How to Clean a Dirty Camp Pot
I know what you’re thinking. Washing dishes is the worst and the thought of doing them outside is even worse than that! But don’t worry, I have a few quick, easy tips to make clean up a breeze. Dishes should never get in the way of you cooking a great meal outdoors.
Watch how easy it is!
Backpacking
When you are cooking with high heat camp stoves and thin, lightweight camp pots, there is a tendency for ingredients to stick or get burned on, making cleaning a challenge. But follow this method for quick easy cleaning.
I call it the RE-BOIL METHOD
STEP 1: SCRAPE
Scape all excess food from your pot and either eat it (it’s still food) or add to your pack out bag.
Hot tip: I always pack a small silicone tipped spatula for stirring but also for cleaning. It really helps scrape the pot of extra food and bits before the next step.
STEP 2: ADD WATER
Add enough water to cover the bottom of your pot/pan
STEP 3: TURN ON BURNER AND LIGHT – REBOIL
If you have a lid for your pot/pan add it. This helps capture the steam to dissipate the smeared on ingredients on the side of the pan. As your water comes up to simmer, continue to stir/scrape to loosen anything that’s stuck on. This should only take few minutes depending on how dirty your pot/pan is.
If you need a little more to clean your pot, you can pack a small sponge or piece of steel wool. Adding soap or sanitizer is not 100% needed as usually you just need to get it “Hiker Clean.” Which means clean enough to cook your next meal on.
STEP 4: DISPOSE OF WATER PROPERLY
The best practice is to dig a cat hole 6-8 inches deep away from all water sources. For more information about best Leave No Trace practices, click here. If you’re up for it, you can also drink these couple ounces of water. (only if you didn’t add soap/sanitizer!) This tastes way better when you just made chocolate marsh mallow fondue vs beef stroganoff. But I have done this multiple times to get rid of my water without having to dig a cat hole.
By now your pot should be good as new and ready for your next great camp meal.
When I’m backpacking, I often get it “hiker clean” and then give it a full soapy scrub and sanitize when I return home.
Car Camping
When you’re car camping, you have more space to pack some cleaning materials and utensils to assist. I will pack at least 1 if not 2-3 plastic wash tubs. These can be used for transporting dishes to the state park cleaning area or the stream. Or you can transport your water to your campsite and set up a 3 step cleaning set up.
1-soapy water. 2-clean rinse water. 3-sanitizer.
I always pack a couple kitchen towels or paper towels to help with general clean up. You can follow the same RE-BOIL steps for your pots and pans and it works wonders for stubborn cast iron pans.
Get out there and cook something tasty…and don’t let dishes get in the way of a great meal outdoors.
Cheers!
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