Camping Eating and Cooking Utensils

Under Construction

Plates, cups, bowls


The standard 40 years ago was the Sierra Cup ($3-5)
with A nesting knife, spool, fork set.

I didn't like it because I felt that my coffee or hot chocolate
got cold and spilled easily.
Actually Colin Fletcher on p. 273 of The Complete Walker IV lists results of his test.
After leaving a cup with boiling water out in 15°F for 10 minutes
the sierra cup water was 120° while the plastic cup was 126°.

There's a whole variety of silicone rubber utensils now that squash flat for easy packing.

But I'm into  why buy high priced stuff from the camping store when you can get
things that serve the same purpose at the grocery, dollar or hardware store.
I experimented ziplock bowls with a screw on lid so I could save leftovers for lunch.
and a metal coffee mug.  I wanted something that would nest to take up less space in my pack.


The coffee mug was difficult to ladle soup into and the bowl was a little too small.

So I finally broke down and got something on sale from EMS, The MC2 food storage system. I wraped a thin foam rubber (leftover from lining the bottom of an old tool box I refurbished) for insulation around a plastic cup I got at dominos pizza, which fits inside the MC2 with the lid expanded. It's big enough to work well for soup as well as coffee.
The MC2 is 6 in long, so with a pot gripper, I can use it as a frying pan. I can cut the head and tail off a 15 in trout and cut it in half to cook it.

A folding or collapsible spork fits inside.

The GSI Stacking cup ($3) is 1 1/2 cups with measuring cup markings on the side. It can be used as a drink cup, measuring cup, or in place of a ladle for serving. It also fits inside the MC2 above.

Cookware

How to Choose the Right Cookware: Expert Advice from REI
Campfire Cooking

See:
Backpack food and recipes

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last updated 2 Sep 2011