Just thought I'd share another use for a ziplock bag, which we discovered out of need.
We went camping to a primitive area in northern WI this weekend. For dinner we had rehydrated homemade spaghetti sauce with tortellini. While waiting for the tortellini to cook we realized we didn't have a strainer, and really didn't want to try using the pot cover to drain the water. The noodles probably would have ended up in the dirt. Light bulb moment! We cut a lot of small holes/ slits in the lower half of the quart ziplock we brought the noodles in. Then poured the noodles in, and the water drained out the bottom! Worked great so that is one less thing to carry in (the strainer). And dinner was great!

Well done. I’ll keep that in mind.

I also hate the idea of trying to pour water out of the pot and risk the noodles going on the ground. I took one of the MSR folding cooking spoons/ladles and drilled holes in it. Now I scoop pasta out of the pot and leave the water behind. Plus, when we take kids I tell them I drilled it to save weight.

Nice idea! No doubt I'll have ziplocks that will be empty after using them for something in the first day or so.

Another way to do that is if you bring a slotted spatula. Though you still run a risk of spilling.

The silicon collapsible strainer I have was left at home, and I hate bringing it because of its size, even if I would have remembered it. We did have a foldable ladle along, but no drill :)

yeah, I suppose that's a little more sanitary than using the leech bucket.

analyzer: "yeah, I suppose that's a little more sanitary than using the leech bucket.
"

There are no germs when you camp!

4keys: "

analyzer: "yeah, I suppose that's a little more sanitary than using the leech bucket.
"

There are no germs when you camp!


"

I am one of the least germ conscious people you will ever meet.

4keys: "We did have a foldable ladle along, but no drill :)"

Really, no drill? There's always the awl on your knife. Or cut slots with your saw. A bigger problem might be doing it to your only ladle.