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Waghte |
Another way to cook
May 2 2009, 9:09 PM EDT
I went out and bought some of those pre-packaged "just add boiling water" hikers food bags... I was curious as to how they tasted and what the weight/how filling they are. The two that I got were both the cook in bag types, where it encouraged you to eat out of the bag too to save on waste.I must say first of all, that the food wasn't bad the free dried "beef" bits in it were kinda more like garnish than actual meat tho, and the sum base of your meal is carbohydrates and salt. So perfect for a few days of hiking, but protein & fiber wasn't on the menu. At a cost of about $8-$10 per bagged meal, it was going to be too expensive for me to have a small stock of them for when the SHTF... The cooking in bag concept was AWESOME tho... and the bags they came in were tough... really tough... in fact... Re-Usable tough! I have spent the last 3 days cooking in nothing but the bag for all my meals... Once you have a few of these meals, you can rest assured that the bags will survive for quite some time depending on how you treat them, and they can be utilized for cooking almost anything dried (and as I've found out... canned as well) you can buy the cheap "Side Kicks" pasta in a bag just empty the package in a cleaned out hiking meal bag, add boiling water into the bag seal it, wait 10-15 min... your meal is done!!! Also, I've tested legumes... White and Lima beans... the dry ones you get near the pasta and soup... why? the high fiber! I poured boiling water over the beans closed the bag up and about 1.5 hour later I had eatable beans perfect for happy bowels... :D The grocery store available foods are dried just like the camping foods, the only difference is... you're paying almost 1/8th the cost by re-using the bag and getting groceries. I'd say a GREAT way to stock up and save money. 2 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
andyroo89 |
1. RE: Another way to cook
May 2 2009, 9:26 PM EDT
Sounds similar to MRE's
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Waghte |
2. RE: Another way to cook
May 2 2009, 9:53 PM EDT
"Sounds similar to MRE's"Well, they are kind of... but MRE's are a lot heavier with all the water. This is the Camper meals which are costly are costly, my suggestions are ways to custom make your own meal plans at a serious fraction of the cost. This would be exceptionally good for anyone who wants to have a well stocked base without spending the stupid amounts of money. and they way the food is cooked can also be good for people on the road. obviously you need a few of the camper meals to start so you have the bags to cook with (until I can find a different source for the bags) The only thing I have left to sort out is an easy way to get some boiling water LOL Any suggestions? I remember seeing this element you could plug into your car lighter (UK only) what else is out there to get boiling water for meals? Do you find this valuable? |
womule2005 |
3. RE: Another way to cook
May 2 2009, 11:47 PM EDT
i've seen those, but they looked like a waste of money, no matter how good they are (or maybe theyre not) i'll stick with what i've got Do you find this valuable? |
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Waghte |
4. RE: Another way to cook
May 3 2009, 12:03 AM EDT
"i've seen those, but they looked like a waste of money, no matter how good they are (or maybe theyre not)you should read my whole topic Do you find this valuable? |
DevilNuts |
5. RE: Another way to cook
May 3 2009, 7:52 AM EDT
"The only thing I have left to sort out is an easy way to get some boiling water LOL Any suggestions?Start a fire! You're in the jungle now baby, you gotta learn how to do these things. matches, disposable lighters are all over the place, but in a pinch the old flint and steel will still work. Do you find this valuable? |
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womule2005 |
6. RE: Another way to cook
May 3 2009, 11:17 AM EDT
"you should read my whole topic"i did. but they dont sound good or look good. i dont see how they would benefit me unless i was starving. other than that you probably wouldnt find me carrying one. i guess its just personal preference Do you find this valuable? |
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Waghte |
7. RE: Another way to cook
May 3 2009, 2:42 PM EDT
Aside from rice, food cooked like this tastes like shit... LOLBut the meals that come IN the bags are ok... just too damn expensive. Just throwing out another idea. Do you find this valuable? |
Tuck-Duck&Roll |
8. RE: Another way to cook
May 6 2009, 10:37 AM EDT
A similar option is to cook with freezer bags, google freezer bag cooking and you'll see a lot of cost effective options.Another option I used for years of backbacking was cooking in a wide mouth steel thermos. When I boiled up the morning tea, I made sure I had enough water to cook up the nights dinner. I'd place some lentils, dried vegetables, spam (or other meat), seasonings and a little instant rice in the thermos. Then you cover it with hot boiling water and let it "cook" until you were ready to eat it later that night. You get plenty of protein, fiber and everything else your body needs on the trail. You can cook oatmeal or just about anything you can think up "CHEAPLY". Common Sense: Just make sure you try out your recipe ideas at home first, the trail isn't the proper place to experiment. 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
Truno |
9. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 16 2009, 4:45 AM EDT
Great thread! I've had the freeze dried spaghetti before and it never occurred to me to use the bag like that, pretty resourceful. I wounder if I would do the same thing with a bladder? As for cooking and boiling water you can dig a hole, lay a skin or hide in it, fill with water, put some large rocks in a fire (make sure they are not river rocks they can explode) and once heated up drop in the hole. Be careful the rocks can explode really easy if they have cracks with water in them, use some long sticks to pick up the rocks and look away as you drop them in. Do you find this valuable? |
StrykerPez |
10. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 16 2009, 4:50 AM EDT
The trick with cooking foods that don't expire and having them be delicious is to get creative. Just start adding stuff to the pot, use common sense as to what tastes good, add a lot of spices, and presto! delicious stew! I've whipped up stuff with canned veggies, ramen noodles, and roasted prairie dog that rivaled expensive restaurants. Do you find this valuable? |
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womule2005 |
11. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 16 2009, 7:14 PM EDT
i still say they suck.better way to cook food is to buy some sterno gel fuel (or equivalent) and sterno oven (or equivalent or you can make one) then you can cook anything you want. and the cooking system is lightweight and the fuel burns for 2 hours. havent run out of sterno fuel yet Do you find this valuable? |
3DayAsylum |
12. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 16 2009, 7:19 PM EDT
OR, you could just order a pizza from Domino's!But really, if you can find charcoal, and gas, you're set. A miniature propane grill would work just as grandly, if people are stupid enough to leave the WalMart/gas-station propane tanks behind. Do you find this valuable? |
alcari |
13. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 17 2009, 11:12 AM EDT
"The only thing I have left to sort out is an easy way to get some boiling water LOL Any suggestions?"Yeah, don't. Cold water will actually work just fine, it'll just taste worse than normal and be cold, but quite edible and as nutritious as with boiling water. Do you find this valuable? |
PedroAsani |
14. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 17 2009, 1:36 PM EDT
"<snip> if people are stupid enough to leave the WalMart/gas-station propane tanks behind."Well I think you know my feelings on that one... :) Do you find this valuable? |
John_234 |
15. RE: Another way to cook
Sep 18 2009, 12:09 AM EDT
They're compact and can be nice in certain situations, but requirement of heat source and water makes them a bit unsuited to long term SHTF for most folks.Remember, you can cook almost anything with aluminum foil.....or a dutch oven. The latter is heavy, but I'll be damned if you can't make some great food with them. Do you find this valuable? |
