In another thread outdoor thermos cooking is mentioned. This is something I've been practicing for some time. I suppose others do this as well? If you don't, then you've really missed out on something!
I use a Kelly Kettle and a small food thermos. And bring some different ingredients that I use to fix my breakfasts, lunches and suppers. The weight of the thermos is offset b not having to carry any fuel. Currently I use a half-liter Primus C & H Lunch Thermos. Weighs only 312 grams. And I eat directly from it. Can use it as a big mug for hot drinks as well.
Great for cooking the morning porridge with dried fruits and some powdered milk.
I often use dried minced meat. I use low-fat minced meat that i fry without any fat on a non-stick pan. Then I dry it in the oven. It'll keep for months if you store it dry and cool. I also use chicken meat that I cook without fat and then slice and dry.
It's perfectly possible to use dried fatter meats like pork, bacon or sliced sausages, but they won't keep as long. But for a weekend or so it should be more than fine! But fry or cook all meats first. Then dry it. Better safe than sorry...
Lentils are great also. Easy to cook!
There's plenty of alternatives for the carbs. 5 minut Uncle Ben rice. 3 minute pasta. Bulgur or cous-cous. Do I have to mention noodles?
Dried veggies are great. Carrots and potatoes I cook until *almost* done. Then slice and dry. There are many other veggies you can dry as well. Onions and peppers, for instance. Or buy some sundried tomatoes. Great in a soup.
Instant sauce mixes for pasta is a great base. Or soups. Just add water. Or perhaps some oil and powdered milk.
Stock in cubes, of course.
Spices and nuts. Whatever you like. Salt. Pepper. Curry and peanuts!
Some flour if you want to make a thicker soup or sauce.
Larger dried stuff I usually pre-heat in the thermos for a few minutes. Otherwise it may not be cooked enough. Dried chicken needs some time to be easy to chew.
Otherwise you usually just add the ingredients. Pour over boiling water. Close the thermos and shake. Wait for 10-20 minutes or more, depending on what you're cooking.
Meanwhile you can make or break camp. Look at the clouds or take a stroll with the camera. Perhaps you can forage some berries, roots or greens for the next meal?
And since this way of cooking is REALLY cheap, you can easily practice at home to perfect your own favorite outdoor food thermos dish! And save money while you do it! If you are used to bring freeze-dried stuff or MRE, then the food thermos will most likely pay for itself the first weekend out.
At home I actually have a bigger food thermos that I use a lot for cooking. Especially stuff that needs to be cooked for a long time. Beans and wheat for instance. Or a nice beef casserole. Cook for 10 minutes on the stove, then pour into the thermos. If it's supposed to cook really long, then I may give it a extra boil on the stove after a few hours, to keep the temperature up.
Please feel free to post your favorite food thermos recipy in this thread!
About 100 grams of 3-minute spaghetti.
Ready-made powdered lasagne sauce mix.
Powdered milk.
Oil.
Dried carrots.
Dried fried minced meat.
Dried garlic.
Add boiling water and shake.
Shake again a few times during cooking.
Wait 15 minutes.
Open and stir.
Enjoy!
I use a Kelly Kettle and a small food thermos. And bring some different ingredients that I use to fix my breakfasts, lunches and suppers. The weight of the thermos is offset b not having to carry any fuel. Currently I use a half-liter Primus C & H Lunch Thermos. Weighs only 312 grams. And I eat directly from it. Can use it as a big mug for hot drinks as well.
Great for cooking the morning porridge with dried fruits and some powdered milk.
I often use dried minced meat. I use low-fat minced meat that i fry without any fat on a non-stick pan. Then I dry it in the oven. It'll keep for months if you store it dry and cool. I also use chicken meat that I cook without fat and then slice and dry.
It's perfectly possible to use dried fatter meats like pork, bacon or sliced sausages, but they won't keep as long. But for a weekend or so it should be more than fine! But fry or cook all meats first. Then dry it. Better safe than sorry...
Lentils are great also. Easy to cook!
There's plenty of alternatives for the carbs. 5 minut Uncle Ben rice. 3 minute pasta. Bulgur or cous-cous. Do I have to mention noodles?
Dried veggies are great. Carrots and potatoes I cook until *almost* done. Then slice and dry. There are many other veggies you can dry as well. Onions and peppers, for instance. Or buy some sundried tomatoes. Great in a soup.
Instant sauce mixes for pasta is a great base. Or soups. Just add water. Or perhaps some oil and powdered milk.
Stock in cubes, of course.
Spices and nuts. Whatever you like. Salt. Pepper. Curry and peanuts!
Some flour if you want to make a thicker soup or sauce.
Larger dried stuff I usually pre-heat in the thermos for a few minutes. Otherwise it may not be cooked enough. Dried chicken needs some time to be easy to chew.
Otherwise you usually just add the ingredients. Pour over boiling water. Close the thermos and shake. Wait for 10-20 minutes or more, depending on what you're cooking.
Meanwhile you can make or break camp. Look at the clouds or take a stroll with the camera. Perhaps you can forage some berries, roots or greens for the next meal?
And since this way of cooking is REALLY cheap, you can easily practice at home to perfect your own favorite outdoor food thermos dish! And save money while you do it! If you are used to bring freeze-dried stuff or MRE, then the food thermos will most likely pay for itself the first weekend out.
At home I actually have a bigger food thermos that I use a lot for cooking. Especially stuff that needs to be cooked for a long time. Beans and wheat for instance. Or a nice beef casserole. Cook for 10 minutes on the stove, then pour into the thermos. If it's supposed to cook really long, then I may give it a extra boil on the stove after a few hours, to keep the temperature up.
Please feel free to post your favorite food thermos recipy in this thread!
About 100 grams of 3-minute spaghetti.
Ready-made powdered lasagne sauce mix.
Powdered milk.
Oil.
Dried carrots.
Dried fried minced meat.
Dried garlic.
Add boiling water and shake.
Shake again a few times during cooking.
Wait 15 minutes.
Open and stir.
Enjoy!
