These foods have a long shelf life, and you don't have to worry about their temperature," said Kimberly Baker, a registered dietitian and director of the Food Systems and Safety Group at Clemson University.

Fruits

Oranges and other fresh fruits are another good choice. They don't need refrigeration and often have a thick skin for protection.

Another advantage of packing fruits like oranges, bananas, and tangerines is that they don't need to be washed further after peeling, as long as your hands are clean.

Canned fruit

Canned fruit products are a great option for eating while camping. Just don't forget your can opener if it doesn't have a lid.

Dehydrated and freeze-dried foods

Dehydrated foods designed for travel are some of the best foods for camping. These are the lightest foods to bring because they are lightweight, don't require refrigeration, and are easy to prepare.

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is perfectly safe to store unrefrigerated, regardless of whether it has been opened or not, experts say.

Hard-boiled eggs

If you want to take eggs with you on a camping trip, you should hard-boil them at home and let them cool at room temperature in the air. This will result in stable storage of the product with minimal risk of food safety.

Some additional tips to keep in mind

"If you're shipping food that needs refrigeration, make sure it's packed in an airtight, insulated cooler with enough ice packs to keep the food cold - below 40 degrees Fahrenheit - the entire way," Baker said.

If you cannot keep these foods cold for the duration of your trip, be sure to consume them at the beginning of your trip when they may be cold.

Frozen water bottles can work as an ice pack.

"A great tip is to freeze water bottles ahead of time and use them as ice in the fridge - when they melt, you have ice water," Sims said.

If you're storing food in the fridge, check the temperature often to make sure it's cold enough.