Cooking Merit Badge Answers: A ScoutSmarts Guide

Welcome to part 2 of Your Ultimate Guide to the Cooking Merit Badge! If you haven’t yet completed part 1, click here. 

Requirements 3-7 will test your actual cooking abilities. You’ll need to prepare a meal at home, during a campout, and on a trail. You’ll also learn about possible careers in cooking, as well as some tips to become a better chef!

Enough talking! Let’s dive into it so you can finish earning your Cooking merit badge 🙂

What Are The Cooking Merit Badge Requirements 3-7?

3. Cooking Basics. Do the following:
   a. Discuss EACH of the following cooking methods. For each one, describe the equipment needed, how temperature control is maintained, and name at least one food that can be cooked using that method: baking, boiling, broiling, pan frying, simmering, steaming, microwaving, grilling, foil cooking, and use of a Dutch oven.
   b. Discuss the benefits of using a camp stove on an outing vs. a charcoal or wood fire.
   c. Describe for your counselor how to manage your time when preparing a meal so components for each course are ready to serve at the correct time.
4. Cooking at Home. 
   Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for three full days of meals (three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners) plus one dessert. Your menu should include enough to feed yourself and at least one adult, keeping in mind any special needs (such as food allergies) and how you kept your foods safe and free from cross-contamination. List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
   
   Then do the following:
   a. Find recipes for each meal. Create a shopping list for your meals showing the amount of food needed to prepare for the number of people you will serve. Determine the cost for each meal.
   b. Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor.
   c. Using at least five of the 10 cooking methods from requirement 3, prepare and serve yourself and at least one adult (parent, family member, guardian, or other responsible adult) one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one dessert from the meals you planned. *
   d. Time your cooking to have each meal ready to serve at the proper time. Have an adult verify the preparation of the meal to your counselor.
   e. After each meal, ask a person you served to evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how better planning and preparation help ensure a successful meal.
5. Camp Cooking. Do the following:
   a. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu that includes four meals, one snack, and one dessert for your patrol (or a similar size group of up to eight youth, including you) on a camping trip. These four meals must include two breakfasts, one lunch, and one dinner. Additionally, you must plan one snack and one dessert. Your menus should include enough food for each person, keeping in mind any special needs (such as food allergies) and how you keep your foods safe and free from cross-contamination. List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
   b. Find or create recipes for the four meals, the snack, and the dessert you have planned. Adjust menu items in the recipes for the number to be served. Create a shopping list and budget to determine the per-person cost.
   c. Share and discuss your menu plans and shopping list with your counselor.
   d. In the outdoors, using your menu plans and recipes for this requirement, cook two of the four meals you planned using either a camp stove OR backpack stove. Use a skillet over campfire coals OR a Dutch oven for the third meal, and cook the fourth meal in a foil pack OR on a skewer. Serve all of these meals to your patrol or a group of youth.**
   e. In the outdoors, using your menu plans and recipes for this requirement, prepare one snack and one dessert. Serve both of these to your patrol or a group of youth.**
   f. After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, and then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how planning and preparation help ensure successful outdoor cooking.
   g. Lead the clean-up of equipment, utensils, and the cooking site thoroughly after each meal. Properly store or dispose unused ingredients, leftover food, dishwater and garbage.
   h. Discuss how you followed the Outdoor Code and no-trace principles when preparing your meals.
6. Trail and backpacking meals. Do the following:
   a. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a meal for trail hiking or backpacking that includes one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one snack. These meals must consider weight, not require refrigeration and are to be consumed by three to five people (including you). List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
   b. Create a shopping list for your meals, showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the cost for each meal.
   c. Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor. Your plan must include how to repackage foods for your hike or backpacking trip to eliminate as much bulk, weight, and garbage as possible.
   d. While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for this requirement. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove (with proper supervision).**
   e. After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how planning and preparation help ensure successful trail hiking or backpacking meals.
   f. Explain to your counselor how you should divide the food and cooking supplies among the patrol in order to share the load. Discuss how to properly clean the cooking area and store your food to protect it from animals.
7. Food-related careers. 
   Find out about three career opportunities in cooking. Select one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

Cooking Basics

Do the following:
3a) Discuss EACH of the following cooking methods. For each one, describe the equipment needed, how temperature control is maintained, and name at least one food that can be cooked using that method: baking, boiling, broiling, pan frying, simmering, steaming, microwaving, grilling, foil cooking, and use of a Dutch oven.

