No Stove Options - Other Eating Options
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No Stove Options - Other Eating Options
Hi,
Will be in the middle east region starting soon for possible upwards of 3 months depending on how things go. I've recently done a big motorcycle tour of Europe and found my small cooking pot and stove to be valuable companions, but for this trip I was thinking of leaving them behind. Well actually, they are in Switzerland and I'd rather not buy new ones, but seriously, I'm always packing as light as possible, especially on this trip, and I am wondering what other options there are.
I'm not particularly picky when it comes to food, so although it can be nice to have hot meals, I am willing to for go the ability to make my own in favour of less weight and space, not having to figure out where to get little fuel canisters, and generally being easy. Of course the occasional meal can be bought at any one of a number of places on the road, and I've also read many instances of being invited for meals, but in the most general sense, lets discuss uncooked meals on the road.
I'm thinking most things having a bass in bread, and eating lots of raw veggies, power foods like nuts and fruits, and pretty much getting my meat when I'm in a position to buy it from a stand/restaurant.
Any other thoughts on this? Am I being stupid and it is in fact too valuable something to leave behind? I don't really drink hot drinks in the morning or can easily forgo this... Thanks for your thoughts, Tom
Will be in the middle east region starting soon for possible upwards of 3 months depending on how things go. I've recently done a big motorcycle tour of Europe and found my small cooking pot and stove to be valuable companions, but for this trip I was thinking of leaving them behind. Well actually, they are in Switzerland and I'd rather not buy new ones, but seriously, I'm always packing as light as possible, especially on this trip, and I am wondering what other options there are.
I'm not particularly picky when it comes to food, so although it can be nice to have hot meals, I am willing to for go the ability to make my own in favour of less weight and space, not having to figure out where to get little fuel canisters, and generally being easy. Of course the occasional meal can be bought at any one of a number of places on the road, and I've also read many instances of being invited for meals, but in the most general sense, lets discuss uncooked meals on the road.
I'm thinking most things having a bass in bread, and eating lots of raw veggies, power foods like nuts and fruits, and pretty much getting my meat when I'm in a position to buy it from a stand/restaurant.
Any other thoughts on this? Am I being stupid and it is in fact too valuable something to leave behind? I don't really drink hot drinks in the morning or can easily forgo this... Thanks for your thoughts, Tom
#2
Bike touring webrarian
I always carry a stove when I tour and recommend you do, as well.
If you can't afford a new store, make one from a couple aluminum cans.
If you don't want to carry a stove, here are some links to foods that don't require cooking:
Snack foods people take on tour
Foods that require no cooking
Here are 24 links (including the two above) about food/cooking on tour. Not all of them will be of interest to you but some may provide more options.
Ray
If you can't afford a new store, make one from a couple aluminum cans.
If you don't want to carry a stove, here are some links to foods that don't require cooking:
Snack foods people take on tour
Foods that require no cooking
Here are 24 links (including the two above) about food/cooking on tour. Not all of them will be of interest to you but some may provide more options.
Ray
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see instructables.com re alcohol stoves. crazyguyonabike re fuel sources
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see instructabuls.com re stoves.crazyguyonabike for fuel supply issues
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Wow, sweet! That pretty much says it then. And even if I start out without one, can easily grab that stuff just about anywhere and put one together! Thanks
#6
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It is easy enough to avoid cooking, but I figure that a pop can stove and stand is light enough (it can be less than an ounce for stove and stand combined) that I am inclined to always carry one. In fact even the pot can be made from a can and it is possible to keep pot, stand, and stove at around an ounce. I carry a windscreen and a real pot, but still it is only a few ounces. Check out https://zenstoves.net/ for lots of info on this.
You mentioned that you would be "pretty much getting my meat when I'm in a position to buy it from a stand/restaurant". That doesn't necessarily need to be the case. There are lots of canned, dried, or foil packed meat products that do not require cooking. Canned or foil packed tuna or salmon, dried chipped beef, potted ham, and jerky all come to mind.
You mentioned that you would be "pretty much getting my meat when I'm in a position to buy it from a stand/restaurant". That doesn't necessarily need to be the case. There are lots of canned, dried, or foil packed meat products that do not require cooking. Canned or foil packed tuna or salmon, dried chipped beef, potted ham, and jerky all come to mind.
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Given the OP's destination of the Middle East, ham might not be the best choice.
