Boiling water in a bag

[raveboy]

Hi all, This is my first post on this awesome site so go gentle with me. I'm at scout camp this weekend and would really like to demonstrate boiling water in a paper bag. I would really appreciate any tips or experiences you guys/gals have. I'm planning on using some plain brown square paper bags.

Look forward to your input

CHeers

 

[John Fenna]

Hello and welcome - cant help you with the boil in the bag - never tried it.
I have boiled water in folded A4 and the trick there seems to be don't let the flames above the water level...

 

[raveboy]

Thanks John - Never thought of folded paper as an option. Will try that as well

 

[Shewie]

I've never tried it nut I heard you have to keep the outside of the bag wet at all times and like John says don't let the flames lap up above the water level.

Try and get some piccies to show us how you get on.

So that'll be three pairs of hands you need then

 

[raveboy]

THanks Shewie - I'll deffo get some pictures up. Can't beleive how great this site is and how much info there is on here. Now I just need more time during the day to try it all out.

 

[Nagual]

I've saw this done on the tele, one of the Brainiac ones I think, guy took a 20 quid note folded it so it was like a little tray and filled it with water, held a lighter under it and fairly soon it was boiling. The idea is that the paper can only get as hot as the water due to heat transferring to it, it may get a little scotched though, you don't need the outside wet for it to work. I don't think you could do it with a bag of water, I think the weight of the water may rip the paper bag? Never tried it so really have no idea.

You could always so off by cooking in a paper bag, uses the same idea, coat the inside of the bag with a good bit of oil, and add bacon, sausage or eggs..

 

[scrogger]

Boil water in a bag!! does this mean my Titanium pan is going to be surplus to requirements!!

 

[JohnC]

I've done this with a paper cup before, but the edge got charred.

 

[raveboy]

I'm thinking of sitting the flat bottomed bag of water on a flat stone in the centre of a pile of embers so that it gets full heat around the bottom but does not actually come into contact with any embers ? Any thoughts ?

 

[Pierr]

what about dipping in hot rocks?

 

[raveboy]

Yep, will try the hot rocks thing as well. Ta Pierr

 

[IanM]

Ensure that you turn the paper or plastic bag inside out so there is no excess material exposed to the flame, only material with water on the other side to the flame.

 

[wingstoo]

I did it in a plastic bag a few years back, went a horible brown colour but it definately boiled, paper bag should be easy, just make sure the bag is completely wetted before adding flame

 

[rik_uk3]

Its very easy to fry eggs, bacon etc in a paper bag, works well if you just add a litte oil to the bag first and after you have a great fire lighter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LqY9AQtoJs

 

[raveboy]

Wingstoo - Man thats real impressive. I would have thought that the bag would just melt. I've got some decent brown bags so should be no problem after seeing that .

 

[KIMBOKO]

You could also boil water in an old plastic coke bottle!

 

[Tourist]

Hello and welcome - cant help you with the boil in the bag - never tried it.
I have boiled water in folded A4 and the trick there seems to be don't let the flames above the water level...

Ditto.

Did it many years ago at school. The chemistry teacher showed us during a boring lesson. Folded a sheet of paper to make a tray/dish, paperclipped the corners and stood it on a tripod over a bunsen burner.

Subsequently, in the Army a few times, during those long boring buts, I bet people I could make a brew in a sheet of paper. Same folded paper trick, edges folded back on themselves if no paperclips available, using a hexie burner with a few tent pegs placed across to provide support for the paper tray/dish, fill dish once over the burner............got them everytime.

Digressing slightly, I also remember a fire related incident where a helicopter bubble polisher was 'expertly' explaining about the high flashpoint of fuels and the lower burning temperature of matches. He demonstrated stood next to a gazelle, you could have painted the remains of the heli silver and sold it as modern art. My point is,careful when playing with fire but give it a go.

 

[raveboy]

Well, I tried to boil the water in brown paer bags but failed miserably. This was not due to the paper burning through though !, but to the glue that held the paper bags together softening and letting the bag leak !! I will now endevor to get hold of some of the old sweetshop paper bags that were sealed on the bottom and have another go. On a different note, I did manage to build a friction bridge out of pioneering poles (No ropes or lashings) and it held the weight of 2 grown men.

PS - Can anyone tell me how to upload photos to a post and then I can show the friction bridge

 

[AJB]

Digressing slightly, I also remember a fire related incident where a helicopter bubble polisher was 'expertly' explaining about the high flashpoint of fuels and the lower burning temperature of matches. He demonstrated stood next to a gazelle, you could have painted the remains of the heli silver and sold it as modern art. My point is,careful when playing with fire but give it a go.

Spent many hours in Gazelles but I have no idea what you’re talking about!

Fascinated but baffled, please explain