Baking

• Overview: Baking involves using direct, dry heat to cook food. Typically, you would keep your dish in a tray and then place it into an oven for a set length of time.
• Equipment needed: Food is typically baked, either covered or uncovered, within a preheated oven. You’ll usually place the food on a tray or dish to bake, but you can also leave it on the wire oven racks.
• How temperature is maintained: An oven will heat to a set temperature using metal heating coils. Make sure that your oven has had the time to reach your desired temperature before placing any food inside. When an oven’s doors are opened, heat will escape quickly. Resist the urge to open your oven door after placing the food inside. 
• Example dish: People often bake potatoes, casseroles, or brownies in the oven.

Boiling

• Overview: Boiling starchy foods, such as rice and pasta, in water, helps them to soften and break down. At sea level, water boils when its temperature reaches 212°F. 
• Equipment needed: At the very least, you’ll need a medium to large pot, water, a stirring utensil, and a source of heat. A pot lid will also help the water to boil faster.
• How temperature is maintained: Whether you’re using a fire or a stove, the pot will be heated from the bottom, eventually bringing the water to a boil. When you drop in the food to be boiled, the water temperature will suddenly decrease, but quickly rise again.
• Example dish: Eggs, pastas, or starchy vegetables like asparagus are just a few examples of foods that can be prepared by boiling.

Broiling

• Overview: By placing a dish on the top rack of your oven and activating the overhead heating element, you’ll be able to ‘broil’ it. Broiling cooks food at high and direct heats, which is great for caramelizing sugar or toasting bread
• Equipment needed: Similar to baking, all you’ll need is a pan, an oven, and some oven mitts.
• How temperature is maintained: The dish is cooked by a metal heating element attached to the roof of the oven. Broiling is usually done at 500°F. Very few dishes are broiled for more than a minute.
• Example dish: Fish and steaks are sometimes broiled, but the high heat will destroy herbs and can cause things to easily burn. I’ve put dishes covered in cheese under the broiler to melt and create a nice crust.

Pan Frying

• Overview: Food is cooked on a metal pan placed above a direct heat source. When pan-frying, you won’t be able to quickly cook for large groups, as your pan can typically only hold a few portions.
• Equipment needed: You’ll need a pan, a heat source, and a spatula. Some pan-fried dishes also use oil, which will help to keep your food from sticking.
• How temperature is maintained: Pan temperatures can be maintained by adjusting the stove, or by moving the food to warmer areas of the pan. A thin layer of oil will also help to distribute heat and allow your food to cook more evenly.
• Example dish: Scrambled and sunny side up eggs are pan fried. Steaks can be pan fried. Vegetables are often pan fried. Foods that are sautéed are also considered pan fried. Almost everything can be pan fried!

Simmering

• Overview: Simmering is like boiling, but is done in water that is slightly below 212°F. The point of simmering is to allow sauces to break down and for flavors to meld together.
• Equipment needed: To simmer a dish, all you’ll need is a heat source, a pot, and a spoon. Avoid using a lid, while simmering, so that the water doesn’t fully boil.
• How temperature is maintained: When getting water to simmer, first turn the heating element to high. Once the water begins to boil, turn the heat to low. In a few seconds, the boiling water will subside into a light simmer. 
• Example dish: Many soups and sauces are simmered for a long time at low heat. This helps vegetables and meats to soften and break down.

Steaming

• Overview: You can steam food by placing it above boiling water and letting it cook in the hot vapors. This helps ingredients to retain their vitamins and minerals which would otherwise leach into the water if boiled.
• Equipment needed: There are different tools used when steaming, such as steamer baskets and specialized lids. At the very least, you’ll need a pot, boiling water, and a porous tray to hold the food being steamed. A lid helps foods to be steamed more quickly.
• How temperature is maintained: Since water boils at a constant temperature, the steam’s heat will also stay the same. All you need to do is keep water warm enough to boil.
• Example dish: Veggies, dumplings, and buns are just a few of the many types of foods that are commonly steamed.

Microwaving

• Overview: Putting food into a microwave causes the water molecules in the food to vibrate. This, in turn, creates heat and cooks your food. In case you were wondering, microwave radiation is 100% safe.
• Equipment needed: To microwave food, you’ll need a microwave, a source of electricity, and a microwave-safe dish to place your food on. FYI, you can’t microwave metal and some types of plastics, as they tend to cause fires.
• How temperature is maintained: As long as the microwave is running, the water molecules in your food will continue to heat up. This could cause overcooking, so be careful of how much time you add.
• Example dish: Almost all leftovers can be microwaved. Additionally, there are many TV dinner-type meals that are made to be prepared by microwaving. However, high-fat foods tend not to microwave well.

