Cooking cleanup recommendations

[sorebutt]

I like freeze dried because of weight, convenience, and taste. Another thing that works well is put together a meal in a vacuum bags. Then all you have to do is boil them. You can use creek water because you aren't consuming the water. Eat it on a paper plate then burn the plate so you have no garbage.

[Pariahtize]

MRE's. . . everything you need in one little bag (which is then used as its trash carrier).

[Unstable Rider]

I have popped a Pelican storm case off and
sat it on open faced on a picnic table or the ground and used it for a SINK.

[sorebutt]

Originally Posted by Pariahtize

MRE's. . . everything you need in one little bag (which is then used as its trash carrier).

The main course of the MRE is pretty good, but you would have to be pretty hungry to eat the other things. Plus have you looked at the calories in a MRE? They are also a little heavy and bulky, but you don't need water.

I'd throw everything away but the main coarse. Then you would have less weight and garbage.

[phoenixdoglover]

Two summers in a row, I camped for 13 weeks with a single burner white gas stove (used regular unleaded), a small set of nested aluminum pots, a bowl from a mess kit, a hot drink cup, a spoon, and a Swiss Army knife. Cleanup was with a plastic scrubby and a small squeeze bottle of liquid detergent stored in a plastic bag.

I could do dinner and breakfast with two 20oz water bottles if necessary. Just not with pasta, because it requires lots of water, or it turns into a gelatinous mass. While eating, heat a few cups of water. Use one cup hot water in your messiest pot as the wash basin with a soaped up scrubbie. Clean everything with that little bit of soapy water. Then use the remaining hot water to repeatedly rinse your dishes a bit at a time.

Hot water rinses 100 times better than cold water.

Throw your wash and rinse water well away from the tent/sleeping area. When the little night critters come sniffing around, they will be less likely to come near.

No paper towels required. Bring one small threadbare towel for general use.

After cleanup leave your dishes out, turned upside down. Don't pack them. They smell like food and you want to avoid having an animal rip open things looking for them.

Haul your food, all of it, up in a stuff sack on a thin line thrown over a tree branch if possible. Ask me some time about the bear in Virginia. If you're tenting, no food or sugary drinks in the tent. Just water.

Or just take a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew, open the top, heat it, eat it, and lick your spoon clean.

[Worroll]

They make really thin cloth towels, that are small. They work just like paper towels, but are reusable. Just use em, put them in a bag, and rinse them out when you hit a water source. You can find them in the grocery store. They are cheap, so if they get nasty, you can just toss em.

[Pariahtize]

Originally Posted by sorebutt

The main course of the MRE is pretty good, but you would have to be pretty hungry to eat the other things. Plus have you looked at the calories in a MRE? They are also a little heavy and bulky, but you don't need water.

I'd throw everything away but the main coarse. Then you would have less weight and garbage.

Energy bars and rye-crisp crackers with jelly, and a cookie?. . . love it. The shortcoming of the MRE is (nowadays) the coffee packet is fricken decaf! WTH?

Big calories I'm sure, but only about the same size as a large freeze-dried entree (albeit considerably heavier). I've lived on 2/day for 4-5 days on trips to the desert 9some other snacks and plenty of beer of course).

[Shunka]

Originally Posted by Pariahtize

MRE's. . . everything you need in one little bag (which is then used as its trash carrier).

And guaranteed to back you up for at least 3 days.

[Jeff B]

I just use a handful of moist sandy dirt/leaves and my hand to loosen any food matter sticking to the sides of the pot. Then another handful of clean/dry leaves to draw out most of the moisture. Then a tiny bit of water to swoosh out any residual earthy debris. I know this sounds all wrong , but you'll be surprised how well it works.

Even my GSI teflon coated alum stuff seems to be hanging in there using this method.

[triplenickel]

Have you considered soap?



This type is biodegradeable, cheap and a couple drops goes a long ways.

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by max384

IX....But, my only cleaning 'tools' I take with me are the scrubbie thing and a small bottle of dish detergent.....

You have it nailed, imho.

[Udo]

As already mentioned, sand, grass, leaves, moss, pine needles and a little water.

[MountaineerWV]

Baby Wipes. Never leave home without them.

[TwoShots]

Originally Posted by SiouxsieCat

For meals, I plan to take a couple of freeze-dried meals; I'll be using an MSR stove and aluminum pan.

I'd like to hear what other people do.

I've opted to leave all that stuff behind and save cooking and cleaning experiences to the kitchen at home.

Jetboil + java packs + clif bars are enough. I might pack a little beef jerky if I'm feeling extravagant. I treat myself to a local diner when I get the urge for cooked food.

That much less stuff to carry and ultimately more time to satisfy the end goals: riding and/or exploring.

[womper]

Originally Posted by triplenickel

Have you considered soap?



This type is biodegradeable, cheap and a couple drops goes a long ways.

and can be used as shampoo/bodywash in a pinch