Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Ashlin. Ashlin Wonders, “How do grills work” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Ashlin!

Have you ever gone camping? How about spending a warm summer day in the park? If so, you’ve probably seen people enjoy a meal that’s been prepared outside. Or maybe you’ve eaten a burger right off the grill yourself! There’s just something special about cooking some of your favorite foods outdoors. Do you like roasting hot dogs over an open campfire? How about making s’mores before bedtime? Can you smell those delicious vegetables on the grill?

Cooking outside can be challenging. For example, you don’t have all the tools and comforts of a full kitchen. Without a stove, you have to turn to another heat source for your cooking needs.

If you’re camping, you will probably rely on a campfire as your heat source. Roasting hot dogs over an open flame is easy enough. If you want to bake potatoes, just wrap them in aluminum foil. Then, tuck them into the hot coals of the fire

But what if you want to cook hamburgers, or boil water? If you have a metal grate, you can easily cook hamburgers over an open campfire. You could also set a pot of water on the grate to boil water for coffee or hot cocoa.  Just be careful! Make sure your outdoor cooking is supervised by an adult!

If you’re in a backyard or park, you may use a grill or a smoker instead. These use charcoal or propane to make fire for cooking. Grills are great for making all sorts of delicious foods. This can include hamburgers, roasted vegetables, and barbecue ribs.

Smokers are great for slow-cooking large pieces of meat, such as roasts. People have made an art form out of slow-cooking meats for barbecue competitions. They use different types of wood to create smoke that gives the food more flavor.

What kinds of foods can you cook outside? Certain meals may spring to mind. Hamburgers and hot dogs are popular choices! But there’s really no limit to what you can cook outside if you put your mind to it.

Fresh vegetables, for example, can be easily roasted on a grill or over a campfire. With a pot of boiling water, you can even make many types of pasta dishes. And, if you’re a fan of s’mores, you know that tasty desserts are always a possibility!

People who camp often will tell you that some of their favorite meals are the ones they eat while camping. There’s just something about food cooked outdoors that makes it taste even better. Have you ever had bacon and eggs fried over an open campfire early in the morning when it’s still a bit cool outside?

If you have, then you know what we’re talking about! The smell of frying bacon can bring the most sleepy camper out of the sleeping bag and over to the campfire. The cool, crisp air of an early morning, combined with the salty crunch of a piece of fried bacon, can make any trip extra special!

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.W.4

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