How do you sterilize your cooking/eating tools in the woods?

myright

myright

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Ok, on the heals of the "What do you eat in the woods" thread I figured I'd get an idea of how you guys sterilize your cooking utensils and plates, pans, etc.

I normally use disposable plates, etc. or used bagged food, MREs, but I'm going camping in a few weeks and am going to try some of the things from the other thread about cooking. I bought a mess kit that I'll need to clean a few times.

I'll be camping with my vehicle in walking distance, but not close enough to be convenient to get to my vehicle.

How do you clean?
 
I wash them with soap and water and fine sand if i am by the water. It has occured to me that the plates could be contaminated with a water bourne bacteria, but I dont really worry about it when Im in the woods.
 
I use a Kelly Kettle, which provides plenty of boiling hot water.
I used the same pot for cooking as I do for ablutions, and even my laundry.
Not all at the same time mind you.

I don't bring soap, but I think alcohol is useful sometimes for first aid and as a disinfectant. I would like to make my own ethanol for use as camp fuel, first aid, and perhaps my own aftershave and mothwash also. I have made mead from honey, but I haven't tried distilling it yet.

I think wood ash could be useful also, used sparingly. It can be used with oil to make lye soap, and baking powder, so I don't see why it couldn't be used directly to cut your body grease, sprinkled very lightly on your dishes or your laundry or even your hair. I haven't done this. It is probably best to rinse it first, to get rid of most of the lye. Perhaps dishes first, then laundry, then perhaps a little of the rinse water for your hair and body??? More research is strongly advised.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potash

p.s. I think antlers can be similarly burned to make this stuff, for baking...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_bicarbonate
 
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Hi,

Yeah, I think wood ash was often used to scrub things clean way back in the day. Along with fine clean sand.

I generally bring a small bottle of dish soap, an ounce or two is often all you need for a trip. I always clean my cast iron pans and dutch ovens the same. At home or in the field. I just boil them clean with water. A pinch or two of table salt can be added as an abrasive if you have some stubborn stickies. NO soap!! Anybody puts soap in my cast iron, I'll skin them with a dull Mora!!! :mad: :D When at a boil, simply scrub with a stiff brush. Dump the water, rub with shortening or lard and your good to go.

dalee
 
I use camp soap and water, I just rub it off clean and rinse.

wait that didn't sound right:eek::o
 
tonym said:
I use camp soap and water, I just rub it off clean and rinse.

wait that didn't sound right:eek::o
Click to expand...

LOL....

Is it a dry soap that you just kind of use as an abrasive and rinse off? That sounds pretty easy to use.

Where do you get it? EMS?
 
True - I guess "sterilize" is a bold request. I really mean "woods clean".

Never heard of camp soap. From the description, it looks like I can take a shower and wash my clothes and dishes all at the same time. :)
 
Boiling water from my Kelly Kettle or Billy pot. Shave a little soap off of the same bar you use to wash with and let it melt into the hot water. I use a section of old tarp and drape it over a frame to form a sink.
Be sure to rinse throughly with HOT water. A little soap will give you the runs just as bad as dirty cookware or contaminated water.
 
Lots of neat ideas guys. I will try a few for sure!

I usually just rinse em off, wipe em with an alcohol prep, then boil em.
 
Well I always seem to have an abundance of them, so it semmed easy enough, and my cup/spork are usually the only utensials I carry.
 
If you switch over to metal utensiles, you can just throw them over the fire fro a minute to sterilize them. Otherwise I suggest alcohol rubs.
 
I carry Purrell and it works great for silver and I use paper or eat out of the pot...
 
Wow, all that indusry. What happened to tying some cord one end to the pan and the other to a tree then chuking it into the river when you go to bed?

Good old dish liquid in a tub for the cutlery. We did get one enebriated clown throwing the cutlery (with the grey water) into the river before swearing at what he did. The rest of the holiday was finger food or share the one very lonely fork. 1 fork/One Glock 81/SAK.
 
I just get some scotchbrite pads - cut them into quarters then squirt some dishwashing liquid onto them. let it sit for a day then just pop them into a ziplock bag. When you need to use it - wet it and you're good to go.
 
nick-nack said:
I just get some scotchbrite pads - cut them into quarters then squirt some dishwashing liquid onto them. let it sit for a day then just pop them into a ziplock bag. When you need to use it - wet it and you're good to go.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea at all.


There's a lot of good ideas here fellas, I may have to try a couple on the next trip out.

I'm not too sure about the, tie a string to your pan and toss it in the river method though....:eek::D:)
 
When I'm backpacking, I find the easiest thing to do is use plastic forks. Then when I'm done, I shove them handle first into the ground. That way, I never get lost on my return trip. I just hike until I find my last plastic fork, Hansel and Gretle style.

:)

No I'm with you on the camp soap and/or alcohol preps. I do have to say that hand sanitizer is a God-send.
 
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