Grilling

• Overview: Food is grilled by applying direct heat by its surface. Most commonly, the food is placed on a wire grid above an open flame or hot coals. 
• Equipment needed: To grill, you’ll need a wire grid to support your food, a fire, and some way to hold the grid above the flames. You’ll also need tongs or a spatula to flip your food, as well as a brush to clean the grill once you’ve finished.
• How temperature is maintained: Food can be grilled either on an open flame or above hot coals. Either way, you’ll need to start a fire and bring it to a steady heat before placing any food on your wire grid. If you’re using wood, make sure that all of the saps have burned away before cooking your food above the smoke.
• Example dish: Burgers, hotdogs, vegetables, and skewers are all examples of foods commonly cooked by grilling. Fun fact: The difference between grilling and barbecuing is that barbecuing has the lid placed over the food, allowing the heat to come from all sides.

Foil Cooking

• Overview: Foil cooking is an easy way to cook quality food while camping. Simply wrap your ingredients in foil, sealing the package so it’s airtight, and place it under hot coals to cook.
• Equipment needed: To cook with foil, you’ll need some heavy-duty aluminum foil, a heat source, and a pair of tongs. Foil cooking can be done in an oven but is best suited for cooking a delicious meal around a campfire.
• How temperature is maintained: You’ll want to place your foil package in a bed of hot coals. Hot coals cool slowly, which will help your meal to cook evenly. If you’re cooking with foil in an oven, set it to the desired temperature and leave it alone.
• Example dish: Shrimp, chicken, tomatoes, and potatoes are just a few of the many ingredients that can go into a foil-cooked hobo pack! These foil-wrapped hobo packs are delicious and were one of my favorite parts of Scouting.

Dutch Oven

• Overview: Dutch ovens are large and heavy pots that can be placed directly onto a heat source. They’re often made of cast iron and are great for cooking a variety of dishes, especially on a campout. 
• Equipment needed: To cook food with a Dutch oven, you’ll need a Dutch oven! You’ll also need a tool like pliers to lift the lid off, as well as a heat source like coals to maintain a steady temperature.
• How temperature is maintained: When camping, Dutch ovens can be placed over hot coals or smoldering firewood. Since the metal around a dutch oven is thick, it will maintain a constant heat while cooking. You can also place coals on the lid of a Dutch to ensure the top of your dish is cooked. 
• Example dish: Cobblers, casseroles, stews, and soups are just a few examples of dishes that you can make in a Dutch oven. In my troop, Dutch ovens were a central part of camp cooking. When cooking for a patrol, no other cooking tool compares to the quality of easy food that you’ll be able to make by using a Dutch oven.

3b) Discuss the benefits of using a camp stove on an outing vs. a charcoal or wood fire.

Camp stoves and open fires are two methods you can use to prepare food while on a campout. In the table below, I’ll be comparing the benefits of using a camp stove on an outing, versus starting a fire.

Personally, I think that both open fires and camp stoves have their place in Scout campouts. Stoves are reliable tools for quickly cooking meals, and are especially useful when pressed for time. Fires should only be lit in designated fire pits, but are great for cooking creative meals and helping Scouts to bond.

3c) Describe for your counselor how to manage your time when preparing a meal so components for each course are ready to serve at the correct time.

To manage your time when preparing a meal, you’ll first need to think through how long each component will take to cook. Start the ingredients with longer cooking times first. Wait until the meal is almost ready to prepare the warm, quick-cooking ingredients. This will ensure that the meal is warm and fresh when being served.

For instance, if you’re preparing a burger and potatoes, you’ll want to start the potatoes before any other components so that they have time to fully cook. That way, your burger will finish cooking around the same time that your potatoes come out. None of your dishes will be eaten cold!

Cooking at Home

Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for three full days of meals (three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners) plus one dessert. Your menu should include enough to feed yourself and at least one adult, keeping in mind any special needs (such as food allergies) and how you kept your foods safe and free from cross-contamination. List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.

Using the knowledge that you’ve learned in this guide, create a nutritious meal plan to follow over the course of three days. For inspiration, I’d Google ‘ three-day meal plans’ to see if any recipes jump out at you. Write out your three-day meal plan and use this list to complete the following requirements.

To make this requirement easier, I’d recommend talking to your parents about actually following your meal plan for the next three days. That way, you’ll know the cost of the ingredients, you’ll be able to prepare the meals, and you’ll have your family’s help in completing the dishes. 😉

Then do the following:
4a) Find recipes for each meal. Create a shopping list for your meals showing the amount of food needed to prepare for the number of people you will serve. Determine the cost for each meal.

