For Your Camping Kit

This week I have a fun family project for your emergency and camping kits. Years ago I found the instructions to make this simple DIY Wire Toaster and they have become a family favorite. We have several of these packed in our emergency supplies and it seems that every summer the kids make a few more for around the campfire.

Even small children can use this cooking method, so make one for each family member. You can use it camping, at the park, or even in the fireplace at home.

Of course it would also make a great addition to your emergency bug out bags…

Look below for detailed instructions and a downloadable handout. 

You Will Need:

* 2 unpainted wire hangers
* 3 inches of lightweight wire
* 1/2 sheet of newspaper
* masking tape or plastic tape (not scotch tape)
* wire cutters

Directions:

1. Cut the hook off both hangers, right below the twisted part. If you can’t find unpainted wire hangers you can use sandpaper to get the paint off of white ones. Straighten each wire into a long rod

2. Take hold of the rod with both hands, about 1/3rd of the way from the end and make a right angle bend.

3. About 2 1/2 inches up from the bend make another bend. It doesn’t matter if your corners are somewhat round.

4,5,6. Make 3 more bends, keeping the wire as flat as you can.

7. Put one wire on top of the other, with the bend ends pointing in the same direction. Fasten them together at the straight end by winding tape around them for about 6 inches.

8. Make a heat proof handle by folding the newspaper and wrapping it around the taped part of the wire.

9. Cover the paper with more tape. Make it tight and smooth so the handle won’t slip.

10. Check that the bent wires are not tangled together. This is the important part, bend the wires so they are at least 6 inches apart. Use the 3 inches of thin wire to wrap a piece around both coat-hanger wires, right below the first bend. Don’t wrap too tightly, it needs to slide up and down the wire.

Use your DIY Wire Toaster:

When you slip the twisted wire ring down towards the handle, the bent ends of the toaster will come apart so you can slip food in-between them.

You can make toast, heat a grilled cheese sandwich or cook pigs in a blanket over the open coals.

Here’s another fun wire toaster from the Girl Scouts. Use a wire hanger with a paper tube to make a marshmallow roaster.

“Everyone knows of the toasted, melted, burned, dropped in ash and wiped off marshamallow treat loved by kids of all ages. But, even better is the smell of bacon or cobbler or beans mixed with the smoke from burning oak or pine. You can’t bottle that smell!”  More fun campfire cooking ideas from The Campfire Dude. Adapt these recipes to use with your DIY toaster.

The 10 Best Foods to Cook Over a Fire. You’re sure to find a recipe to cook on your DIY Wire Toaster.

We also have a few of these Pie Iron Sandwich Cookers (from Amazon) in our kits and several Extension Forks for s’mores.

Download the instructions to make a DIY Wire Toaster