What do you do in the field to "sanitize" your knife prior or post food prep?

I wipe the dust and dirt off before using it, like all my friends and colleagues do. There are no germs which can make you sick in "rubbing off you knife onto your food" - quantities. Even salmonella.
 
Gobbo_the_civet said:
I wipe the dust and dirt off before using it, like all my friends and colleagues do. There are no germs which can make you sick in "rubbing off you knife onto your food" - quantities. Even salmonella.
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+1

Pant leg 'sterilization' has been my method for almost 50 years.
 
I wipe the dust and dirt off before using it, like all my friends and colleagues do. There are no germs which can make you sick in "rubbing off you knife onto your food" - quantities. Even salmonella.
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Really? I love the idea of this but it seems counter intuitive but I am not expert hence the aforementioned question. I was under the impression that stuff like salmonella only needed to be present but is it a population issue like many others?
 
T-Dog said:
Really? I love the idea of this but it seems counter intuitive but I am not expert hence the aforementioned question. I was under the impression that stuff like salmonella only needed to be present but is it a population issue like many others?
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Yes. The only 'bugs' that I am aware of, where a single particle or cell (spore) can cause a complete infection, are Anthrax, Marburg and Ebola. But I could be wrong.
 
Hypothetical here...You cut up a steak say pork or beef and then you give your knife a quick rinse and a wipe and throw it back in your sheath...a few hours later you on your hike you pull out some summer sausage and some cheese, do you suppose that in that period things could be growing and breeding in the sheath creating a unsafe utensil. I guess you would rise and wipe your knife again before you cut the sausage and cheese but I am curious if the sheath is a suitable cat house for the critters:cool:. I know I might be taking this a bit far but my wife and I cook a lot and are pretty dang sanitary in the kitchen and we always talk about it when out in the woods especially when feeding our less immune hardy ginger rug rats.
 
I urinate on my blade before food prep. I no longer need to add salt while cooking over a fire. Just kidding.
 
I just carry a dedicated knife for food prep (an Opinel), so I don't really mind the problem.
As other have said, it's probably more important how to clean your knife (especially if it's a folder) after using it. Food parts tend to do bad tricks if you leave them inside a folder.

:cool:
 
T-Dog said:
Hypothetical here...You cut up a steak say pork or beef and then you give your knife a quick rinse and a wipe and throw it back in your sheath...a few hours later you on your hike you pull out some summer sausage and some cheese, do you suppose that in that period things could be growing and breeding in the sheath creating a unsafe utensil. I guess you would rise and wipe your knife again before you cut the sausage and cheese but I am curious if the sheath is a suitable cat house for the critters:cool:. I know I might be taking this a bit far but my wife and I cook a lot and are pretty dang sanitary in the kitchen and we always talk about it when out in the woods especially when feeding our less immune hardy ginger rug rats.
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If the sheath and knife is dry nothing will grow. But if you are uncertain: any open flame will do, just wipe the ashes off afterwards and it'll be ok.


Bacteria really need to be in a big amount. First to have a better chance of a few getting past the enzymes in the mouth and acid in the stomach and secondary to overwhelm the immune system.
 
If someone in my family is really freaky about food ( won't mention any names:rolleyes:) what can I tell HER I found out about how long to let the flame tips lick the knife...just a little tickle along the blade on each side or a little more?

Bacteria really need to be in a big amount. First to have a better chance of a few getting past the enzymes in the mouth and acid in the stomach and secondary to overwhelm the immune system.
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This makes sense and will definitely make a certain someone feel better.
 
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