To find your perfect recipe, take a second to think about the kinds of foods you like to eat. Personally, I like meals with sauce and protein, so I’d keep an eye out for those. Then, think about the kind of cooking devices you have access to. Since I have an oven and want a hearty, meaty dish, I’d probably pick a dish like spicy tomato pork chops!

If you still don’t know the kind of dishes you want to cook, I’d suggest Googling ‘Cheap, easy, healthy meals cooked using X’ (That’s what I search up a lot 😛 ). YouTube also has some great recipes that might be easier to follow along with than a written recipe. If all else fails, you can try a dish on the Taste Of Home website!

Once you have your recipes picked out, you can find the estimated cost of your meals by searching for each ingredient on Amazon. Usually, most supermarket products will be listed, so add everything you need to the online shopping cart basket. Amazon will tell you the total cost of your list!

4b) Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor.

Discuss your list and its costs with your counselor. Was it more or less expensive than you expected? Does your meal plan cover your nutritional requirements? What is this a harder requirement to complete than expected?

4c) Using at least five of the 10 cooking methods from requirement 3, prepare and serve yourself and at least one adult (parent, family member, guardian, or other responsible adult) one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one dessert from the meals you planned. *

Now it’s time to get cooking! The easiest methods to demonstrate will likely be:

• Baking (casserole)
• Broiling (melt cheese on casserole at end)
• Boiling (boil eggs/veggies)
• Pan-frying (fry eggs/sausage)
• Microwaving (cook leftovers)

4d) Time your cooking to have each meal ready to serve at the proper time. Have an adult verify the preparation of the meal to your counselor.
4e) After each meal, ask a person you served to evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how better planning and preparation help ensure a successful meal.

Once you’ve made the meals, ask for feedback and consider what you can improve on next time. A good idea when cooking is to taste your food throughout its preparation. Then, add spices like salt and pepper accordingly. 

Planning and preparation are key to cooking successful meals. By making sure you have all the ingredients beforehand, understanding how long things will take to cook, and preparing your most time-consuming ingredients first, your cooking skills will rapidly improve.

Camp Cooking

Before starting on requirements 5 and 6, watch the helpful video (4:06) below to get some quick tips for outdoor cooking. I’d also highly recommend checking out this affordable Nonstick Pan + Mess Kit combo on Amazon. Being able to cook in your mess kit will save you space, time, and money, helping you to better complete the next few requirements!

Do the following:
5a) Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu that includes four meals, one snack, and one dessert for your patrol (or a similar size group of up to eight youth, including you) on a camping trip. These four meals must include two breakfasts, one lunch, and one dinner. Additionally, you must plan one snack and one dessert. Your menus should include enough food for each person, keeping in mind any special needs (such as food allergies) and how you keep your foods safe and free from cross-contamination. List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
5b) Find or create recipes for the four meals, the snack, and the dessert you have planned. Adjust menu items in the recipes for the number to be served. Create a shopping list and budget to determine the per-person cost.
5c) Share and discuss your menu plans and shopping list with your counselor.
5d) In the outdoors, using your menu plans and recipes for this requirement, cook two of the four meals you planned using either a camp stove OR backpack stove. Use a skillet over campfire coals OR a Dutch oven for the third meal, and cook the fourth meal in a foil pack OR on a skewer. Serve all of these meals to your patrol or a group of youth.**
5e) In the outdoors, using your menu plans and recipes for this requirement, prepare one snack and one dessert. Serve both of these to your patrol or a group of youth.**
5f) After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, and then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how planning and preparation help ensure successful outdoor cooking.

Your troop should have a standard way of preparing meals on each campout, so why reinvent the wheel? Speak with your patrol leader and ask to be in charge of the camp menu during an upcoming camp. Then, ask for their advice on what you’ve all done in the past. They’ll surely have a few favorite meals to recommend you cook.

During the camp, make sure to prepare a meal over a fire using either a skillet or Dutch oven, and another meal using either foil packs or skewers. Skillet sloppy joes and hot dogs on a skewer will likely be the easiest options, but I challenge you to go outside the box. Try cooking something more complex and delicious like hobo packs — or adapt a recipe to make it your own. 😀

For more info on planning camp meals, check out my master article on Camp Cooking, which comes with a few simple but tasty Dutch oven recipes!

5g) Lead the clean-up of equipment, utensils, and the cooking site thoroughly after each meal. Properly store or dispose unused ingredients, leftover food, dishwater and garbage.

After leading the clean-up of your meals, some main points to cover when speaking with your merit badge counselor could include how you: 

• Avoided leaving or burying food waste (this attracts animals).
• Properly sanitized cooking utensils.
• Wiped down large cooking equipment.
• Kept the campsite free of food waste and cleaning chemicals.
• Didn’t waste too much water.