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You will need some utensils. A spoon for yogourt and a small plastic-handled paring knife with a peeler. Swiss army knives take too much water to clean. and you cant boil.
Beware food hygene with raw food. Basically peel then eat.
On my non-cooking camping trips I keep some emergency rations such as tins of fish and biscuits. Middle eastern cheese tends to be soft white style. There is one that is preserved in olive oil. You also have dates, olives (tins or sachets).
If you are eating evening meals in towns, you probably wont be able to camp wild.
There are some improvised stoves that you can make from tin cans with a hacksaw blade or very tough knife to punch or cut bits out.. A petrol stove is made by filling a can with some sand. A wood stove (for small twigs) needs more metal removed.
Beware food hygene with raw food. Basically peel then eat.
On my non-cooking camping trips I keep some emergency rations such as tins of fish and biscuits. Middle eastern cheese tends to be soft white style. There is one that is preserved in olive oil. You also have dates, olives (tins or sachets).
If you are eating evening meals in towns, you probably wont be able to camp wild.
There are some improvised stoves that you can make from tin cans with a hacksaw blade or very tough knife to punch or cut bits out.. A petrol stove is made by filling a can with some sand. A wood stove (for small twigs) needs more metal removed.
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Leave the stove behind! There are lots of meals you can make without cooking. Take a stroll through your local grocery store to get some ideas. They will likely have some very different choices in middle eastern grocery stores etc., but taking a good look at what is available in your grocery stores can give you a good idea of the possibilities.
BTW - with regard to meat ... you'll likely find quite a bit of sheep, goat, and fish.
BTW - with regard to meat ... you'll likely find quite a bit of sheep, goat, and fish.
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Last edited by Machka; 01-14-11 at 09:06 PM.
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If really want to go Spartan, MRE's are an option. They really aren't that bad.
https://www.mreinfo.com/
https://www.mreinfo.com/
#11
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If really want to go Spartan, MRE's are an option. They really aren't that bad.
https://www.mreinfo.com/
https://www.mreinfo.com/
It seems like the usual method of buying food daily or at least as close to daily as is possible would be a much better way to go.
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My friend and I recently toured in Germany, and to keep cost low, bought bread, cheese, ham, dried sausage and chocolate in budget supermarkets. It was great at the start, as we could stop and eat alfresco whenever we wanted. But after three days, boy, were were sick of bread, cheese, ham, dried sausage and chocolate.
Well, okay, maybe not the chocolate.
Well, okay, maybe not the chocolate.
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It's okay, but you really appreciate anything else when you have the chance.
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If really want to go Spartan, MRE's are an option. They really aren't that bad.
https://www.mreinfo.com/
https://www.mreinfo.com/
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https://survivalacres.com/information/mres.html points out the pros and cons of MREs. Constipation seems to be an unpleasant side effect.
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I never carry a stove as there is always too much bulk and clinging associated with them for my taste. I do however ALWAYS carry my JetBoil. you can always buy more attachments like pots, pans, and skillets but I only really ever use the Rapid Boil Thermos to cook ramen noodles, oatmeals, soups or anything else requiring hot water. I also find this comes in handy for making teas along the way. Couple these things with some beef jerky, peanut butter w/ bread and some fruit snacks or dehydrated fruit and you should feel pretty well full whenever you need to.
All in all, the JetBoil is slightly costly at around 80-120 dollars but its way more efficient on fuel than most stoves and weights far less, but most importantly takes up the least amount of space.
All in all, the JetBoil is slightly costly at around 80-120 dollars but its way more efficient on fuel than most stoves and weights far less, but most importantly takes up the least amount of space.
#19
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Leave the stove behind! There are lots of meals you can make without cooking. Take a stroll through your local grocery store to get some ideas. They will likely have some very different choices in middle eastern grocery stores etc., but taking a good look at what is available in your grocery stores can give you a good idea of the possibilities.
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No cooking. No problem. Stock up with basics, enough for 2/3 days, supplement at food outlets as available or desired.
Won't be much different than here. Water may be more of an issue than food. Can be in western US.
Now if you were talking about some really remote area like darkest Africa or Siberia, be an entirely different matter.
Won't be much different than here. Water may be more of an issue than food. Can be in western US.
Now if you were talking about some really remote area like darkest Africa or Siberia, be an entirely different matter.