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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: BWCA Food and Recipes :: Cooking bags
 
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LarryS48
11/25/2021 05:40PM
 
I am a person who doesn’t like cooking. So, freeze dried meals are something I find attractive on canoe trips. I have, however, considered dehydrating my own meals. As one that doesn’t like to cook or have lots of stuff to clean up, the freezer bag technique seems attractive. One thing that troubles me is pouring boiling water into a plastic bag. Does anyone know of an alternative to freezer bags. I am thinking of something similar to the bags the commercial companies use for their meals. Maybe saving bags from freeze dried meals would work. However, having an independent source would be nice. I wonder what they would cost and how much of the price of freeze dried meals is due to the bag.
 
Jaywalker
11/25/2021 06:54PM
 
When I started dehydrating my own meals a few years ago I got tired of trying to add boiling water to my own bag. I bought a titanium pot -800 ml I think - and made a cozy for it. I now love using it and eating from it for most of my meals.
 
straighthairedcurly
11/26/2021 11:06AM
 
I tried eating out of freezer bags...yuck! I also tried the special bags from Pack-It Gourmet. However, I find eating out of any bag very unpleasant and unappetizing. It is hard to get food out of the bottom corners. They are impossible to clean easily and then create a lot of smelly garbage. Then I started using old Talenti ice cream jars (made my own cozy from Reflectix bubble wrap and duct tape...the tape for actual heating ducts). Jars are easy to clean by just adding a little water, shaking vigorously and either bury the dregs or drink them (my preference).

However, Talenti jars are made from #1 plastic and are not considered safe for hot foods or reuse. So I switched to a #5 pastic jar from LiteSmith Cold Soak Jar I love it!
 
EddyTurn
11/26/2021 12:45PM
 
In such cases I use bags from Mountain House ProPak meals - one bag is suffice for few days of use. It is difficult to wash them 100% clean, and it's not necessary, since they have zip closures. I'm quite sure they are smellproof, considering their 10 years shelf life. I don't eat from them, only prepare my meals.
 
Northwoodsman
11/26/2021 08:36AM
 
As boonie mentioned, I have purchased them from Pack-It Gourmet. They are a good source for a lot of things including freeze fried cheese and pc packets of condiments.
 
AceAceAce
01/31/2022 07:44PM
 
Jaywalker: "When I started dehydrating my own meals a few years ago I got tired of trying to add boiling water to my own bag. I bought a titanium pot -800 ml I think - and made a cozy for it. I now love using it and eating from it for most of my meals. "


I'm with Jaywalker. A pot of almost any style and a cozy is the way to go. I bought Reflectix at the local hardware store and made several. Soak the food in the pot, slowly bring it to a boil, then put it in the cozy to rest another 10 minutes or so and you're good to go. Clean up is easy, add a little water swish wipe and drink,
 
Lawnchair107
12/12/2021 01:32PM
 
I believe Dutchware Gear carries mylar/ food bags that are reasonably priced.
 
boonie
11/25/2021 06:38PM
 
You can find some at Outdoor Herbivore and Pack-it-Gourmet. I'm sure there are other sources.