To dispose of dishwater and garbage, according to the official BSA website, you should: 

Strain dishwater through a small strainer or bandana. Put the food particles in a sealable plastic bag and pack them out. Spread the strained dishwater over a wide area at least 200 feet from the nearest water source, campsite, or trail. Scattering dishwater in a sunny area will cause the water to evaporate quickly, causing minimal impact.

Dispose of the strained food waste in a sealed trash bag. Throw this bag, along with any other garbage you may have, in a designated dumpster after you’ve arrived back from the camp.

5h) Discuss how you followed the Outdoor Code and no-trace principles when preparing your meals.

To recap, here are the Leave No Trace principles and Outdoor Code:

Some of the main points you could cover after following these guidelines include:

• Avoiding damaging the campsite with open flames.
• Keeping food waste contained by sealing it in trash bags.
• Avoiding food waste by planning effectively.
• Making sure that the cooking did not attract wild animals by straining and packing out food waste.

Trail and backpacking meals

Do the following:
6a) Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a meal for trail hiking or backpacking that includes one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one snack. These meals must consider weight, not require refrigeration and are to be consumed by three to five people (including you). List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
6b) Create a shopping list for your meals, showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the cost for each meal.
6c) Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor. Your plan must include how to repackage foods for your hike or backpacking trip to eliminate as much bulk, weight, and garbage as possible.
6d) While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for this requirement. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove (with proper supervision).**
6e) After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how planning and preparation help ensure successful trail hiking or backpacking meals.
6f) Explain to your counselor how you should divide the food and cooking supplies among the patrol in order to share the load. Discuss how to properly clean the cooking area and store your food to protect it from animals.

Backpacking meals are a bit more difficult to plan and prepare than camping meals. Be sure to pack light and avoid foods that need to be chilled. Also, make an effort to distribute the load equally amongst your patrol, so that no Scouts are carrying more than they can bear. You’ll most likely need to bring a small, portable camp stove (like this), but you can also get away with making an open fire if conditions allow.

If we’re being completely realistic here, backpacking meals probably won’t fall under your typical MyPlate health guidelines. However, you can do your best to have as nutritious a meal as possible. Here are some lightweight and healthy ingredients that I’d recommend for backpacking:

Breakfasts

• Oatmeal packets
• Trail mix with plenty of nuts
• Powdered eggs
• Fresh or dried fruit
• Oats
• Granola bars

Lunches

• Carrot sticks
• Tortillas
• Crackers
• Hard cheese
• Dry salami
• Packaged tuna/salmon
• Hot dogs
• Celery

Dinners

• MRE’s
• Instant noodles
• Lentils
• Rice
• Dried veggies
• Instant potatoes
• Couscous

Be sure to avoid leaving any food scraps in the wilderness. A great way to filter dishwater after washing your mess kit is by poking a few small holes in a plastic bag, filling the bag with some brush, and then pouring the dishwater through the bag. This will filter out any food particles. Afterward, tie off the top of the bag and pack it out.

Food-related careers

7) Find out about three career opportunities in cooking. Select one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

1. Chef:

There are many different types of chefs, but they all have one thing in common – they’re great at cooking food. Most high-level chefs attend school and are educated in the culinary arts. Afterward, chefs gain experience by working in restaurants and cooking different types of cuisines.

The highest-paid chefs are called ‘executive chefs’. These individuals create their own recipes and lead teams of chefs in fancy restaurants. For most to make it as a chef, they’ll need to gain years of kitchen experience, working their way up from being a line cook.

2. Restaurant Manager:

Restaurant managers make sure that all of the different parts of a restaurant are running smoothly. They’re typically responsible for upholding food quality, managing staff, supplying the kitchen, and maintaining health standards.

Since every restaurant is different, restaurant managers may need to do more or less based on the scope of their role. To become a restaurant manager most people will need years of experience working in a restaurant, as well as a college degree based in operations.

3. Food Scientist:

Food scientists help to research, develop, and improve the foods that you see on your grocery store shelves. There are many different types of food scientists, but they all must understand proper nutrition and be aware of government food regulations. To become a food scientist, you’ll typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a related stem field.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Finishing the Cooking merit badge is no small feat. Now you’re one step closer to earning the rank of Eagle Scout! 

If you’re interested in earning some fun and easy elective merit badges, I’d also recommend checking out my article on the 3 easiest merit badges you can earn from home in 1 day.

I hope you found my guide helpful and, until next time, I want to wish you the best of luck in your Scouting journey! 🙂