High Altitude Cooking

Understanding how cooking differs at different altitudes and elevations while backpacking

At higher altitudes, the air pressure is lower, allowing water to boil at lower temperatures. Depending on the elevation you will be backpacking at, you should consider cooking time to plan how much fuel you should take along with you.

Beginning 2,500 to 3,000 feet above sea level, altitude starts to affect all cooking in three ways:

1. The higher the elevation, the lower the boiling point of water (see table and illustration). When water boils at lower temperatures, it takes longer for foods to cook in or over water.

2. The higher the elevation, the faster moisture evaporates.

3. The higher the elevation, the faster leavening gases (air, carbon dioxide, and water vapor) expand.

For foods that cook in 20 minutes or less at sea level, add 1 minute of cooking time for each 1,000 feet (310 meters) of elevation. For items taking more than 20 minutes to cook, add 2 minutes for each 1,000 feet of elevation. Because of this, you need to plan to spend more time burning fuel.

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